Greg Leon: Congrats on your big win over Isa Chaniev to capture the IBF lightweight championship. Can you give us some thoughts on your performance?

 

Richard Commey: "A win is a win, but I couldn't pick my shots the way I wanted to because I was a little bit nervous. I was just getting warmed up, but I think I did OK. I don't think I did my best, it was just OK. I think the best is still to come."

 

GL: Were you surprised that Chaniev brought the fight right to you?

 

Richard Commey: "I expected him to box more. I was watching his fights and he boxes and moves. I don't think he had the confidence that those things would work with me or he felt so confident that he would be able to walk through me."

 

GL: You landed a tremendous right hand on top of his head. Is that where you hurt your knuckle?

 

RC: "Yes, I think so. I felt something in my hand when I threw the punch. I was like, 'shit' but it was a big fight so I had to bite down and deal with it."

 

GL: Your coach told me that you had a similar issue with your hand earlier in your career. Are you concerned that this could be the same thing?

 

RC: "Yes I am. This is the reason why and I felt really scared, I worry about small things and when these kind of things happen it drains me. It's one thing I don't really want to have to deal with it because even on my other hand I've been dealing with something that still hasn't fully healed. I still have some pain there, but it is what it is, when I fight I fight."

 

GL: Everyone is talking about the unification with you and WBA/WBO champion Vasiliy Lomachneko. Is that even possible now?

 

RC: "(Tuesday morning) I will be going to the doctor and we will see what happened with it."

 

GL: Are you excited to be fightng Lomachenko? Is fighting a unification bout a dream of yours?

 

RC: "It's a dream of every fighter. I know how important it is for my career and I know it's a fight the fans want, I just need to be healthy whenever it happens."

 

GL: What did hearing the words and the new IBF champion of the world mean to you?

 

RC: "Oh man. I felt like God has answered my prayers. For years I've been praying for this and for giving Ghana another world champion. Now kids back home can look up to me and, I'm giving them the hope that if I made it then so can they."

 

GL: How do you feel about Lomachenko at lightweight? What did you think about his last fight?

 

RC: "I was actually there but I wasn't really able to watch him closely. I was there showing support to (Isaac) Dogboe, but now I'm going to be watching him more and more. I know he's a great fighter and I need to be at my best when I get into the ring with him. I also have not been able to size myself up next to him, I haven't met him in person yet, so we'll see about that also."

 

GL: What do you feel you need to improve on?

 

RC: "I feel like it's everything. I need to keep learning. It's like I said I think my performance was just ok. I think I need to improve in every area in general. My punches need to be sharper, my defense needs to better."

 

GL: Even though you dominated he did touch you with a few punches you probably shouldn't be getting hit with. 

 

RC: "That's correct, so I'm definitely going to be working on that and sharpening everything up in all areas. Right now I'll be honest with you, I'm scared about going to the doctor tomorrow. I don't want to hear bad news and I know that I need to be fully healthy when I get into the ring with a fighter like Lomachenko."

 

GL: That's right because it's about getting to the Lomachenko fight, it's about getting through the Lomachenko fight and you need to give yourself your best chance to win. Being healthy when you fight him would probably be a good idea.

 

RC: "You're right about that. I'm just going to get on my knees and pray to God that it won't be too serious. I hope I'm able to fight right away, but we'll see soon."