Gary Russell eyeing lightweight challenges!
WBC featherweight champion Gary Russell Jr (30-1, 18KOs) will return on February 8 against Tugstsogt Nyambayar (11-0, 9KOs) for his fifth consecutive title defense.
The former 2008 US Olympian, who currently campaigns at featherweight, is looking forward to what potentially could be some huge match-ups in 2020. In an interview with Fighthype.com, Russell discussed potential match-ups at 135.
He has maintained his desire to face the best, even if it means moving up two weight classes to do so. He’s keeping an close eye on the developments between Gervonta Davis and Leo Santa Cruz, which is speculated to possibly happen later this year.
“I want the winner. I want the winner and if I can’t, I don’t want to be just fighting anybody. These Joe No-Names and taxi cab drivers, etc that some of these guys have been competing against.
“You know, I want someone in the upper echelon, in the top five or one of these champions.”
OTHER LIGHTWEIGHTS
“Devin Haney is in the division. Teofimo Lopez is up there. I’d definitely love a rematch with Vasyl Lomachenko.
“Luke Campbell and Javier Fortuna, they’re on the list too.”
The opportunities seem endless at lightweight for Russell, who’s not contractually delegated to any one entity. With Haney and Garcia aligned with DAZN, that would be something to entertain. Just as well, there is Lopez and Lomachenko, who are with Top Rank.
At age 31, it’s time for Russell to start taking more meaningful fights. He’s blessed with tremendous skills and boxing ability he needs a formidable opponent to fully see what he has to offer against the guys he’s seeking out.
By: Jerrell Fletcher
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