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WBC Featherweight Champion Gary Russell Interview: Seeks Lee Selby Unification Bout
By Robert Brizel, Head Real Combat Media Boxing Correspondent
*Photo copyright Robert Brizel, Real Combat Media, All Rights Reserved
In a Real Combat Media international interview exclusive, World Boxing Council World Featherweight champion Gary Russell Jr. sat down and talked boxing at the Sands Casino Bethlehem after the ESPN card. Russell noted his WBC featherweight world championship belt is emblazoned with the photograph of the man who once held it, Salvador Sanchez.
Robert Brizel: “Gary Russell, you came in to watch the show tonight, with fighters who try to show dominance. What did you think of the Edner Cherry versus Haskell Rhode main event? Was it good for boxing?”
Gary Russell: “I think it’s good for boxing. Any fighter who’s willing to get in there put in the time, the hard work, and energy into preparing for a fight, he’s a true fighter in my eyes. I think they both definitely need to brush up on their technical skills, boxing IQ and ring generalship all the way around.”
Robert Brizel: You are now at 126 (fighting at 126 pounds). You see today a lot of fighters like Guillermo Rigondeaux and Vasyl Lomachenko moving around 126 to 130 pounds. So- who are you looking at next (to fight) on the radar?”
Gary Russell: “Honestly, next, I hold the WBC World Featherweight title, and I would like to compete against Lee Selby of Wales. He holds the IBF world title at 126 pounds. We definitely want to fight Lomachenko (again). I don’t care if he loses his next ten fights, or he wins his next ten fights. Before my career is over and done for, that’s definitely a fight (rematch) we want!”
Robert Brizel: “Now, Lomachenko has moved up to 130 pounds, and won the WBO World Super Featherweight title. You saw the Rocky Martinez fight.”
Gary Russell: I honestly didn’t watch the Lomachenko-Martinez fight. I don’t watch boxing at all. I’ve been doing it (acting this way my entire life, for about 20 years, I know my boxing, and my (career) highlights. Like I said, before my career is over, that’s a fight that we want, Lomachenko (again).”
Robert Brizel: “Does that mean you would be willing to go up to 130 pounds to fight him?”
Gary Russell: “That means (You heard what I said) I’d be willing to move up to 140 pounds to fight him. It doesn’t matter what weight division he’s in, I don’t care if we have to fight him at a catch weight.”
Robert Brizel: “Earlier tonight, I interviewed Javier Maciel, who lost a split decision to Pirog, and lost a split decision over in England to Brian Rose. If you were to fight Lee Selby, of course, Carl Frampton is coming over here to the United States on July 16 (to Barclays Center in Brooklyn, new York) to fight Leo Santa Cruz. If you fought Lee Selby, would you go to England, or you don’t care (where you fight him)?”
Gary Russell: “I definitely care. I definitely want home court advantage (for my fights). I would want him to cover here (lee Selby) to the United States (to fight me in a titular unification bout).”
Robert Brizel: “Does a fighter really have a fair chance over there in England when they go over there truthfully. It doesn’t seems so (for foreign fighters).”
Gary Russell: “It doesn’t seem so, it really doesn’t seem so. You have fighters who eally don’t care about the politics. They put themselves somewhat behind the eight ball when you go into someone else’s hometown and home country at that. You are looking for a knockout (under those circumstances) to insure a win. We don’t want to put ourselves in that situation because out skills set is better than theirs is. Of course we them to come over to the United States so we can beat them.”
Robert Brizel: Recently you heard that Alexander Povetkin got disqualified against Deontay Wilder. We have the Chris Arreola fighter with Wilde coming up on July 16, the so-called substitute. Now, a number of Russian athletes have been disqualified from participation in the Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro, and the Rio drug testing unit has been closed down, obviously because there is a fear the Brazilians could be favoring their Olympic athletes over the other ones in the testing procedures. In light of all this, does a fighter really have a fair chance going to Europe even at all when coming from this country (the United States)? Given, the number of athletes on PEDs (Performance Enhancing Drugs) over there (in Europe)?”
Gary Russell: “I honestly feel everything going on in the United States in general is affecting the athletes of our country. Point blank. Period.”
Robert Brizel: “I don’t know if you saw the front page of the newspapers recently. Lenny Dykstra of the New York Mets said he was on Human Growth Hormones during his baseball career, using steroids. How many athletes in professional sports are presently using Performance Enhancing Drugs in the United States, and how does it affect the boxer’s ability to have (fight) a fair fight?”
Gary Russell: “As far as how many people are using Performance Enhancing drugs in professional sports, I’m not sure. Does it affect the fighter’s chances? Of course! I feel as if any fighter who’s competing in a barbaric sport (such) as boxing, everyone should be drug tested. It’s fair. Mano a mano.”
Robert Brizel: “I was very surprised the Russians disqualified Alexander Povetkin, that they would disqualify their own fighter, because Deontay Wilder did not care. He wanted that big money. He wanted that fight, but the Russians disqualified Povetkin, which I thought was justified. In New York, New Jersey and Pennsylvania (where I cover boxing as reporter), things seem to be very clean. I don’t know fighters are fighting as clean in other stats (where testing for Performance Enhancing Drugs may not be as rigorous).”
Gary Russell: “I’m not sure about all of these things. You (as a fighter) have to pick and choose where you are going to compete at, because the politics definitely plays a big factor in the sport (of boxing).”
Robert Brizel: “For example, Montell Griffin will be coming back (rumored to be) next month at age 46 in Indiana, which is a state where you could get licensed in Indiana if you pass the eye test and the medical exams. Other states would not clear him. I guess a general physical is an important issue. What about for you? Floyd (Mayweather Jr.) likes to fight in Las Vegas. For your next three fights, do you really care where?”
Gary Russell: “No. I never really cared where. At the end of the day, the job has to get done. My job is as a competitor, as a fighter, as an entertainer is to go out and get the job done no matter where the venue is. I do (fight) to the best of my ability.”
Robert Brizel: “You are a very special man to me. You hold the belt which was at one point held by the legendary Salvador Sanchez. Sanchez won ten title bouts in a row, with nine title defenses. Do you think of him with your WBC World Featherweight championship belt? Remembering that he held it. “
Gary Russell: “Of course! You have to think of him. His picture is on the belt (my championship belt).”
Robert Brizel: “Salvador Sanchez has a nephew, Salvador Sanchez Castro, his sister’s son, who made a run as a featherweight. He was not very good. He tried. I think the WBC was a little bit nostalgic (rating him and putting him into WBC regional belt fights). In you division, do you think IBF World Featherweight champion Lee Selby is beatable?”
Gary Russell: “I think everyone in my division is beatable.”
Robert Brizel: “Everyone in your division is beatable? Let’s talk about Jason Sosa, who beat Javier Fortuna to win the WBA World Super Featherweight title. Is he somebody you would like to fight? It’s a new development (Sosa winning a world title at 130 pounds).”
Gary Russell: “I really don’t mean any disrespect at all, but I really don’t watch boxing at all. My only involvement is my own championship career). I’ve never seen the guy fight.”
Robert Brizel: “You would accept all challenges within reason?”
Gary Russell: “Within reason. It has to make sense. A lot of people are just fighters. Boxing is something I do without a plan as an individual (everything is a team decision). It has to make sense economically. I’m fighting out of Capitol Heights, Maryland.”
Robert Brizel: “Very interesting. Sugar Ray Leonard is out of Palmer Park, Maryland. We don’t see many boxing cards in Maryland, do we?”
Gary Russell: “Not really. They are trying to bring it back. Adrien Broner just competed nearby in a world title bout in Washington D.C. (this past April at the D.C. Armory). They are building the new MGM National Harbor (Casino) in National Harbor, Maryland.”
Reader’s Note: Opening in late 2016, the new MGM Harbor will have a 23 story hotel with 308 rooms, a 3000 seat theater, a 135,000 square feet in gaming space, 27,000 square feet of meeting and event space, and a parking garage with 4800 cars.”
Robert Brizel: “Gary, best wishes from Real Combat Media, and we look forward to following your great career.”
Gary Russell: “Appreciate it!”
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