OPEN MIC: Gary Russell Jr. Ready for Escandón, Warns: “Before My Career is Over, (Lomachenko)’s Got to See Me”

By Paul “Paparazzi” Jones | Photos © Paul “Paparazzi” Jones – On November 14, WBC World Featherweight Champion Gary Russell Jr. (26-1, 15 KOs) takes on former Colombian Olympian Óscar Escandón (24-2, 16 KO) at the Hard Rock Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas, Nevada. The bout, which headlines a SHOWTIME CHAMPIONSHIP BOXING® card, marks the inaugural defense of Russell Jr.’s belt and what he hopes will be a precursor to unifying multiple titles in the 126-pound division.

With preparations for Escandón winding down, East Side Boxing’s Paul “Paparazzi” Jones sat down with Gary Russell Jr. for an exclusive interview during Tuesday’s media workout. Here is what Russell Jr. had to say about his upcoming opponent, the importance of family, and possible match-ups:

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Al Bernstein on Mayweather vs. GGG: “I don’t think he beats Golovkin, I think Golovkin beats him.”

How does one beat Floyd Mayweather Jr.? Since the elusive blueprint has not yet been drawn up, and dozens upon dozens of strategies and styles tried and failed, must there be something very special, extraordinary about a fighter that would truly give him a high chance at dethroning the master tactician in Floyd Mayweather Jr.?

Boxing writers, fans, analysts, and even fellow fighters had too many years to offer their opinions of how this man can be beat, convincingly. Yet all fell short, one after the other, like a long row of dominoes tipping over each other in a predictable fashion.

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Canelo: I’m totally focused on Cotto

LOS ANGELES (Oct. 29, 2015) – Mariachis, cake, balloons, streamers and screaming fans were all on deck to greet Canelo Álvarez (45-1-1, 32 KOs),former WBC and WBA Super Welterweight World Champion, at his San Diego media workout today at House of Boxing Gym ahead of his Nov. 21 middleweight world championship showdown against WBC, Ring Magazine and Lineal Middleweight World Champion Miguel Cotto (40-4, 33 KOs).

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Jermell Charlo: Hopefully Alcine makes mistakes and I can make him pay

Before the Premier Boxing Champions (PBC) on NBCSN fight card this Saturday, some of the fighters hosted a media workout at Charlo Brothers Boxing Academy. The card will feature a main event showcasing undefeated rising star Jermell “Iron Man” Charlo (26-0, 11 KOs) out of Houston, Texas taking on former world champion Joachim Alcine (35-7-2, 21 KOs). Televised coverage will begin at 11 p.m. ET/8 p.m. PT with the hard-hitting Tony Harrison (21-1, 18 KOs) taking on Cecil McCalla (20-2, 7 KOs).

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Andre Ward to fight on 11/21

NEW YORK, NY (October 29, 2015) – Roc Nation Sports is pleased to announce that Two-Time World Champion and top-rated pound-for-pound fighter Andre Ward (28-0, 15 KOs) will return to the ring on Saturday, Nov. 21 in the co- feature to the Miguel Cotto vs. Canelo Alvarez middleweight world championship showdown that will be produced and distributed live by HBO Pay-Per-View.

Ward has signed an exclusive multi-fight agreement with HBO that will commence with Ward’s Nov. 21 fight at The Mandalay Bay Events Center in Las Vegas. Having cleaned out the super middleweight division, Ward, 31, will be making his debut in the 175-pound light heavyweight division against an opponent to be announced.

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Yuri Foreman on Jacobs-Quillin undercard on 12/5

BROOKLYN (October 29, 2015) – Former world champion and Brooklyn-native Yuri Foreman (32-2, 9 KOs) will return to the ring for the first time since 2013 as part of a stacked undercard featuring a diverse group of fighters from across the boroughs and regions of New York on Saturday, December 5 at Barclays Center in Brooklyn.

The slew of additional talented fighters featured on the card include undefeated rising star from Staten Island and 2012 U.S. Olympian “Sir” Marcus Browne (16-0, 12 KOs), undefeated Brooklyn-native Heather “The Heat” Hardy (14-0, 3 KOs) and Queens’ firefighter Will “Power” Rosinsky (19-2, 10 KOs) who takes on Long Island’s Joe Smith Jr. (19-1, 16 KOs) in a 10-round light heavyweight contest.

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Charlo vs. Campfort & Spence vs. Barrera on 11/28

DALLAS (October 29, 2015) – Super welterweight world champion Jermall Charlo (22-0, 17 KOs) will defend his title in his home state against “Silky” Wilky Campfort (21-1, 12 KOs) as Premier Boxing Champions (PBC) on NBC comes to The Bomb Factory in Dallas Saturday, November 28. Televised coverage begins at 3 p.m. ET/12 p.m. PT.

Also featured, Dallas-native and 2012 Olympian Errol “The Truth” Spence Jr. (18-0, 15 KOs) takes on Mexico’s Alejandro “El Elegido” Barrera (28-2, 18 KOs) in a 12-round contest.

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No Shane Mosley/Liam Smith Fight for Now

After a degree of chatter across social media and various reports in the British press suggested the contrary, Shane Mosley will not be coming to the UK any time soon to fight Liverpool’s new WBO 154 lb champion, Liam Smith.

An ‘in-principle’ deal for the two to fight on the Queensbury promotions ‘X-mas Cracker’ show on Dec. 19 had reportedly been reached, although an immediate rematch clause -as well as a clash over top of the bill status – have ended talks for now; at least according to Mosley, who has been openly discussing the back and forth status of the fight on his twitter feed.

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Bradley: Teddy & I Have the Perfect Plan for Rios

WBO welterweight champion Timothy Bradley (32-1-1, 12ko) is confident that the corner switch to Teddy Atlas from long-time former trainer Joel Diaz, has been the right one ahead of next month’s defence against Brandon Rios in Las Vegas.

Bradley claims he is looking to box a smart fight against Rios, who has himself claimed he will box in his trademark, aggressive style and draw ‘Desert Storm’ into a toe-to-toe war – a notion the champion rejects, despite famously getting drawn in when not needed in the past.

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Rigondeaux Stripped by the WBO for Inactivity

Cuban former amateur standout and 2x Olympic gold medalist, Guillermo Rigondeaux (15-0, 10ko), – widely considered one of the best fighters P4P in the world – has this week been stripped of his WBO super-bantamweight title for inactivity by the sanctioning body.

Rigondeaux, who is still WBA (super) 122 lb champion, hasn’t defended the title since last December’s fight with Hisashi Amagasa in Japan, and the decision was taken unanimously by the WBO’s 28 strong championship committee – at their annual convention in Florida – to strip the Cuban given he still doesn’t have a fight scheduled.

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