Gary Russell vs. Mark Magsayo | Showtime - January 22, 2022

[margaret thatcher]

lol, might not be a bad idea

[Ruthless-RKO]

Press Release | Tugstsogt Nyambayar vs. Sakaria Lukas Now Set as Russell-Magsayo Opener

Hard-hitting featherweight contender Tugstsogt “King Tug” Nyambayar will now take on once-beaten contender Sakaria Lukas in the 10-round telecast opener live on SHOWTIME this Saturday, January 22 in a Premier Boxing Champions event from Borgata Hotel Casino & Spa in Atlantic City, N.J.

The SHOWTIME CHAMPIONSHIP BOXING telecast begins at 9 p.m. ET/6 p.m. PT and is headlined by WBC Featherweight World Champion Gary Russell Jr. defending his title against top contender and WBC mandatory challenger Mark Magsayo. Super lightweight contenders Subriel Matías and Petros Ananyan meet for a rematch in the 12-round co-main event.

Vic Pasillas was originally scheduled to face Nyambayar, but was forced to withdraw after a positive COVID-19 test.

Tickets for the live event, which is promoted by TGB Promotions, are on sale now and can be purchased through Ticketmaster.com.

Nyambayar (12-2, 9 KOs) won a silver medal representing his native Mongolia in the 2012 Olympics and now lives in Southern California, where he’s trained by John Pullman. The 29-year-old ascended the featherweight rankings after his extensive amateur career with victories over then unbeaten Harmonito Dela Torre and former interim champion Oscar Escandon. He earned his first world title shot by defeating former champion Claudio Marrero in January 2019, before dropping his championship bout against Russell on SHOWTIME. Nyambayar returns to the featherweight division after challenging top 130-pounder Chris Colbert in a July contest he lost by decision.

Lukas (25-1, 17 KOs) steps into the ring looking for his third straight win to put himself in position to vie for a world title. A native of Omuthitugwalwani, Namibia, his U.S. debut came in December 2020 as he dropped a 10-round decision against Mexican contender Isaac Avelar. Lukas, who has fought professionally since 2011, bounced back from the defeat by knocking out Mario Macias Orozco in February 2021 before earning a decision victory over Marco Antonio Chable in March 2021.

The non-televised undercard will include unbeaten super welterweight Evan Holyfield (8-0, 6 KOs), son of legendary heavyweight champion Evander Holyfield, taking on Virginia’s Chris Rollins (5-3-1, 4 KOs) in a six-round fight, plus Philadelphia’s Rasheen Brown (11-0, 7 KOs) in a six-round featherweight duel against fellow unbeaten Katsuma Akitsugi (7-0, 1 KO).

Rounding out the lineup is Puerto Rico’s Abimael Ortiz (9-1-1, 5 KOs) in an eight-round super bantamweight bout, unbeaten middleweight LeShawn Rodríquez (12-0, 9 KOs) battling Atlanta’s Sixto Suazo (9-2-1, 7 KOs) for eight-rounds of action and the pro debut of Washington, D.C. native Max Garland in a four-round welterweight contest.

[adislav123]

one fight a year as a world champion in his prime between 27 and 32 just is mindboggling.

why ffs? why?

[ironbeard]

one fight a year as a world champion in his prime between 27 and 32 just is mindboggling.

why ffs? why?

"I’ve been calling out everybody who’s supposed to be somebody. I think the reason you only see me competing once a year is because a lot of these fighters, a lot of these promoters and managers don’t feel as though it’s in their best interest to put their fighter, or these fighters' best interest to get in the ring with me,” Russell told “The Last Stand with Brian Custer.”

"I’m not at all satisfied fighting once a year, I would love to be able to compete and display my skills and my abilities to my fans, to the people who generally love the work and the effort that I put in. I just play the cards that are dealt with."

And this . . .

“I’m prepared to fight anybody who is willing to step in the ring, none of these guys who are supposed to be the best are willing to step in the ring with Gary Russell Jr., therefore I’m fighting my mandatory challenger,” Russell (31-1, 18 knockouts) told The Ring.

“The WBC made Rey Vargas my mandatory challenger, he was supposed to be my opponent. I don’t know how many times but that fight didn’t materialize. I can’t force these guys to get into the ring.”

https://www.ringtv.com/633368-gary-rus ... -the-road/

[KiwiRider]

This kid has an extremely quick left hook with stun power, as well as a heavy right hand. GR Jr needs to be on his game or it gets interesting.

Ah!
I didn't believe for a minute you weren't going to watch this, when in December you said (and I'm paraphrasing) "meh"
It will be alright, Magsayo isn't going to clam up, he will bring it to Russell. And has Russell slipped in his time out of the ring, and 33 years old

[ironbeard]

This kid has an extremely quick left hook with stun power, as well as a heavy right hand. GR Jr needs to be on his game or it gets interesting.

Ah!
I didn't believe for a minute you weren't going to watch this, when in December you said (and I'm paraphrasing) "meh"
It will be alright, Magsayo isn't going to clam up, he will bring it to Russell. And has Russell slipped in his time out of the ring, and 33 years old

Good point, but I pretty much always watch his fights. I’m just bored with the once a year thing.

This is a good card that I would watch without him, which means I am definitely watching it with him. I was not familiar with Magsayo. I like what I see.

[Ruthless-RKO]

Leo Santa Cruz: I Know What Gary Russell's Going Through; Hope His Dad Is Doing Good, Recovers

Leo Santa Cruz can empathize with Gary Russell Jr. like perhaps no other boxer in the sport.

Just like his rival, Santa Cruz has been trained by his father throughout his career as an amateur and professional. Santa Cruz felt lost when his dad, Jose, couldn’t train him at times while he battled cancer and later COVID-19.

Russell acknowledged recently that he has essentially trained himself for his upcoming bout because his father/trainer, Gary Russell Sr., has been recovering from having one of his feet amputated last month, a complication from type 2 diabetes. Gary Russell Sr. is expected to attend his son’s fight Saturday night against Mark Magsayo, but it isn’t clear if the elder Russell will be able to work his corner.

In Southern California, meanwhile, Jose Santa Cruz has been busy helping Leo Santa Cruz prepare for what will be his first fight in 15 months. Leo Santa Cruz (37-2-1, 19 KOs) is scheduled to oppose Phoenix’s Keenan Carbajal (23-2-1, 15 KOs) in a 12-round junior lightweight fight February 5 at Mandalay Bay’s Michelob ULTRA Arena in Las Vegas.

“You know, it’s really hard going through that and I know what Gary Russell’s going through,” Leo Santa Cruz told Boxing Scene. “You know, I send blessings to him. I hope his dad is doing good and he recovers and continues to do good. You know, I send nothing but the best for him. It’s very hard to go through that, you know, seeing your dad suffer and not able to do nothing.

“You want him to be in the gym. You know, your dad has always been there in the gym with you. And when he can’t do that, you miss that. You miss that and you just wish all the bad things that’s happening and all the health issues he’s going through never happened. … You want him to be normal and be happy and be able to enjoy everything that we have won and everything.”

Leo Santa Cruz’s older brother, Antonio, has served as his head trainer when their father couldn’t perform those duties. After he conquered cancer, Jose Santa Cruz nearly succumbed to COVID-19 in 2020.

The four-division champion remembers how frustrating it was to not have his dad’s familiar voice guiding him through training sessions during those trying times.

“It was very hard because, like I said, our dad has always been there for us in the gym, motivating us,” Leo Santa Cruz said. “And when he wasn’t here, screaming at us, we missed all that. The truth [is], we’re not really focused on the fight because we’re thinking about our dad. We’re checking if he’s doing good, if he’s gonna be able to be there at the fight with us. It’s a big distraction, not having our dad there, because mostly we’re thinking about them, hoping they’re doing good and everything like that. So, it’s very hard.”

Leo Santa Cruz also noted that he would still like to fight Russell later this year in a long-discussed showdown that hasn’t materialized. Both boxers are heavily favored to win their upcoming matches.

Showtime will air the 12-round battle between Russell (31-1, 18 KOs), of Capitol Heights, Maryland, and the Philippines’ Magsayo (23-0, 15 KOs) as the main event of a three-bout broadcast from Borgata Hotel, Casino & Spa in Atlantic City, New Jersey (9 p.m. ET). Russell, boxing’s longest-reigning men’s champion, will make a mandatory defense of his WBC featherweight title against the hard-hitting Magsayo.

Santa Cruz-Carbajal is the co-feature of a FOX Sports Pay-Per-View show that’ll feature former WBA/WBC welterweight champion Keith Thurman (29-1, 22 KOs, 1 NC) and ex-WBA world super lightweight champion Mario Barrios (26-1, 17 KOs) in the main event.

[Ruthless-RKO]

Gary Russell: If I Could Make Two Fights, I'd Want Gervonta Davis & Lomachenko

“If I could make two fights that I would want to happen,” Russell said, “I’d want Gervonta ‘Tank’ Davis and I would want Lomachenko.”

I mean, to be honest with you, I never overlook anybody, you know,” Russell said in reference to his upcoming fight with Magsayo. “Of course I would want the [Davis] fight. You know, but as a man, I’m focusing on Mark. You know, Mark is the one that is willing to step into the ring and worked his way up the rankings to challenge me for my world title. Gervonta ‘Tank’ Davis, he’s not in a rush. Or maybe Floyd Mayweather [Davis’ promoter], Leonard Ellerbe, none of them guys, are not in a rush of putting him in the ring with me. You know, I’d rather focus on a true warrior, a true gladiator, someone that’s willing to put it all on the line and bring their physical best. That’s Mark.”

[ironbeard]

Can’t find anything to criticize in either of the two posts above. Maybe we are destined for a 2 fight year from GR Jr. And it is always a treat watching LSC.

They both come across as decent, well balanced individuals. Masayo is no joke though. Gary best not be distracted.

[KiwiRider]

Gary has had how long to make the rematch with Loma?
Wasn't interested 5 years ago. Could have stepped up a weight to do it.
Could have actually asked for it.
And now he sees Loma has slipped a little bit and suddenly he wants it.
What an areswipe. Piss off.

Hopefully Russell has slipped too, and Magsayo puts his lazy arse to the canvas.

[Ruthless-RKO]

[Ruthless-RKO]

Russell vs Magsayo weigh-in start time is scheduled for Friday, January 21 at 1 pm ET / 10 am PT in the US and 6 pm GMT in the UK, which makes it 5 am AEDT in Australia and 2 am PST in the Philippines on Saturday, January 22.

Live stream video from Borgata Hotel Casino & Spa – The Music Box is available up top.

[Ruthless-RKO]

‘Mayweather, Ellerbe in no rush’ for Gervonta Davis vs Gary Russell Jr.

The longest-reigning world champion in boxing says Floyd Mayweather and Leonard Ellerbe are happy to wait for Gervonta Davis to face him.

This weekend, Gary Russell Jr. is ready to return against Mark Magsayo. However, the WBC super-featherweight ruler said Davis was one of two fighters he wanted to battle next.

“If I could make two fights that I would want to happen,” Russell told the PBC Podcast. “I’d want Gervonta’ Tank’ Davis, and I would want Lomachenko.”

As he approaches his first bout in two years, the American accuses Davis and his team of putting an unspecified delay on the pair ever meeting in the ring.

“Gervonta ‘Tank’ Davis, he’s not in a rush. Or maybe Floyd Mayweather [Davis’ promoter], Leonard Ellerbe, none of the guys, are not in a rush of putting him in the ring with me,” Russell said on the eve of his clash with Magsayo.

Turning his attention to the Magsayo event, Russell was looking forward to ending another lengthy spell out of action.

“At the end of the day, I’m a gladiator, and I love what I do,” he pointed out. “I love showing the skill set that I bring to the sport of boxing.

“Nothing has come easy for us. It is not unfamiliar territory for me or my family.”

RING RUST

On whether he may struggle due to his absence, Russell added: “There are no concerns about ring rust. I’m always in the gym.

“I haven’t taken two months off from training since I was about four or five. Boxing is not just what I do. It’s a lifestyle for me.

“I’m competing in the first month of the year, so if we can get through the fight injury-free, we’re going to try to swing back around this summer.

“I need a willing opponent. I’m willing to move up in weight, but if I move up, I want to compete against another champion.”

GERVONTA DAVIS

With Gervonta Davis on his mind for later this year, Russell knows that a significant performance may not attract those more prominent names he wants.

“If I go out there and I destroy Mark on Saturday, then the big fights that I want, those fighters won’t be in a rush to face me. Not that they are now anyway.

“I’m always trying to give the same message when I enter the ring. I believe in intellect over athleticism, no matter the situation.”

[KiwiRider]

Upset anyone?


Ring rust, personal issues, age, desire?

[Ruthless-RKO]

Upset anyone?


Ring rust, personal issues, age, desire?

He’s genuinely a ducked boxer.

He’s always in the gym.

[KiwiRider]

Upset anyone?


Ring rust, personal issues, age, desire?

He’s genuinely a ducked boxer.

He’s always in the gym.

Yes, and he is a reflex boxing little guy turned 33.
Guys his size tend to fall off a cliff in their early 30's, some make it further successfully but they generally rely on power and a bit of chin.
Not saying that a slide has happened in the 23 months since his last fight, but there is a chance it has.

[Fightdoctor]

Yeah I like Magsayo to bring it to Gary from round one. Beat that body till he can't move his legs and win by KO in round 10.

[Ruthless-RKO]

Gary came in slightly overweight.

Made weight at second attempt.

[Las Vegas boxing guy]

Gary Russell's long layoffs may serve to finally hurt him in this contest. I'm also concerned that Russell is looking past this fight.

He better be focused because Magsayo is a skilled 23 year old hungry fighter. I see Mags as a very live underdog tonight.

[Las Vegas boxing guy]

Gary came in slightly overweight. Made weight at second attempt.

Russell made it by a 1/2 lbs in his second attempt (125.5 lbs) in the 126 lbs weight limit.

[Ruthless-RKO]

Gary came in slightly overweight. Made weight at second attempt.

Russell made it by a 1/2 lbs in his second attempt (125.5 lbs) in the 126 lbs weight limit.

Yh I thought he’d come ON weight on second attemp. But he came below.

[ironbeard]

Yeah I like Magsayo to bring it to Gary from round one. Beat that body till he can't move his legs and win by KO in round 10.

Join the 2022 Fight Picks Contest! 15 minutes to get your picks in.

[KiwiRider]

Gary Russell's long layoffs may serve to finally hurt him in this contest. I'm also concerned that Russell is looking past this fight.

He better be focused because Magsayo is a skilled 23 year old hungry fighter. I see Mags as a very live underdog tonight.

I'd like to think that too, thing is I've underestimated Russell a lot.
Mainly because he fights so infrequently I forget just how good he is.
Long layoff, 33 years old, it could happen.

[gregregegg]

Garry russell Jrs last fight with Nyambayar was fairly close. since then Nyambayar had a close win vs Cobia Breedy and Lost nearly every round vs chriss colbert, proving Naymbayar isnt top shelf.

If garry went close with not top shelf 2 years ago, and has been inactive since its pretty plauseable that he may have lost some timing and speed, making him a very beatable fighter.

i dont really know Mark Magsayo, and im sure he is still underdog, but I feel Garry is very beatable now especialy with poor activity, think Garry russel jr will lose to his next Good opponent (whenever the fornicate that may be).

[KiwiRider]

He carrys a bit of power does Maga.
If he can catch Russell with it is another matter.