Photos: Richard Commey Blasts Out Ray Beltran in Eight

Pechanga Resort Casino, California - IBF world lightweight champion Richard Commey (29-2, 26 KOs) did not have an easy night, but he dropped former beltholder Ray Beltran (36-9-1, 22 KOs) four times to force the stoppage in the eight round. (photos by Mikey Williams)

The belt was not at stake for Beltran, because he was overweight at the official weigh-in on Friday.

Commey came out pressing the action in the first round and it didn't take long before Beltran was decked by a big hook. A moment late, Commey was battering Beltran against the ropes for a standing eight count, as the ropes held Beltran up. As Commey was pounding on Beltran, the Mexican veteran stunned him for a moment with a counter. By the end of the round Commey was back in control.

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Beltran did much better in the second, but Commey was still in full control. In the third, it was Beltran in control and starting to gain steam with a lot of big shots that were landing well. Commey came firing back in the fourth, weathering the storm and getting Beltran in trouble near the end of the round.

At the start of the fifth, Beltran went down for a third time from a series of punches. As he got rocked once again, he managed to get Commey in real trouble after landing several big shots.

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A clash of heads in the sixth opened up a cut around the left eye of Beltran, who seemed to fully recover from the previous round. Commey's left eye was swelling up bad in the seventh.

At the start of the eight, a big left hand sent Beltran down for a fourth time. Beltran got up, but the referee had seen enough and the fight was waved off.

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