By Ian S Palmer
Former IBF Bantamweight Champion Emmanuel Rodriguez of Puerto Rico takes on unbeaten Gary Antonio Russell of Capitol Heights, Maryland in a rematch this Saturday, October 15th. The 12-rounder can be seen live from Brooklyn, New York on Fox pay-per-view in America and on the FITE Network in the UK as it’s on the undercard of the Deontay Wilder vs Robert Helenius tilt at the Barclays Center. 2. Rodriguez and Russell originally met in August, 2021 when the fight was called a no-decision as Rodriguez suffered an accidental headbutt in the first round and couldn’t continue. Russell last fought in November when he beat Alexandro by 10-round majority decision. Rodriguez last fought in March when he stopped Roberto Cantu in the first round.
The 30-year-old Rodriguez enters the contest with a mark of 20-2 with 13 Ko’s. His first defeat came at the hands of Naoya Inoue by second round stoppage in May, 2019 in the World Boxing Super Series when he lost his IBF Title. Rodriguez had won the vacant IBF Bantamweight Belt with a unanimous decision over Paul Butler in May, 2018 after Butler came in overweight and the title being up for grabs only for Rodriguez.
He defended the belt five months later with a split decision win over Jason Moloney before losing it to Inoue. Since turning pro, Rodriguez has also captured various regional titles such as the WBO Latino, WBA Fedelatin and WBC Latino Bantamweight Championships. He enjoyed a fine amateur career with a solid record of 171-11 and won a gold medal at the 2010 Summer Youth Olympics in Singapore.
He’s boxed 117 rounds since turning pro in 2012 and the native of Manati has decent power in his fists with a current knockout ratio of 56.5 per cent. Rodriguez stands 5-feet-6-inches tall and has a wingspan of 66.5 inches. He also has victories over the likes of Luis Hinojosa, Alex Rangel, Miguel Cartagena, Elicier Aqueno, Alberto Guevara and Giovanni Delgado.
The 29-year-old Russell is the brother of the rest of the fighting Gary Russell’s including Gary Allen Russell, the former WBC Featherweight Champion. ‘Antonio’ climbs into the ring with a perfect record of 19-0 with 12 Kos and has boxed 80 rounds since making his pro debut in 2015. He’s a natural right-hander who fights as a southpaw and also enjoyed a fine amateur career.
Russell was a 2014 National Golden Gloves runner-up, a 2013 National Golden Gloves Champion and a 2010 National Golden Gloves runner-up. He stands 5 feet-7 inches tall with a 67-inch reach which gives him an inch in height and half-an-inch in reach edges over Rodriguez. However, he has a little bit more power in his fists with a current knockout ratio of 60 per cent. Russell’s biggest wins have been against Juan Carlos Payano, Jesus Martinez and Jose Cardenas so he’s actually taking a slight step up in class this weekend.
Prediction…
Like all of the boxing Russell brothers, Gary Antonio possesses a fine combination of speed, skills and power with a solid chin. Rodriguez is a former world champion so he’s also a fine boxer and this could be a bit of a chess match to start out with. Russell is anxious to make a name for himself though and to emerge from his brother’s shadow and I expect him to emerge from this fight with a victory.
