Showtime Boxing Features Russell Jr vs Escandon – WBC world featherweight champion Gary Russell Jr makes his long-awaited return to action this coming Saturday as he defends his bet against the challenge of Oscar Escandon.
We last saw Russell Jr in April of 2016 when he dropped and stopped Ireland’s Patrick Hyland in the second round of his first title defense. Prior to that, he picked up the WBC world title with a solid fourth round stoppage of veteran champion Jhonny Gonzalez. Now 27-1, the lone loss on his record came at the hands of Vasyl Lomachenko, and the Ukrainian has gone on to become one of boxing’s hottest commodities since then. As good as Lomachenko is, Russell Jr managed to loss by a majority draw, with one judge giving him a 114-114 draw. If Lomachenko is the best fighter on the planet then Russell Jr will tell you he is in the neighborhood.
After the pair of solid world title wins Russell Jr has been hurt by the long layoff. He has fallen out of the public eye and there is a sense that he needs to get back and active. He will be turning 29 in early June and he is entering his prime. He wants a rematch with Lomachenko but he is going to have to gain some momentum back on Saturday.
This fight was originally scheduled for March of this year, but Escandon had to pull out with a back injury. Escandon was a heavy underdog back in March and postponing the fight did nothing to help his cause. Escandon is a hard-hitting fighter with a lot of grit out of Colombia, but he is being given just a puncher’s chance in this one. Twice before in his career he has fought for interim world titles and both times he came away with a loss. Unfortunately for him, Russell Jr is of a far higher pedigree than Darlys Perez or Nehomar Cermeno, the men who kept Escandon from a world title before.
Showtime Boxing Features Russell Jr vs Escandon
Russell Jr meets Escandon as the main event of the Premier Boxing champions show at the MGM National Harbor in Oxon Hill, Maryland. Former two weight class world champion Rances Barthelemy tests the waters at 140 pounds for the first time against veteran Kiryl Relick is the only line up at the books early in the week, check back closer to fight time for more lines.
An interim IBF world title at super middleweight will be going home with the winner of Andre Dirrell (25-2) and Jose Uzcategui (26-1). The under card counts on the presence of Gary Antuanne Russell and Antonio Russell, brothers of world champion Gary Russell Jr. The fight is looked at as a homecoming for the Russell family as the fighting brothers grew up in the Washington D.C. area.
The bottom line is that the PBC has set the table for Russell Jr to shine this Saturday night. Russell Jr would benefit from adding a highlight reel type of performance come Saturday night. Check your local listing for start times on Showtime.
MGM National Harbor – Oxon Hill, Maryland – Showtime
Featherweight 12 rounds –
Oscar Escandon +1500
Gary Russell Jr -3000
Super Lightweight 12 rounds –
Kiryl Relikh +450
Rances Barthelemy -600
Showtime Boxing Features Russell Jr vs Escandon / Check out more boxing news and features at The Sweet Science, where the best boxing writers write.
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