Is Gary Russell Jr vs Leo Santa Cruz ever going to happen!
WBC featherweight champion Gary Russell Jr. (30-1, 18KO) and WBA champion Leo Santa Cruz (36-1-1, 19KO) talks of an unification match-up have been awfully quiet.
It’s mind-blowing that one of the most talented divisions in boxing is still stagnant, considering a fight between these two champions is the easiest to make. On all accounts, its a promotional dream considering the drama of their rivalry dating back to the amateurs.
Russell, a 31-year old southpaw and Maryland native, made it clear he wants a unification with the rival champion in his last fight against Kiko Martinez in May. The ultra-quick champion would pose with a shirt, asking Premier Boxing Champions head honcho Al Haymon to make the fight.
In every opportunity possible, the WBC champion talks about his desire for the fight. He has also promised to be more active, saying he wants to fight three times in 2019.
Santa Cruz, a 30-year old Mexican fighter, has claimed that he isn’t opposed to a fight with the counterpart champion. Furthermore, he stated that it’s the only reason he would stay at featherweight, adding if the fight can’t materialize, then he would look to move up.
So, with both men willing to face each other, why hasn’t this fight happened yet? Exactly, what is the delay?
LOOKING CLOSER
Both men won their respective titles back in 2015, making them the longest reigning champions. One hiccup could be the WBC champion himself. Since winning the title, he has only been fighting once a year.
Therefore, to a certain degree, his counterpart probably isn’t taking the demand to fight seriously. Case in point, the southpaw champion said we would see him fight more this year. With only four months left in 2019, it looks like things aren’t going to change.
Then, of course, team Santa Cruz could be saying one thing in public while making different plans in private. We’ve seen this happen before when the WBA champion publicly said he would fight former champion Carl Frampton in his home country of Ireland in a trilogy fight. His father would eventually come out and say something to the contrary.
There could be something brewing between the camps as we speak. However, it’s hard to remain positive when all parties involved have been extremely quiet. Both men are free and there are no mandatories. There is nothing preventing this fight from happening. There is literally nothing more that needs to be said.
MAKE THE DAMN FIGHT!
By: Garrisson Bland
