Gary Russell Jr.: We’re trying to get our hands on Juan Manuel Lopez next

Photo: Tom Casino/SHOWTIME

In the opening bout of the telecast, unbeaten, world-rated southpaw Gary Russell Jr. (24-0, 15 KO’s), of Capitol Heights, Md., scored one knockdown en route to a lopsided 10-round decision over Russia’s Vyacheslav Gusev (20-3, 5 KO’s).  Despite hurting both his hands during the fight, featherweight Russell hurled a shutout by the lopsided score of 100-89 on all three judges’ scorecards.

After the fight we spoke to Russell and asked him to grade his performance.

“I’m not sure, I got to sit back and actually watch the tape, I’m definitely my worst critic, but based on what happened with my hands ( Russell jr. injured his left hand during the fight  ) I think I showed my versatility as a fighter, that I am real poised, I still controlled the action, I didn’t panic, knowing I could use my left hand and I controlled the fight,”  Russell jr. would comment during our video interview.

As for who he would like to face next, Russell informed us he has his eyes set on Puerto Rican Juan Manuel Lopez next.

“Like I said were trying to get our hands on Juan Manuel Lopez. I think after that were going for a belt. We going to put our hands on Ponce de Leon, and take his belt.”

Russell doesn’t feel like promoters will get in the way of making the fight happen, since Lopez and him would put on a great show. He also informed us that his promoter, Golden Boy Promotions had begun talks to make the fight happen.

“We definitely talked and they’re [Golden Boy Promotions] looking to make that fight happen. We want to give people a show. There’s a lot of people that are saying that boxing is going downhill. And we want to give a good performance, I think me and Lopez would be a good match and the fight would take me where I want to be in my career.”

Russell also informed us that weight wouldn’t be an issue, and would be willing to meet Juan Ma at a catch weight of 128, if it were necessary to make the fight happen.

“I would definitely fight him at a catch weight of 128. It is not a problem. ”

When given a chance to send Juan Ma a message, Russell would elect to keep his words short in order to not frighten away a possible foe

“I don’t want to scare him off, I don’t want to scare him too bad and make him not want to take the fight. ”

Entire Interview with Gary Russell