By Victor Salazar
Tampa, Florida - Gary Russell, Jr. (26-1, 15 KO’s) wants to defend his world title that he won over Jhnonny Gonzalez in the coming months. The future seems to be bright with the amount of fighters that Russell's adviser, Al Haymon has been signing from 122 to 130-pounds. For now Russell Jr. is patiently waiting for his next fight.
“Right now, I’ll keep pushing and give fans entertaining fights with whoever is on the other side of the ring with me,” Russell told BoxingScene.com. “I want whatever economically makes sense because we’re prize fighters.”
Russell has his eye on a fight taking place on August 29th in Los Angeles between Abner Mares and Leo Santa Cruz.
“I think it’s going to be a good fight,” stated the featherweight. “We actually tried to get a fight with Abner because I know he wanted a rematch with Jhonny Gonzalez. I took the title from Jhonny. I felt it was only right to give him an opportunity to get a shot at the title he loss but it didn’t come through.”
In terms of the fight, Russell Jr. says it’s an even fight.
“I think with that particular fight, it’s interesting,” said Russell Jr. “I think Abner brings more punching ability but Leo might overwhelm him with the amount of punches he throws. It’s a 50-50 fight. I want the winner of that fight.”
Come hell or high water, Russell Jr. wants his rematch with Vasyl Lomachenko. Though with the landscape of the sport and lawsuits being contested in court between Lomachenko’s promoter, Top Rank and Russell’s advisor, Al Haymon, it seems unlikely. But Russell says he wants to avenge the loss before his career is over.
“Of course I want the rematch. Man everything’s possible, we in this thing to make money, if the money’s right it’ll happen. I could tell you this, before my career is over. I don’t care if he loses his next 10 fights, before my career is over, he got to see me.”