It was almost like a scene from a Rocky movie. Dubai-based fighter Richie "Black Pearl" Commey was giving it all he had during his Asia Pacific kickboxing title bout in Ringside Round 1 – the first World Kickboxing Federation event to be held in the UAE – against Australia's Ben "Bullrider" Burridge in front of a packed Chi Garden at Al Nasr Leisureland.
Standing at half the size of the fictional Rocky Balboa, Commey still showed the same heart as the star of the hit '70s movie and often caught his bigger opponent by surprise with lightning moves.
After five intense rounds, the Ghanaian won the bout by a unanimous decision and the moment the referee raised his hand in the air, almost fittingly, the Rocky anthem reverberated around the arena. Unlike the movie of course, the music was accompanied by loud chants of "Richie" from the screaming fans.
Though it was evident his heroics had left his public in a state of frenzy, Commey was not entirely satisfied. "I could have done better. He [Burridge] is a title owner but I did not know too much about him. So I knew I had to put in whatever I had been taught in order to win," Commey told XPRESS at ringside afterwards.
Acknowledging the huge lift from the crowd, he said: "They really helped me. I train with some of them at Top Sports gym and I really appreciate the support I had. That really motivated me as I couldn't let them down."
He may be only 20, but experts already predict a great future. "He is one of the greatest fighters I have seen in a long time, and I have been doing this for 10 years now," said judge Carlos Ansley.
