The date has been set for Jose Pedraza vs Richard Commey showdown as a pair of former world champions squares off at Hard Rock Hotel And Casino Tulsa in Catoosa, OK on Saturday, August 27. The bout is scheduled for ten rounds at junior welterweight. Tickets for the event are on sale now. The date when the fight airs live in Australia is Sunday, August 28.
In the co-feature the fighting pride of Toledo, Ohio, undefeated puncher Jared “The Real Big Baby” Anderson, returns to action against veteran Miljan Rovcanin. The bout is scheduled for ten rounds at heavyweight.
“The junior welterweight division is talent-rich, and the winner of Pedraza-Commey is in line for a massive fight,” said Top Rank chairman Bob Arum. “We are thrilled to see Jared Anderson back in action. He is the world’s best young heavyweight, and fans will have another opportunity to see a future superstar.”
Pedraza vs Commey tickets
Tickets for Jose Pedraza vs Richard Commey at Hard Rock Hotel And Casino Tulsa on August 27 are on sale. Tickets can be purchased through Vivid Seats.
Other boxing fans in the United States can watch Jose Pedraza vs Richard Commey live stream on ESPN+. In other countries live stream is expected on FITE – subject to confirmation.
Pedraza (29-4, 14 KOs), from Cidra, Puerto Rico, is a two-weight world champion who has fought many of this generation’s top fighters since capturing the IBF junior lightweight crown in June 2015. He moved up to the junior welterweight ranks in 2019, rebounding from a loss to Jose Zepeda to author victories over Mikkel LesPierre, 2008 U.S. Olympian Javier Molina, and the previously unbeaten Julian Rodriguez. Pedraza’s momentum was halted in March when he dropped a tightly contested decision to former unified world champion Jose Ramirez.
Pedraza said: “August 27 will definitely be a high-stakes battle between two world-class fighters. We are both coming to get back on the winning path. That’s the perfect recipe for a great fight. I know that a convincing victory against an opponent of Commey’s caliber will put me back in contention to capture that coveted world title opportunity. Despite what happened in my last fight, I still have my sights set on being crowned world champion at 140 pounds. I’m still chasing my goal of becoming a three-division world champion.”
Commey (30-4, 27 KOs), one of Ghana’s most accomplished fighters, captured the IBF lightweight world title in February 2019 with a second-round stoppage over Isa Chaniev. Since losing his title to Teofimo Lopez that December, Commey knocked out Jackson Marinez in six rounds and lost a decision to pound-for-pound legend Vasiliy “Loma” Lomachenko. After 34 fights campaigning as a lightweight, Commey now moves up to 140 pounds in hopes of winning a second world title.
“I am grateful to DiBella Entertainment and Top Rank to be fighting on ESPN as I begin my quest to become a two-weight world champion,” Commey said. “Pedraza is a gentleman and a great champion, and I will have to be at my best to earn the victory.”
Anderson (11-0, 11 KOs) had a breakthrough 2021, securing four devastating knockouts culminating in December’s second-round blitzing of Oleksandr Teslenko. He suffered a hand injury in training, which postponed his 2022 debut. Anderson, a 6’4, 240-pound former U.S. amateur champion, hopes to continue his knockout momentum against Rovcanin (24-2, 16 KOs). The Serbian veteran has won five consecutive bouts since a stoppage loss to undefeated contender Agit Kabayel.
Anderson said: “I am 100 percent healthy and more than ready to get back in the ring. I’m creating a legacy for my last name and growing as a fighter with every fight. Tune in on August 27 because ‘The Real Big Baby’ is back!”
Pedraza vs Commey undercard
The undercard, streaming exclusively on ESPN+, is scheduled to include the return of heavyweight puncher Efe Ajagba (15-1, 12 KOs) in an eight-rounder against Hungary’s Jozsef Darmos (14-4-3, 10 KOs). Ajagba, a 2016 Nigerian Olympian, has not fought since last October’s defeat to Cuban star Frank Sanchez on the Tyson Fury-Deontay Wilder III undercard. Injuries delayed Ajagba’s return, and he’s looking to reclaim his status as one of the division’s rising talents.
Tokyo 2020 U.S. Olympian Tiger Johnson (4-0, 3 KOs), from Cleveland, Ohio, steps up in class against Harry Gigliotti (8-3, 3 KOs) in a six-round junior welterweight scrap. Johnson, at 23 years old, is one of the sport’s brightest young talents. He fought at Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Tulsa in January and shut out the previously undefeated Xavier Madrid.
Tulsa native Trey Lippe Morrison (18-1, 17 KOs), who lost his undefeated record in his last bout, is scheduled to return in an eight-round heavyweight fight.
Standout junior welterweight prospect Kelvin Davis (5-0, 4 KOs) steps up in a six-rounder against Sebastian Gabriel Chaves (5-4, 2 KOs).
Frevian Gonzalez (5-1, 1 KO), who trains with Pedraza, will see action in a six-round lightweight bout against Gerardo Esquivel (3-2-1, 1 KO).
Pedraza vs Commey fight card
The finalized Pedraza vs Commey card is expected to be announced shortly. The current lineup looks as the following:
Main Card
- Jose Pedraza vs. Richard Commey, 10 rounds, junior welterweight
- Jared Anderson vs. Miljan Rovcanin, 10 rounds, heavyweight
Undercard
- Efe Ajagba vs. Jozsef Darmos, 8 rounds, heavyweight
- Tiger Johnson vs. Harry Gigliotti, 6 rounds, junior welterweight
- Trey Lippe Morrison vs. TBA, 8 rounds, heavyweight
- Kelvin Davis vs. Sebastian Gabriel Chaves, 6 rounds, junior welterweight
- Frevian Gonzalez vs. Gerardo Esquivel, 6 rounds, lightweight
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