By Cliff Rold

MORE LIVE RESULTS TO COME................

24-year old bantamweight Gary Antonio Russell (8-0, 6 KO), 119 ½, of Capitol Heights, Maryland, made easy work of 26-year old Jovany Fuentes (7-9, 6 KO), 120 ½, of Bayamon, Puerto Rico. Russell scored knockdowns in the second and third rounds, forcing referee Brent Bovell to halt the action at :22 seconds of the third.

Russell credited his success to his preparation. "We capitalized on everything we worked on in the gym. We knew he favored his right hook so I would walk to it to try to get him to throw it and he wasn't really doing it. I just knew I needed to touch and fire and that is exactly what I did. There was never any extra pressure because we didn't magnify this fight just because it was at home. We treat every fight like a championship fight.”

The middle Russell on display was keenly aware the family was in the spotlight with big brother still at that point to come. “The Russell’s are two for two, but personally I think we are already three for three...that's what's expected tonight."

In the bantamweight division, 25-year old Alexandru Marin (13-0, 9 KO), 122 ¼, earned a workmanlike six-round decision over 30-year old veteran German Meraz (55-44-1, 32 KO), 120 ¾, of Agua Prieta, Mexico. Scores came in at a shutout of 60-54 across the board with no knockdowns. It was Meraz’s sixth loss in a row. The referee was Harvey Dock.

To the enthusiasm of the early crowd, 20-year old 2016 US Olympian Gary Antuanne Russell (1-0, 1 KO), 137 ¼, of Capitol Heights, Maryland, made his professional debut in the Jr. welterweight division. Russell scored three knockdowns in the first of a scheduled four rounds, ending matters for 26-year old Josh Ross (2-4-4), 139 ¼, of West Monroe, Louisiana, at 2:25 of the opening frame. The referee was Bill Clancy.

Russell was almost disappointed it ended so early. "I listened, I followed instructions and it led me to a fast victory. I wish it would have lasted longer. I was looking forward to it being more exciting. I wasn't expecting it to be so short. We trained and sparred for twelve rounds, as if I was a professional before my debut and that's what I was prepared to do - go the distance. But I executed what my father told me to and I got that quick victory."

The evening opened in the lightweight division.

25-year old Cobia Breedy (9-0, 3 KO), 133, of Bridgetown, Barbados, won a lopsided six-round decision over 30-year old Wilfred Garriga (3-7-1, 2 KO), 133 ¼, of Juana Diaz, Puerto Rico. Scores gave Garriga credit for some spots of good work but favored Breedy at 59-55 twice and 58-56.

The card was televised in the US on Showtime, promoted by GTB Promotions and Sampson Boxing.

Cliff Rold is the Managing Editor of BoxingScene and a member of the Transnational Boxing Rankings Board and the Boxing Writers Association of America.  He can be reached at roldboxing@hotmail.com