On Saturday evening March 1st on the Gervonta “Tank” Davis vs Lamont Roach Jr struggle card, boxing followers anticipate the co-main would be the struggle of the evening, as WBA Tremendous-Light-weight world champion Jose “Rayo” Valenzuela will defend his title in opposition to Gary Antuanne Russell.
This matchup shall be a battle between two arduous hitting southpaws who each intend on making an announcement. The champion Rayo Valenzuela plans on having a profitable protection, whereas the challenger Gary Antuanne Russell is trying to win his first world title.
Again in September 2022, Rayo Valenzuela confronted Edwin De Los Santos in a match that turned out to be a entertaining hearth struggle. With a minute left to go within the 2nd spherical, De Los Santos was touchdown some heavy photographs, after which Valenzuela related with a counter left hook that despatched De Los Santos right down to the canvas.
De Los Santos was in a position to rise up, and seconds later he landed a flurry of punches that floored Rayo Valenzuela. Early within the third spherical, De Los Santos scored one other knockdown, and seconds later, he hit Valenzuela with various arduous photographs that compelled the referee to step in and put a halt to the competition.
Six months after struggling his first profession defeat, Valenzuela would lose his second struggle in a row as Chris Colbert was awarded the controversial choice. Within the rematch, Valenzuela didn’t depart any room for error as he knocked Colbert out chilly within the sixth spherical.
Valenzuela would transfer as much as 140 to problem the then WBA champion Isaac “Pitbull” Cruz. Within the opening spherical of the world championship bout, Pitbull Cruz got here out together with his trademark aggression as he pressed ahead and threw arduous rights and lefts.
Rayo Valenzuela was poised below strain, as he patiently fought off the again foot. Valenzuela used Cruz’s aggression in opposition to him as he constantly landed sharp counter photographs en path to scoring a split-decision victory.
With the win, Jose “Rayo” Valenzuela (14-2, 9 KOs) achieved one in every of his profession targets as he gained his first world title. Now he’s set to defend his WBA super-lightweight strap in opposition to a person who is concentrated on successful his first world title on the expense of Valenzuela.
A product of Capitol Heights, Maryland, Gary Antuanne Russell made his professional debut again in Could 2017, as he posted a primary spherical TKO victory over Josh Ross. Russell would go on to win his subsequent 16 fights by means of knockout.
With an undefeated report and an ideal knockout share, Gary Antuanne Russell confronted Alberto Puello for the vacant WBC Interim super-lightweight title. Russell was the aggressor as he pressed ahead and landed stable photographs, whereas Puello generated his offense by boxing off the again foot.
The match between Russell and Puello was a entertaining backwards and forwards, motion packed bout. Ultimately, the jab, the motion, and the counter punching of Puello aided him in incomes a split-decision victory.
Regardless of the slim loss in his final outing, Gary Antuanne Russell (17-1, 17 KOs) could have an alternative to struggle for the WBA strap when he faces Jose Valenzuela on March 1st. Individuals are predicting the Valenzuela vs Russell bout would be the match of the evening attributable to the truth that it’s a 50/50 struggle.
The challenger Gary Antuanne Russell is a strain fighter who has quick palms, good energy, he’s very energetic when he will get inside, and he has distinctive punch placement. The defending champion Jose Valenzuela is a southpaw who is aware of tips on how to management vary, he has a robust punch, a stable straight left hand, and a superb verify hook.
Saturday evening’s co-main is a championship bout that includes two extremely expert opponents who’re combating for a world title, they usually’re additionally combating for respect. The loser of the Valenzuela vs. Russell bout should return to the proverbial drafting board, whereas the winner shall be in place to pursue unification.
Boxing Information 24 » Followers Predict Valenzuela vs. Russell Will Be The Struggle Of The Evening
Final Up to date on 02/27/2025