Photo by Tom Casino/Showtime
On Saturday, May 20, 2017, Showtime Championship Boxing presents a split-site championship double header.
Gervonta Davis (17-0, 16 KOs) makes the first defense of his IBF title against Liam Walsh (21-0, 14 KOs) at the Copper Box Arena in London.
Across the pond, WBC Featherweight champion Gary Russell Jr. (27-1, 16 KOs) will defend his title against Oscar Escandon (25-2, 17 KOs) at MGM National Harbor in Oxon Hill, MD.
Read on for Round By Round Boxing‘s staff predictions for Russell Jr. vs. Escandon and Davis vs. Walsh and let us know who you think will win each bout.
Gervonta Davis vs. Liam Walsh
Liam Brady, Graphic Designer/Staff Writer
I believe Gervonta Davis will conclude this fight in the middle rounds. Liam Walsh is a solid boxer in his own right, with great technique, and he will probably make it competitive in the opening rounds–by throwing the jab and keeping Davis at range.
However, I don’t think he has the power to discourage Davis. As such, I see Davis getting to Walsh eventually and overwhelming him.
The tenacity, and strength, of Davis will be hard to nullify, in my opinion, and I see him stopping Liam Walsh–or winning a comfortable decision at the very least.
Prediction: Davis
Brandon Glass, Staff Writer
It’s hard to pick against Gervonta Davis after his title-winning performance against Jose Pedraza. Liam Walsh, like Pedraza, is bigger than Davis, has more experience and faced stiffer competition than Davis has at this point in his career.
Both fighters can punch and put their punches together well, which makes for an interesting situation should Walsh decide to close distance on the shorter Davis.
Walsh has a great chance to win, based on how he controls range with his footwork. However, if he decides to give up his reach, I think Davis wins in the phone booth. One thing that concerns me about Davis; in the Pedraza fight, there were some huge gaps of inactivity where he let Pedraza back in the fight.
I don’t think that bodes well for Davis should the inactivity surface in this matchup. That said, I think Davis’ body punching and power give him the slightest of edges.
Prediction: Davis
Ty Paul, Staff Writer
Credit to Gervonta Davis and his team for heading across the pond to make his first defense of his IBF Super Featherweight title.
Davis, who is fighting for the fourth time since early 2016, comes to London, England very active and looking to build his stardom at just 22 years old. Liam Walsh, who like Davis, is a southpaw and a live underdog on his home soil.
He doesn’t quite pack a power punch like Davis and hasn’t fought the same type of opposition. I see the American being too strong and physical for Walsh and keeping his title in his first defense with a late-round stoppage.
Prediction: Davis
Mike Burnell, Staff Writer
22 year old American Gervonta “Tank” Davis (17-0, 16 KOs) is coming off a career best win, wresting the IBF super featherweight title from Jose Pedraza in January.
Liam “Destiny” Walsh (21-0, 14 KOs) challenges the freshly minted champion in what would equate to home field advantage for the contender when they square off this weekend in London.
It will be a battle of the southpaws and will be fun while it lasts as the aggressive defending champion Davis stalks the more cautious challenger.
Walsh will be worn down by the pressure and slashing shots that Davis will alternate to his midsection and head, ultimately resulting in a stoppage in round six.
Prediction: Davis
Chris Nicastro, Staff Writer
Tank is gonna make the UK fans go silent. Gervonta Davis by KO.
Hopefully we get him against Tevin Farmer soon before he’s possibly fed to the wolves in a unification with Vasyl Lomachenko in the future.
Prediction: Davis
CJ Halloran, Staff Writer
Both of these men are young, powerful fighters, but I don’t think anyone can withstand Gervontaa Davis’ power.
I believe it’ll be an electrifying fight ending with a Davis knockout in Round 7.
Prediction: Davis
Alex Burgos, Editor-in-Chief
I like this fight for Gervonta Davis. Facing the mandatory challenger to his title in the UK is no duck or chump move.
This fight does a lot for Davis, particularly building his brand across the pond. All he has to do is win.
Easy, right?
Davis is quicker, stronger and if he’s focused he’s got the stuff to stop Liam Walsh inside the distance.
Prediction: Davis
Gary Russell Jr. vs. Oscar Escandon
Liam Brady, Graphic Designer/Staff Writer
I see Gary Russell Jr. stopping Oscar Escandon, who is the smaller man, and won’t be able to avoid the speed and ability of Russell Jr.
He will be far too quick, and smart, and I see him teeing off on his opponent from the get-go. His hooks are spiteful, particularly to the body, and I can see Escandon wilting in the first few rounds.
Prediction: Russell Jr.
Brandon Glass, Staff Writer
Considering Vasyl Lomachenko took his title and got to be the main attraction of the inaugural fight card in his back yard at the MGM National Harbor, Gary Russell Jr. has got to be a little salty right now.
This fight, on the other hand, is a showcase fight for Russell Jr. No disrespect to Oscar Escandon, but Russell Jr. has the fastest hands in boxing right now. He’s better technically and has been destroying his less-than-stellar competition since losing to the aforementioned Ukranian.
Escandon hasn’t had a professional fight in over a year. With Lomachenko looming over his head, Russell Jr. wants to impress. Expect a fast start and an entertaining finish. I doubt this fight goes three rounds.
Prediction: Russell Jr.
Ty Paul, Staff Writer
Both fighters have to be chomping at the bit, as neither have stepped into the ring in over a year. This fight was originally scheduled for March, but had to be postponed due to a injury to Oscar Escandon’s back in training.
Gary Russell Jr., as he says, is looking for a rematch with WBO Super Featherweight title holder Vasyl Lomachenko, his only career loss.
He’d have to move up in weight for that showdown, so maybe that could happen down the line. He’ll want to show he still has the goods to a national televised Showtime audience.
Russell Jr. can’t take Escandon lightly as the Colombian does have 17 KOs to go with his 25 wins. Escandon is going to want to make this fight ugly and brawl inside when he has the chance.
If he lets Russell Jr. keep his distance he could be in for a long night. Russell Jr. should impress here and hold onto his WBC Featherweight strap.
Prediction: Russell Jr.
Mike Burnell, Staff Writer
WBC world featherweight champion Gary Russell Jr (27-1, 16 KOs) has been defeated only once as a professional and that came against the virtually untouchable pound for pound champ Vasyl Lomachenko.
To say the left handed Russell Jr. is a skilled boxer is an understatement.
Enter Oscar “El Guerreo” Escandon (25-2, 17 KOs). He will concede three inches in height to the champion as well as experience at the world class level.
While Escandon may be a tough, game guy that just isn’t enough against someone with the skillset that Russell Jr. displays.
Russell Jr. will dominate and emerge victorious via wide unanimous decision.
Prediction: Russell Jr.
Chris Nicastro, Staff Writer
Pretty good, tough matchmaking in Gary Russell Jr.’s otherwise horribly mismanaged career. I like Gary by clear decision here, though.
Prediction: Russell Jr.
CJ Halloran, Staff Writer
Ever since getting beaten by Vasyl Lomachenko, Gary Russell Jr. has been on a fast track to regaining the respect he lost.
With that said, I do not believe Oscar Escandon has the goods to defeat a focused Russell Jr.
Prediction: Russell Jr.
Alan Garcia, Staff Writer
Gary Russell Jr. has a strong fire within him that burns for one name only, Vasyl Lomachenko. A man with a burning mission like this will stop at nothing until he’s able to extinguish that internal flame.
With that being said, Oscar Escandon will be easily outboxed and more than likely get knocked out. I don’t mean to undermine Escandon’s boxing abilities, but he shells up under constant attack with no response whatsoever.
One can even refer to this fight as “poetic justice” since he was given a “gift” victory against Tyson Cave three years ago. Easy fight for Gary Russell Jr.
If this fight goes the distance it’ll be in favor of Russell Jr. by unanimous decision, if this fight ends by KO or TKO it’ll be within five-to-eight rounds.
Prediction: Russell Jr.
Alex Burgos, Editor-in-Chief
Gary Russell Jr. has the skills to pay the bills. He’s quick–possibly has the quickest hands in boxing–and he’s got power.
Oscar Escandon is tough, but unless he’s able to get Russell Jr. to stand in the pocket and trade, he won’t be able to rough him up and land anything meaningful.
I like Russell Jr. to show his class and stop the charging Escandon late in the fight.
Prediction: Russell Jr.
