GETTING TO KNOW GARY
Gary Russell Jnr tells Paul Wheeler that he has got revenge on his mind for the future
We speak to Russell Jnr, and preview his matchup with Oscar Escandon
BOXING is truly a family affair for Gary Russell Jnr, 27-1 (16). The Maryland man – who is trained by his father, Gary Russell Snr – defends his WBC featherweight title this Saturday (May 20) in his home state, with two of his brothers featuring on the undercard. Unbeaten bantamweight Gary Antonio Russell competes in a six-rounder, while Gary Antuanne Russell makes his pro debut over four at super-lightweight. Meanwhile, Gary Allan Russell will be working all three of his brothers’ corners on the night, along with Gary Snr. Russell Jnr’s opponent at the MGM National Harbor in Oxon Hill will be his mandatory challenger, Oscar Escandon of Colombia. Here, the 28-year-old Capitol Heights southpaw discusses his family’s ‘Olympic curse’, his sole career loss, his rival world champions at 126lbs, and his clash with Escandon this weekend.
When you spoke to Boxing News back in 2012, you said that you still hadn’t got over your Olympic disappointment from four years previously, when you collapsed ahead of the official tournament weigh-in, and subsequently had to miss the 2008 Games. Your brother, Gary Antuanne Russell, lost in the quarterfinals at last year’s Olympics, in what was a very controversial decision. It must feel like your family has some sort of Olympic curse over it.
It does feel that way, but these things are just a rite of passage. Tough experiences breed courage and build character. They make us the individuals that we are. I didn’t expect that to happen – for [the judges] to take the fight away [from Gary Antuanne] the way that they did. It was ridiculous. You couldn’t help but be surprised at it. Of course, [the governing body, AIBA] got rid of some of the judges afterwards, but the damage was already done by then. It was very disappointing, but situations like that mould you into who you are today.
Has your success as a pro – winning the WBC featherweight title – changed your view on your Olympic disappointment now? Have you got over it?
I’ve got over it a little. I felt that the only way I’d be able to deal with the disappointment of the Olympics was by becoming a world champion in the pros. I’ve accomplished that goal now. I’m definitely still disappointed, but I feel like I’ve made up for it to a certain degree by becoming a world champion.
Jhonny Gonzalez was on a good run when you fought him in March 2015, but you inflicted his first stoppage defeat in nearly six years to win the WBC crown. You followed this up with a two-round destruction of Patrick Hyland in the first defence of your belt in April last year. What do you attribute these early wins to? Had you been working on increasing your power in the gym?
I wouldn’t say my power has been increased. In the amateurs I was known to be a boxer-puncher, but since then I’ve tended to have a lot of hand injuries – hairline fractures and stuff like that. So it was difficult for me to actually sit down on my punches the way that I really wanted to. On the way up in the pros, in order to save my hands, I knew that I had the ability to outbox these guys and outpoint these guys, which is where my hand speed comes into play. I’ve been nursing my hands to the point where I can now sit down on my shots a little more. I’ve protected my hands a bit more, so now I can start bringing back the punching power that I’ve always possessed. It’s actually worked to my benefit, because a lot of these guys think, ‘He’s just a speedy guy, he doesn’t have a lot of punching ability.’ This means they take chances a lot more against me, because they don’t think I have the punching power to act as a deterrent.
You’ve only lost once as a pro – on a majority verdict to Vasyl Lomachenko in June 2014. He’s currently seen as one of the best pound-for-pound fighters in the world. He was of a significantly higher standard than any of the opponents you had faced previously. Does part of you wish that you had faced some other top 10 contenders before getting in the ring with Lomachenko, in order to prepare fully for a fight of that magnitude?
Not at all. If we fought 10 times, I’d beat him nine. There were a lot of issues leading into the Lomachenko fight. I had to lose five pounds the night before the weigh-in, because my weight wasn’t the way it was supposed to be. That played a big role in me not being able to compete the way that I wanted to in that particular fight. ➤
‘I HAD TO LOSE FIVE POUNDS THE NIGHT BEFORE THE WEIGH-IN’
➤ You said last time you spoke to BN that you could see yourself fighting at a heavier division than featherweight in the future. Of course, Lomachenko is now a world champion at superfeatherweight. Is that the fight you desire more than any other?
Of course. As an amateur, I avenged all but one of my losses. I definitely want to avenge my only defeat as a pro. Featherweight is one of the most talent-packed divisions in boxing. Of the other three world champions in the weight class (Lee Selby, Leo Santa Cruz and Oscar Valdez), who would you most like to face in a unification contest, if all goes to plan in your next bout?
It wouldn’t even matter. Any of them can get it. Abner Mares has got a [secondary WBA] title. There’s also [IBF boss] Lee Selby, [WBO titlist] Oscar Valdez and [WBA king] Leo Santa Cruz. I beat Santa Cruz in the amateurs, and the outcome would be the same in the pros. At this particular point, I just want to fight any of the other featherweight champions, before I decide to move up in weight. Honestly, these other champions aren’t in a rush to get in the ring with me. For the moment, I’m comfortable at featherweight. When I start training for a fight, I have to come down from about 136137lbs to make featherweight [126lbs]. So I definitely have room to move up in weight and grow into a higher division. Your next outing will be your first fight as a pro in your home state of Maryland. Why has it taken this long?
I never wanted to compete at home unless I was a world
champion. I feel like that’s the only way to come home – with a world title around my waist. I’m excited to be able to come home and defend my title. You were due to make your first WBC title defence against Oscar Escandon – your upcoming opponent – back in November 2015. However, you were cut in sparring less than two weeks before the fight, and it was consequently called off. Then, once again less than a fortnight before your rescheduled clash for March this year, the contest had to be postponed after Escandon suffered a back injury during training. He is a former Olympian who has only lost twice as a pro – both on split decisions. What do you make of
him as a fighter?
I think he’s a tough, durable fighter. Anyone who prepares for six-eight weeks for no one else but you is a dangerous opponent. He’s an aggressive and physical guy, but that’s all he brings to the table. A lot of fighters are one-dimensional – what you see is what you get. His aggression is the only element that he has, so what happens when I force him into unfamiliar territory? What happens when he comes up against someone who has the ability to be equally aggressive, but who can also counter the shots that he attempts to throw? What happens when he’s in the ring with someone who has speed and power? He’s definitely an effective, aggressive guy, but his shots are wide – he wings punches. He’s not a technical fighter. He just uses his conditioning and tries to overwhelm his opponent. I’m very confident I can put on a show in front of my home fans.
‘I BEAT SANTA CRUZ IN THE AMATEURS. IT’D BE THE SAME IN THE PROS’