Joseph Commey, the unbeaten Ghanaian lightweight professional known as “Jaguar,” has publicly called out compatriot and 2020 Tokyo Olympic bronze medallist Samuel Takyi, claiming the two have already crossed paths in the gym and that it did not end well for Takyi.
Commey disclosed that during the Black Bombers national team camp assembled in Italy ahead of the Paris 2024 Olympic Games, he administered a decisive sparring session against Takyi, one he says left a lasting impression on the Olympic medallist.
I taught him some lesson, and I am prepared to teach him more. I also pity an Olympic medallist fighting old men very sad. If Takyi feels he is a man, I want him in the ring for the biggest professional boxing showdown in Ghana.
Commey, who holds a professional record of five wins and no defeats, suggested the intensity of that training session planted a seed of doubt in Takyi that has since prevented any willingness on the latter’s part to engage.
The 2022 Commonwealth Games Silver medallist, who trains at the Black Panthers Boxing Gym under Coach Ebenezer Adjei has wasted little time establishing himself at the professional level. In his debut, Commey claimed the UBO Africa title, and has since added the national lightweight championship to his collection.
By contrast, Commey notes that Takyi has yet to win a professional title, a point he pressed firmly in asserting his claim to top billing and higher purse money should the two ever negotiate a fight.
Commey acknowledged that Takyi’s Olympic bronze represents a genuine achievement for the country, but made sure to separate patriotism from personal respect.
I respect the achievement for Ghana, but not the personality,” he said. He also referenced a past incident in which Takyi allegedly insulted his coach.
An affront, he noted, that he intends to address inside the ring.
Commey also talked about a sad moment from his amateur career.
The 2022 Commonwealth Games final at Birmingham.
He said that after a tough semifinal win, the final was held without the usual rest day. Because he was exhausted and dealing with some physical issues, he pulled out of the final and accepted the silver medal without fighting.
I could have won gold if I was advised well,” he reflected, “but the final was fixed immediately after the semi-finals and I was indisposed due to many factors on the finals day, so I settled for silver without entering the ring for the last bout.”
On the matter of the Paris 2024 qualifiers, Commey said the Olympic qualifying path was very tough because only one boxer per weight class could qualify from the whole of Africa, unlike before when more athletes were allowed.
Even though he didn’t make it to the Olympics, he said he was satisfied with his progress and decided to focus fully on his professional boxing career.
Jaguar will return to the ring in August 2026 on a boxing bill co-promoted by Box Office Promotions and RBS Promotions. His opponent is an unbeaten Nigerian boxer with 12 wins, though his name has not yet been announced. Commey says he is not worried about the fight and insists he prefers real challenges, not easy or staged bouts to improve his record.
Fellow Black Panthers stable-mate Michael Abban, known as “Black Spider,” was also added his voice to the conversation. The triple-title holder, a two-time Commonwealth Games silver medallist and current WBA Pan African Super Flyweight champion was overly expressive in his praise of Theophilus Allotey of Wisdom Boxing Gym, describing the rising contender as the present face of Ghana boxing.
I am rated number-one contender after Allotey in our weight class. As he is now holding fight titles and getting closer to the main world titles, I believe we should all support Allotey and when his glory comes we all enjoy, and then we also go for ours.”
Abban is also confirmed on the August bill, where he is expected to defend his titles against a South African opponent in a scheduled eliminator. He praised the culture of discipline within the Black Panthers camp under Coach Adjei as the foundation of the gym’s growing public appeal.