Jhonny Gonzalez vs. Gary Russell Jr.
Photo edit by Keystone Boxing
Tony Calcara, Staff Writer
The 33-year-old Jhonny Gonzalez has won five straight including a first round KO of Abner Mares. A southpaw, Gary Russell Jr., 26, has quick hands and hopes that his southpaw style will give Gonzalez a hard time.
The fighter who invests in punching to the body will have the advantage. I like Gonzalez to win.
Prediction: Gonzalez
Lou Catalano, Senior Writer
After years of fighting guys fresh from janitorial jobs, Gary Russell Jr. finally stepped up the competition last year. Unfortunately, it was against Vasyl Lomachenko, which is like hitting a few home runs in beer league softball and then trying to hit off of Clayton Kershaw.
Now, he’s taking on monster puncher. Jhonny Gonzalez. Russell Jr. should be able to box circles around Gonzalez, but if he tastes that power, he’s going to sleep. I’m betting he’ll hold him off though and pull out a decision win.
Prediction: Russell Jr.
Alex McLeish, Staff Writer
The toughest fight of the weekend to predict is a classic styles matchup between a veteran slugger and a young, slick speedster. Jhonny Gonzalez might have peaked when he knocked out Abner Mares back in August 2013, while Gary Russell Jr. received the best boxing lesson of his career in a tough-fought loss to Vasyl Lomachenko back in June 2014.
I’m expecting Russell Jr. to turn it into a disappointingly boring fight by using his speed to keep away from Gonzalez, while doing enough work in close to score points, before slipping away from danger.
Gonzalez will try to cut-off the ring, and do everything he can to slow Russell Jr. down and make it a rough fight. Unfortunately for Gonzalez, he won’t be able to hit what he can’t catch.
Prediction: Russell Jr.
Zuri Lopez, Contributing Writer
Prediction: Gonzalez
Alex Burgos, Staff Writer
Because Gary Russell Jr. has only fought one marquee name–and got soundly beaten in that fight–the jury is still out on him. Folks are interested to see if Russell Jr. will become champion like many predicted before the shellacking he took at the hands of Vasyl Lomachenko.
I like Jhonny Gonzalez, he’s always been a hard hitter and can change the landscape of any fight, at any time because of his dynamite fists. But, let’s not forget that before his blitzing of Abner Mares, people were writing Gonzalez off as a former top-tier contender (and champion).
He caught an unsuspecting Mares with some monster blows to win the WBC title, but since then, he hasn’t done much–and no, beating an undersized and over matched Jorge Arce does not count for much.
If Russell Jr. is going to win a title at Featherweight, this is the time and the right opponent. I think Russell Jr. uses his athleticism and quickness to frustrate Gonzalez and boxes the Mexican’s socks off to win by decision.
Prediction: Russell Jr.
