Former International Boxing Federation (IBF) welterweight champion, Joshua Clottey, has advised Richard Commey to move up to the light welterweight division if he struggles to make the weight in the lightweight division.

Clottey described the division as the hottest at the moment and said Commey must be ready to beat any of the contenders if he truly wants to become a two-time world champion.

The 43-year-old Clottey said he felt Commey– who lost his IBF lightweight title to Teofimo Lopez last year– punished himself in making the required 135 pounds to challenge at lightweight, which gave his opponents advantage in the ring.

Commenting on Commey’s chances at the lightweight division, Clottey explained to the Graphic Sports that it was going to be tough for him to recapture his title looking at the current crop of fighters emerging.

“You always have to be ready to beat any contender if you want to be a champion,” Clottey told the Graphic Sports.

“The division is very tough with so many equally good fighters but I think he must work hard. I feel he punishes himself in making the lightweight and it is really affecting his performance,” he added.

Teofimo Lopez currently holds the IBF, WBA, WBO and the WBC franchise belts after beating Ukraine’s Vasyl Lomachenko last month.

However, the likes of Devin Haney (WBC regular champion), Ryan Garcia, Luke Campbell, George Kambosos Jnr and Lee Selby are all hoping to dominate the division.

When asked if Commey could cope with the pressure in the division, Clottey said he believed Lopez would vacate the belts and move up in weight to give others the chance to challenge for them.

He, however, called on Commey to take the opportunity when it came in order to stay relevant in a very tough division.

“I don’t think Lopez would keep long at lightweight. I’m sure he would move up as soon as possible but Commey must be ready to win it when the time comes.

“That is the only way to stay relevant in a division that has more than five great fighters,” he said.