WBC featherweight world champion Gary Russell Jr. feels confident that he'll score a knockout victory over Leo Santa Cruz, who holds the WBA title.
Both boxers are fighting under the Premier Boxing Champions banner.
Russell (29-1, 17 KOs) will be making the fourth defense of his belt against Kiko Martinez (39-8-2, 28 KOs) on Saturday, May 18, at Brooklyn’s Barclay’s Center. The bout will be the co-feature to Deontay Wilder's defense of the WBC heavyweight crown against mandatory challenger Dominic Breazeale.
Russell faced Santa Cruz when they were in the amateurs.
"I believe it was in the Olympic qualifiers of 2006 or 2007. I did what I wanted to with Santa Cruz. He’s a flat-footed fighter who comes straight forward. He’s a “Rock Em-Sock Em” robot who can’t do nothing with me, and that’s the reason why they’re keeping him away from me," Russell told Premier Boxing Champions.
And if they collide right now, Russell expects to put his lights out.
"If I fight Leo now, I knock him out. I don’t know what round, but it could be early. Leo is a reckless fighter who throws punches just because someone is closing the distance on him," Santa Cruz said.
"If you do that against an in-shape, sharp, mentally prepared Mr. Gary Russell Jr., you’re gonna get stopped. Leo throws wasted punches and leaves them in the air, so he’s gonna end up getting knocked out."
And why hasn't the fight happened? Russell believes Santa Cruz's handlers are keeping the boxer away from the fight.
"I don’t think it’s just him. I think it’s his coach and his team...I just don’t think they feel as though it’s in their best interest or his career to compete against Mr. Gary Russell Jr," Russell said.
"They call me “The Boogeyman” of my division. I’m one of the most dangerous guys in the sport. Nobody wants to see me. If they do, my name is only whispered here and there. You don’t see nobody calling me out. They don’t wanna fight me, and I’m getting to the point where I’m getting tired of it."
