MGM Grand National Harbor, Oxon Hill, Md.
WBC featherweight champion “Mister” Gary Russell Jr (29-1, 17KOs) won by unanimous decision over Joseph “Jo Jo” Diaz (26-1, 14KOs). In front of his hometown crowd, Russell Jr showed why he is maybe the top featherweight in the division. Russell establish his dominance early behind a swift jab. “The jab definitely dictated everything I did. My speed offset everything he tried to do coming forward.” Russell surprised Diaz with his aggression in the early rounds. Diaz countered Russell’s aggression with shots to the body. However, Diaz’s body work did not slow down the champion. Russell would adjust and continue to pepper Diaz with shots to the head. Swelling developed over Diaz’s left eye and redness was surfacing over his right eye. Russell’s speed made Diaz hesitant to throw punches even when Russell let his guard down. “When he threw combinations, I wasn’t able to set my shots. I was a little bit hesitant,” Diaz sated after the fight.
Diaz, who is known for coming on in the 2nd half of fights, was muted by Russell’s speed and footwork. Russell outworked Diaz throughout the fight. CompuBox had Russell landing 199 of 992 to Diaz landing 192 of 491punches.When Diaz moved forward, Russell step to the right or left and grab him in order to stop the Diaz’s body shots. Diaz abandoned his jab and decided to head face first into Russell’s punches. Russell relied on his movement and jab to carry the fight. The scores were 117-111, 117-111, and 115-113.
Russell wants to unify the title by meeting the winner of Leo Santa Cruz and Abner Mares. “We want a unification. We want to unify this division, or we’re moving up in weight for another title.” However, Russell’s dream maybe on hold. Post-fight, Russell Jr. stated, “I hurt my right in the second or third round, saw we had to make adjustments.” Russell Jr. has a history of hand injuries which have resulted in him fighting sporadically. Hopefully, we get a chance to see him later this year in a unification bout.
In other action:
Middleweight Immanuel “The Chose One” Aleem (18-1-1, 11KOs) scored a sixth round knock-out over Juan De Angel (20-8-1, 18KOs). De Angel stayed frustrated by the overwelhiming pressue put on him by Aleem. Aleem was throwing punches from every angle. As a result, De Angel stayed on his stool rather than answer the seventh round bell.
Gary Antuanne Russell (6-0, 6KOs) came, saw and conqured Wilmer Rodriguez (9-3, 7KOs) by 1st round knock-out. Russell landed a sharp right hand which dropped Diaz minute in the 1st. Rodriguez would answer the 10 count. It did not matter as Russell landed a left-right combination which sent Rodriguez to la la land. The time was 2:54.
Cobia “The Soldier” Breedy (11-0 4KOs) cruised to a unianmious victory over Christopher Martin (30-10-3, 19KOs) in a featherweight affair. Breedy was the show landing at will over a confused Martin. Martin could not find any answer for Breedy’s movement. The scores were 60-54 3x.
Twenty-Five year old Antonio “Another” Russell (11-0, 9KOs) remains undefeated after a technical knock-out win against Mexico’s Johnathon Lecona (17-21-4, 6KOs). Lexona would go down in the 1st round only to return fire in the 3rd sliding straights in procession. By the 4th, Lecona could not sustain the bellow of uninterrupted punches, crashing his nostrils. Sixteen seconds into the 5th, Lecona sat on the ropes in defeat.
Brandon “Bulldog” Quarles (19-4-1, 10KOs) won by TKO over Fidel Monterrosa Munoz (38-18-1, 30KOs).
