Jessie Magdaleno thinks a Gary Russell Jr bout is doable!
While it may not have been as smooth as he would have liked, former WBO super bantamweight champion Jessie Magdaleno (28-1, 18 KO’s) was pleased with his June 11 win over Yenifel “The Lightning” Vicente (26-5-2, 28 KO’s).
However, he definitely would have preferred to escape the ring having taken a lot fewer of the low blows that he absorbed!
I WANT MISTER NEXT!
Before leaving the venue of that event, Magdaleno expressed his desire to face either WBO featherweight champion “Fearless” Shakur Stevenson (14-0, 8 KO’s) or WBC champion “Mr.” Gary Russell Jr (31-1, 18 KO’s).
Later, in an exclusive interview with Fight Hub TV, Magdaleno went on to say that between the two he felt it’d be easier to contract a fight with Russell.
“Well right now I am #1 for the WBC. I think that’s more ideal to make it happen. But from what I hear both guys are moving up in weight, which leaves me a mandatory for either one of the titles and it’s something that I have to talk with Frank Espinoza at Top Rank.
“But whatever they give me the green light on I’m jumping on it because I think that I am ready to go. Even though last night’s performance wasn’t as best as Jessie Magdaleno could be but I know when there is an elite fighter in front of me there is a different animal that comes out of me.
“So, I just think that right now the right thing to do is go after Gary Russell.”
METAL SHARPENS METAL
One of the biggest knocks against Gary Russell Jr is his overtly anemic fighting schedule. For the last several years he has grown very accustom to only competing once a year. For Magdaleno this was not a big concern.
In his opinion, regardless of how often he fought, the former champion views Russell as a top notch fighter whose skill had to be respected.
Yet, at the end of the day, he wants the fight because no matter how good Russell Jr is, he feels he is better.
“He’s a tremendous fighter! He’s an ex-Olympian, a world champion for a reason. He’s set his mark in boxing for sure. I tip my hat to him. I take nothing away from him.
“But like I said, I am a younger fighter, I am a little bit more active than he is and I think I have, well it’s not that I think, I know I have what it takes to beat a fighter like him.
“You know I stepped in there with one of the baddest dudes at 122 pounds, which was Nonito Donaire, and I took it too him! And why can’t I do it with him?
“I have the talent as well, I have the speed, the power, I have the great mindset as well as he does and like I said style makes fights. And I think it would be a tremendous fight to have with him.”
By: Bakari Simpson
