Gary Russell Jr. Uses Father of Leo Santa Cruz on Video, Seeks Unification Bout
By Robert Brizel, Head Real Combat Media Boxing Correspondent
Los Angeles, CA (September 23rd, 2019)– In a low-class move, worse than any ticket selling stunt ever attempted by Adrien Broner, World Boxing Council World Super Featherweight champion Gary Russell Jr. went into a dressing room to mess with the father of World Boxing Association Super World Super Featherweight champion Leo Santa Cruz, touch the man and his gold chains, and seemingly threaten him on video-unless Leo Santa Cruz comes to the table for a titular unification bout.
The seemingly hateful video clip of Russell taunting Leo Santa Cruz through his dad, Mr. Santa Cruz, has now gone viral on YouTube. Whether the video has racial or ethnic overtones is up to the viewer to decide. The video appears to be spontaneous and does not appear to be a setup.
Such hype is, in the least, inappropriate, and Russell, 30-1 with 10 knockouts, Capitol Heights, Maryland, might just wind up fighting Santa Cruz, 36-1 with 19 knockouts, Rosemead, California, by way of Huetamo, Mexico, in the near future. The issue is Russell might be perceived as launching a viral verbal challenge to Mexican ethnicity by claiming a violation of the elder Santa Cruz’ personal space and right to safety. By baiting a race or ethnic war, Russell is risking as a storm of controversy. Promoters might not go for it, and his video is sure to brew up some hate. Well, some fighters will do whatever it takes to sell tickets. Can Russell defeat Santa Cruz? It happens to be a great matchup if it happens in early 2020. Russell has lit the fire, and Santa Cruz is not the type to duck taunts and challenges.
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