Gary Russell vs. Joseph Diaz - May 19, 2018

[Ruthless-RKO]

A deal for the WBC featherweight title bout between champion Gary Russell Jr. and mandatory challenger Joseph Diaz Jr. has been completed.

Golden Boy Promotions president Eric Gomez told ringtv.com, a website owned by Golden Boy, for a story posted Friday that the deal has been finalized. According to Gomez, the Russell-Diaz fight could take place at any point from May 19 to June 30 at an undetermined site.

Gomez also stated that HBO or Showtime could televise their 12-round, 126-pound championship match.

Coming to an agreement on financial terms enabled Golden Boy Promotions and Tom Brown, who represented Russell in negotiations on behalf of adviser Al Haymon, to avoid a purse bid.

More..

[SenorPipino]

Great fight.

I always love Russell and would normally favor him over the still unproven Diaz.

But Russell has been so inactive the past few years that you wonder if that's the advantage Diaz needs to pull out a win.

[Best Coast]

Great fight.

I always love Russell and would normally favor him over the still unproven Diaz.

But Russell has been so inactive the past few years that you wonder if that's the advantage Diaz needs to pull out a win.

Could well be, plus I think Diaz is a GBP "favorite son" so a close decision goes to JoJo.

Even so I like Russell in this one, but he may have to stop Diaz or at least drop him a few times. The Russell that demolished Jhonny Gonzalez should be able to do that if he's still that sharp after the layoff.

[jamamb]

so i guess this will be garys once a year fight

[Kalan]

Al Haymon puts fighters on the shelf and leaves them there forever.

[Ruthless-RKO]

so i guess this will be garys once a year fight

I guess so.. he doesn't do voluntaries..

Diaz is a mandatory.. and do was his last opponent. They took like organising the Oscandon fight

[jamamb]

gary dont have much drive it seems beyond his once a year 700k (or whatever it is)

not making the most of his talent at all

[SenorPipino]

Since he dominated Gonzalez and won the title more than 3 years ago, Russell has had 2 fights and just 9 total rounds of action.

Russell always insists that he only fights when presented with the right financial package.

But all that rest may just be too much rust

[Bard of Boxrec]

The right financial package? lol

No wonder he doesn’t fight then. Does anyone actually care about watching this guy fight?

What is even his best win? Gonzalez?

I can’t think of anyone else

[Oiky]

Russell's fight

[SenorPipino]

The right financial package? lol

No wonder he doesn’t fight then. Does anyone actually care about watching this guy fight?

What is even his best win? Gonzalez?

I can’t think of anyone else

I dunno.

Russell's pretty good and entertaining.

People might actually care about him if he appeared in the ring a little more often.

It's hard to get the casual fan to notice you when you only come to work every 18 months.

[Ruthless-RKO]

Gary Russell vs. Joseph Diaz Headed to Stevenson-Jack Card

Joseph Diaz Jr. confirmed in a Tweet sent out Tuesday night that his WBC-mandated title shot against its 126-pound champion, Gary Russell Jr., has been scheduled for May 19 in Montreal. Showtime will televise Russell-Diaz as part of a two-bout broadcast headlined by WBC light heavyweight champion Adonis Stevenson (29-1, 24 KOs), who’ll defend his 175-pound championship against Badou Jack (22-1-2, 13 KOs).

Golden Boy Promotions president Eric Gomez revealed Friday that he came to a verbal agreement with promoter Tom Brown, who represented Russell in negotiations on behalf of adviser Al Haymon, which avoided a purse bid. Golden Boy promotes Diaz.

[SenorPipino]

Gary Russell vs. Joseph Diaz Headed to Stevenson-Jack Card

Joseph Diaz Jr. confirmed in a Tweet sent out Tuesday night that his WBC-mandated title shot against its 126-pound champion, Gary Russell Jr., has been scheduled for May 19 in Montreal. Showtime will televise Russell-Diaz as part of a two-bout broadcast headlined by WBC light heavyweight champion Adonis Stevenson (29-1, 24 KOs), who’ll defend his 175-pound championship against Badou Jack (22-1-2, 13 KOs).

Golden Boy Promotions president Eric Gomez revealed Friday that he came to a verbal agreement with promoter Tom Brown, who represented Russell in negotiations on behalf of adviser Al Haymon, which avoided a purse bid. Golden Boy promotes Diaz.

A quick turnaround for a major fight.

Just 5 weeks to prepare.

What's the rush?

I wouldn't be stunned to see one of the fighter's end up pulling out with one of those manufactured injuries.

This is a huge step up in class and Diaz could use extra time to prepare.

And Russell hasn't fought in a year. Just 2 fights in 3 years. He better have a good, extended training camp to get the rust off and prepare for a rising talent like Diaz.

[Ruthless-RKO]

Report: Russell-Diaz Headed to Maryland, Not Montreal, on May 19

The featherweight title fight between Gary Russell Jr. and Joseph Diaz Jr. is still on for May 19.

It is not, however, headed to Montreal, as previously reported. According to an ESPN.com story Friday, Russell will make a mandatory defense of his WBC 126-pound championship against Diaz at MGM National Harbor in Oxon Hill, Maryland, just outside Washington, D.C.

Russell is a native of nearby Capitol Heights, Maryland, and made the last defense of his title at MGM National Harbor nearly 11 months ago. Ringtv.com reported Tuesday that Russell-Diaz would take place May 19 at Bell Centre in Montreal, on the undercard of the Adonis Stevenson-Badou Jack light heavyweight title fight.

Instead, it appears as if Russell-Diaz will headline its own card and open Showtime’s split-site doubleheader. The site for the Stevenson-Jack fight hasn’t been officially announced because Yvon Michel, Stevenson’s promoter, is negotiating an agreement with Eleider Alvarez, the mandatory challenger for Stevenson’s WBC light heavyweight title, to allow the Stevenson-Jack fight to happen May 19.

[Ruthless-RKO]

Fight had been announced.

MGM National Harbor in Maryland for May 19.

I believe Showtime will do a splitcast..

[KiwiRider]

The right financial package? lol

No wonder he doesn’t fight then. Does anyone actually care about watching this guy fight?

What is even his best win? Gonzalez?

I can’t think of anyone else

I like to watch his fights, entertaining for sure. But just as you think he is gaining momentum, he disappears again.
It's really frustrating.
Yes he meets his mandatory requirements (barely) but if he wants big paydays, and a fat wedge for his retirement, unification is the way to go.
Feathers get old overnight, unfortunately I can see that happening to Russell Jr and he will be kicking himself for not building that nest egg.

[Ruthless-RKO]

Joseph Diaz Jr. not fazed by fighting on Gary Russell Jr.'s home turf

Featherweight contender Joseph Diaz Jr. has had nearly all of his 26 professional fights in his home state of California -- with a few elsewhere, such as Las Vegas, Texas and Mexico.

But Diaz, with the same broad smile he usually has on his face, said Tuesday that he has no concerns about challenging for a world title for the first time on his opponent's home turf.

In fact, Diaz seemed downright excited about invading titleholder Gary Russell Jr.'s home for their mandatory fight. The fight is set for May 19 at the MGM National Harbor, which is about a 15-minute ride from Russell's home in the Washington, D.C., suburb of Capitol Heights, Maryland.

Diaz, a 2012 U.S. Olympian, appeared with fellow southpaw Russell, a 2008 U.S. Olympian, for the kickoff news conference and exuded the same confidence he showed last week when he asked on social media for "everyone that lives in Maryland please let me know the best spots to eat so I can have a scrumptious meal after my victory."

"It doesn't affect me at all fighting in his hometown," Diaz said at the news conference. "I'm happy to fight in his backyard. He's the champion, and that's what champions get to do. I know what he's capable of doing. He says I don't have the boxing IQ or the power and speed that he has, but he's going to be in for a rude awakening come fight night. He's going to see that I have all the tools."

"Ever since I roomed with Errol Spence at the Olympics, we always promised each other that once we became pro we were going to fight all the elite athletes and the best champions," Diaz said. "Gary Russell Jr. is the best at 126 pounds. I'm not scared to fight him, and that's what Errol Spence did, too. He beat Kell Brook in his hometown.

"Gary Russell Jr. is by far the best featherweight in the world. Leo Santa Cruz, Abner Mares, Lee Selby, none of these guys want to fight Russell. They're afraid of the speed and the counter shots. But I know what I'm capable of doing, and I'll showcase it May 19. A win would mean everything for me. It would be a dream come true realizing all of the hard work I've put in since I was 13 years old. It would mean that I'm the champion and I'd be the shot caller."

Said Russell: "I appreciate 'JoJo' for being honest and saying that he feels I'm the best featherweight in the world. That speaks volumes." But as much as Diaz said he's excited pumped to fight in a hostile environment, Russell is equally pleased to fight at home.

"It's amazing to be fighting at home," Russell said. "It's cool to know that the people I see around all the time will be able to get in the car and drive 15 minutes to come watch this massacre. I can't wait."

"We stay focused in the gym. The inactivity doesn't mean anything. It's no issue," he said. "I've had hand issues in the past, but I'm able to preserve my body and stay sharp, stay focused. I'm a fighter that's always in shape. I never take a day off. You can ask my wife. On anniversaries, we're in the gym. On birthdays, we're in the gym."

Diaz has been much more active and last fought in February, but he said that is not necessarily an advantage.

"I don't think the fact that I've been more active will give me any advantage," Diaz said. "I'm just doing what I'm supposed to be doing and getting the experience I need inside the ring before facing an elite fighter like Gary Russell Jr. My preparation has been good. I've fought tremendous opponents and I have all the experience to come out victorious May 19.

"I think his speed is an obstacle; he's very fast. But that's the thing about me -- I'm good at adapting to any style that I fight. Come fight night I know that his speed is going to be fast, but it's nothing that I won't be able to take or nothing that will shock me. I'm going to be able to adapt to that speed and make sure I'm able to land my shots when he's opening up. I'm very confident; 100 percent confident I'll beat him. I know that this is an opportunity that is presented to me and I'll be victorious."

[Ruthless-RKO]

Undercard Update

The Russells of Capitol Heights, Maryland will team up again for an exciting night of boxing for their hometown fans. Three of the five boxing brothers, all trained by their father, Gary, Sr., will compete on the same card for the second time in their careers at MGM National Harbor in Maryland on Saturday, May 19.

The event is headlined by Gary Russell, Jr. defending his featherweight world title against mandatory challenger Joseph Diaz Jr. live on SHOWTIME (10 p.m. ET/PT). His brothers, super lightweight Gary Antuanne Russell and bantamweight Gary Antonio Russell will compete in separate non-televised bouts on the undercard.

The 21-year-old Gary Antuanne (5-0, 5 KOs) will take on Wilmer Rodriguez (9-2, 7 KOs) in an eight round 140-pound match. Russell was a member of the U.S. boxing team at the 2016 Olympic games. He made his professional debut fighting on the same card as his other two brothers at MGM National Harbor last May 20 when he scored a TKO victory over Josh Ross. With his brothers and father working his corner at his last fight, he scored a stoppage victory over Andrew Rodgers in Brooklyn on April 21.

Gary Antonio (10-0, 8 KOs) will battle Esteban Aquino (12-4, 7 KOs) in an eight-round bantamweight match. Russell scored a knockout victory over Marco Antonio Mendoza Chico in his last fight on Nov. 21 and the card with his brothers last May 20, the 25-year-old Russell stopped Jovany Fuentes for a TKO victory.

In additional undercard action, Cobia Breedy (10-0, 4 KOs) will fight in an eight-round featherweight match and Immanuel Aleem (17-1-1, 10 KOs) steps into the ring for a 10-round middleweight match. Plus, Moshea Aleem (4-1-2, 2 KOs) battles Rayton Okwiri (2-0, 1 KO) in a six-round super welterweight match and Brandon Quarles (18-4-1, 9 KOs) clashes with Fred Jenkins, Jr. (10-5, 3 KOs) in an eight-round super welterweight bout.

[Ruthless-RKO]

Next Saturday. Anyone as excited as this? I'm not sure they're showing this in the UK. Might be part of the split-site telecast for Jack-Adonis.

[ldlamb]

I’m excited...I’ll be there live,

[Ruthless-RKO]

I’m excited...I’ll be there live,

Good on ya.

[diddy]

Damn what a great fight. I'll go Russell but it will likely be damn close.

[Best Coast]

It's just about a pick 'em fight. I'm leaning Russell because he could win decision or KO, while I dont see Diaz stopping Russell.

[SenorPipino]

Tough call.

Russell hasn't gotten the most out of his outstanding talent, fighting once a year.

He better be sharp or Diaz will take the belt. Perhaps Russell will rue being so inactive.

[chuck9788]

I see Russell doing better outside work and using his veteran advantages to get the decision. I feel Diaz is still green and not yet ready for this big step up in class. I'm not exactly sold if Diaz will ever get much better. Hopefully, he proves me wrong and brings it.