Notebook: Despite 2-year layoff, Russell promises no rust against Magsayo

Matias seeks revenge against Ananyan; Kovalev comeback plans; Hrgovic-Yoka no go; Berlanga to headline Top Rank card at MSG; Quick hits; Show and tell

Jan 22, 2022

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Even though WBC featherweight titleholder Gary Russell Jr., who typically only fights once per year but did not fight at all in 2021, said he has no concerns about being sharp going into his first fight in two years against power-punching mandatory challenger Mark Magsayo.

“There are no concerns about ring rust,” Russell said on Thursday. “I’m always in the gym. I haven’t taken two months off from training since I was about four or five. Boxing is not just what I do. It’s a lifestyle for me.”

Russell will make his sixth title defense when he faces Magsayo in the main event of a Premier Boxing Champions tripleheader on Saturday (Showtime, 9 p.m. ET) at the Borgata Hotel Casino & Spa in Atlantic City, New Jersey.

Because Russell (31-1, 18 KOs), a 33-year-old southpaw from Capitol Heights, Maryland, is fighting in January, he said he is hopeful he will fight more than once this year — although we’ve heard that before — and be able to land a fight with a top opponent.

“If I go out there and I destroy Mark on Saturday, then the big fights that I want, those fighters won’t be in a rush to face me, not that they are now anyway,” Russell said. “Mark is actually willing to put it all on the line. He’s going to go out there and give it his best. A lot of other fighters want to hide from the best. But I know Mark wants this badly. It’s a pleasure to share the field of battle with him.

“I’m competing in the first month of the year, so if we can get through the fight injury-free, we’re going to try to swing back around this summer. I just need a willing opponent. I’m willing to move up in weight, but if I move up, I want to compete against another champion.”

The Freddie Roach-trained Magsayo (23-0, 16 KOs), 26, of the Philippines, who is promoted by Manny Pacquiao, earned the title shot with a highlight-reel 10th-round knockout of former junior featherweight titlist Julio Ceja on the Pacquiao-Yordenis Ugas undercard on Aug. 21 in Las Vegas.

Matias promises answers

When Puerto Rican puncher Subriel Matias squared off with New York-based Russian Petros Ananyan in a 10-round junior welterweight fight on the Tyson Fury-Deontay Wilder II undercard in Las Vegas in February 2020, Ananyan knocked Matias down and scored a major upset by 10-round decision.

Matias (17-1, 17 KOs), 29, has won two fights in a row since and is seeking revenge when he meets Ananyan (16-2-2, 7 KOs), 33, again, this time in a 12-rounder, in the Russell-Magsayo co-feature on Showtime.

“On Saturday you’re going to see my improvements,” Matias said. “All of the questions about me and about what happened in the first fight, they’re going to be answered in this fight. It’s either him or me, but one of us is getting knocked out. I need to make this a big victory to redeem myself and my career.

“Everyone knows how I fight and that I’m a fan-friendly fighter. That’s not going to change, but I’m so much better in so many ways and I’m going to display my skills in this fight.”

Matias has extra motivation by the presence of his mother in Atlantic City.

“I’m so excited that my mom is here to watch me fight for the first time in the U.S. I’m excited and I’m ready,” Matias said. “I’ve always promised my mother since we started boxing that I’m going to buy her a home of her own. I haven’t done that yet, but I promise I’m going to fulfill that promise.”

The six fighters on the Showtime telecast all made weight on Friday: Russell Jr. 125.5 pounds, Magsayo 125.5; Ananyan 140.5, Matias 141 (contracted at 141 pounds); and Tugstsogt Nyambayar 128, Sakaria Lukas 127.5 (contracted at 128 pounds).

Kovalev return in works

Triller Fight Club is working to put together a bout between former three-time light heavyweight titleholder Sergey Kovalev and Meng Fanlong for March 12 at a location to be determined in Southern California, a source with knowledge of the discussions told Fight Freaks Unite.

If the fight is finalized, it would take place at a catch weight to be determined above the light heavyweight limit of 175 pounds, the source said.

Kovalev (34-4-1, 29 KOs), 38, a Russia native fighting out of Santa Monica, California, has not fought since Canelo Alvarez moved up from middleweight to light heavyweight and spectacularly knocked him out to take his world title in November 2019.

Kovalev was scheduled to Sullivan Barrera in April 2020 in the main event of a Golden Boy card on DAZN, but the event was canceled due to the coronavirus pandemic.

Then he was due to fight then-unbeaten prospect Bektemir “Bek Bully” Melikuziev at 178 pounds on Jan. 30, 2021, in Indio, California, but the show was canceled when Kovalev tested positive for synthetic testosterone in a sample given to the Voluntary Anti-Doping Association.

Golden Boy owed Kovalev a comeback fight per the terms of the contract for the Alvarez fight, but has not put on a fight for him yet. Golden Boy claims it is no longer obligated to do so because of the failed drug test, and the company is in arbitration with Kovalev and his promoter, Main Events, over issue. While that is being sorted out, Kovalev-Meng is on the drawing board.

Meng (17-0, 10 KOs), a 33-year-old Chinese southpaw, was the mandatory challenger for light heavyweight titlist Artur Beterbiev but due to the pandemic and visa issues he never got the shot.

Hrgovic opponent hunt continues

So much for an IBF heavyweight title elimination fight between amateur rivals Filip Hrgovic and Tony Yoka for the right to become a mandatory challenger for the winner of the expected spring rematch between unified titlist Oleksandr Usyk and former titleholder Anthony Joshua.

Days after Yoka agreed to participate in negotiations for the fight with Hrgovic, against whom he was 2-1 in the amateur ranks, including in the 2016 Olympic super heavyweight semifinals on the way the gold medal, he has been ruled unavailable by the IBF because of a dispute over whether Yoka is obligated to reschedule a fight with Martin Bakole, the younger brother of WBC cruiserweight titlist Ilunga Makabu.

The IBF is continuing down its rankings seeking one of its ranked contenders to participate. On Friday, after deeming Yoka unavailable, it notified the handlers of Joe Joyce (13-0, 12 KOs), 36, of England, and Agit Kabayel (21-0, 13 KOs), 29, of Germany, that they could have the fight against 2016 Olympic bronze medalist Hrgovic (14-0, 12 KOs), 29, of Croatia, a source told Fight Freaks Unite.

Joyce is almost certainly not going to take it as he is already ranked No.1 by the WBO and two weeks ago his promoter, Frank Warren, announced Joyce would be sidelined until April due to a recent wrist injury.

Yoka (11-0, 9 KOs), 29, of France, and Bakole (17-1, 13 KOs), 28, a Congo native fighting out of Scotland, were scheduled to fight Jan. 15 in Paris but the card was postponed in late December because the spread of Covid-19 in France caused the government to restrict aspects of sports and cultural events.

The IBF reached Yoka as it was going down its rankings seeking an opponent to accept the eliminator against Hrgovic after fighters such as Luis “King Kong” Ortiz and former titleholder Joseph Parker turned it down. Yoka was next and accepted the position, but Billy Nelson, Bakole’s trainer and manager, claims they still have a contract to fight Yoka and that Yoka co-promoter Jerome Abiteboul said he was planning to reschedule the bout. Nelson said he had been given dates of either March 5 or March 12.

“We were given two alternative dates, so they had full intention of fighting Martin,” Nelson wrote on social media.

Bakole’s team contacted the IBF to explain their side and seek to have Yoka removed from the title eliminator mix with Hrgovic. IBF notifications offering eliminator positions are very specific in that they clearly say fighters with other obligations or legal issues will be deemed unavailable.

On Friday, the IBF ruled Yoka was indeed unavailable.

“The IBF has reviewed the letter from Mr. Abiteboul dated Jan. 17, 2022 and will express no opinion as to whether the provision of services contract is still valid or not,” the IBF wrote in a letter to those involved, a copy of which was obtained by Fight Freaks Unite. “It is the opinion of the IBF that a legal impediment exists which could prevent the Yoka vs. (Hrgovic) bout from taking place and has determined that Tony Yoka is unavailable. The parties are disputing the validity of the contract and it not our job to intervene. The IBF has no intention of determining the validity of the contract.”

Berlanga tops ESPN card

Power-punching super middleweight prospect Edgar Berlanga will face Steve Rolls in a 10-rounder that will headline a Top Rank Boxing on ESPN card on March 19 (ESPN/ESPN Deportes/ESPN+, 10 p.m. ET) at the Hulu Theater at Madison Square Garden in New York, Top Rank announced, confirming a previous Fight Freaks Unite report.

The card will also include two other blue-chippers on the broadcast: junior middleweight Xander Zayas and 2020 U.S. Olympic silver medalist Keyshawn Davis.

Berlanga (18-0, 16 KOs), 24, a Puerto Rican from Brooklyn, New York, will return from October surgery to repair his torn left biceps he suffered during the third round of a 10-round decision victory over former world title challenger Marcelo Esteban Coceres on the Tyson Fury-Deontay Wilder III undercard on Oct. 9 in Las Vegas. Berlanga overcame the injury and the first knockdown of his career.

“I’m so excited to fight in my first main event in my hometown,” Berlanga said. “It’s a dream come true for a fighter representing New York City and Puerto Rico. I can’t wait to show the world what I’m truly about. We are going to blow the roof off the Hulu Theater.”

Rolls (21-1, 12 KOs), 37, of Toronto, suffered his only loss by fourth-round knockout to Gennadiy Golovkin at Madison Square Garden in June 2019 and has won two fights since.

“I feel very strong with nothing but war on my mind,” Rolls said. “Berlanga has power, but I'll be ready for whatever he brings.”

Zayas (12-0, 9 KOs), 19, a Puerto Rican from Plantation, Florida, will have his first scheduled eight-rounder when he faces Quincy LaVallais (12-2-1, 7 KOs), 28, of Kenner, Louisiana, in the co-feature.

“2021 was a great year, but I'm looking forward to an even bigger 2022,” Zayas said. “Quincy LaVallais is a solid veteran, so I can't overlook him. I want to make a major statement on March 19.”

Davis (4-0, 3 KOs), 22, of Norfolk, Virginia, won three pro bouts before claiming Olympic silver in Tokyo. He signed with Top Rank in November and debuted with the company on Dec. 11 at Madison Square Garden with a second-round knockout of Jose Zaragoza in a scheduled six-rounder. Now, Davis is moving into his first eight-rounder against Esteban Sanchez (18-1, 8 KOs), 23, of Mexico, who has won two fights in a row and will be making his American debut.

“I put on a show at Madison Square Garden in December, and I’m going to do it again,” Davis said. “Esteban Sanchez is supposed to be my hardest fight as a pro, but it’s going to be easy work.”

Quick hits

Once again the purse for the fight between heavyweight champion Tyson Fury and interim titlist and mandatory challenger Dillian Whyte has been postponed. It was slated for this past Tuesday but the WBC postponed it for logistical reason until Friday. But on Friday morning, WBC president Mauricio Sulaiman announced it had been delayed again, saying the WBC “received requests from both sides to extend the free negotiation period, which has been granted.” If they do not make a deal the purse bid is scheduled for Wednesday at the WBC offices in Mexico City and via video conference. Fury (31-0-1, 22 KOs), 33, of England, is entitled to 80 percent of the winning bid. British countryman Whyte (28-2, 19 KOs), 33, is due 20 percent, but he is in arbitration with the WBC over the split.

The WBO announced on Thursday that the purse bid for the bout between Demetrius Andrade and mandatory challenger Janibek Alimkhanuly (11-0, 7 KOs), which was scheduled for this past Saturday and then moved to Thursday, was delayed again. “The current Covid-19 situation in Puerto Rico has forced the purse bid for 160 lb. Champion Demetrius Andrade's mandatory defense against Janibek Alimkhanuly to be rescheduled once again. It will now be held Friday, January 28th at 11:00 am at the WBO main offices in San Juan,” the WBO said. Minimum bid is $200,000, but the camps could still make a deal.

Top Rank announced ESPN+-exclusive bouts (beginning at 6 p.m. ET) for its Jan. 29 ESPN card headlined by a 10-round junior lightweight bout between Robson Conceicao and Xavier Martinez at the Hard Rock Hotel & Casino in Tulsa, Oklahoma. Four-round fights include welterweight Tiger Johnson (1-0, 1 KO), a 2020 U.S. Olympian, versus Xavier Madrid (3-0, 1 KO); middleweight Nico Ali Walsh (3-0, 2 KOs), the grandson of Muhammad Ali, against Jeremiah Yeager (1-1-1, 1 KO); highly-touted featherweight Bruce “Shu Shu” Carrington (1-0, 0 KOs) against Steven Brown (1-0, 1 KO); and light heavyweight Dante Benjamin Jr.’s pro debut against Herman Rendon (2-0, 0 KOs). Also, featherweight prospect Haven Brady Jr. (4-0, 3 KOs) will face a foe to be named in a six-rounder.

Fox Sports will debut “Fox PBC Countdown” on Saturday (2 p.m. ET, Fox) as it previews the welterweight fight between former unified titleholder Keith Thurman and Mario Barrios, who meet in the headliner of a Premier Boxing Champions/Fox Sports pay-per-view on Feb. 5 at Michelob ULTRA Arena at Mandalay Bay in Las Vegas. The show is a behind the scenes look at how the fighters are preparing for the bout and will feature comments from Fox talent, including Brian Kenny, Lennox Lewis, Joe Goossen, Shawn Porter and Kate Abdo as they preview the bout.

Former junior welterweight titlist Regis Prograis (26-1, 22 KOs) is due to return for his first under his new promotional deal with Probellum in March, a source told Fight Freaks Unite.

The fight between welterweight contender Vergil Ortiz Jr. (18-0, 18 KOs) and Michael McKinson (21-0, 2 KOs), which is headlines a Golden Boy card on March 19 (DAZN), will take place at a venue to be confirmed in Los Angeles, sources told Fight Freaks Unite.

Show and tell

Two fights after Manny Pacquiao fought to a riveting draw in a featherweight championship fight with his greatest rival, Juan Manuel Marquez, Pacquiao moved up to junior lightweight and met his next greatest rival, Erik Morales, for the first bout of their famed trilogy. Morales scored a close decision — 115-113 on all three scorecards — in an all-time classic battle. A little less than a year later they met again in a hugely anticipated rematch. Despite having lost to Morales the first time, Pacquiao was a slight favorite because Morales was coming off a decision loss to Zahir Raheem four months earlier. In the rematch, which I covered at ringside at the Thomas & Mack Center in Las Vegas, Pacquiao and Morales let it all hang out again in another absolutely electrifying fight, but one Pacquiao took control of after a few rounds with his sheer aggression. He hurt Morales several times before finally knocking him down twice in the 10th round and getting the stoppage. It was the first time Morales had ever been stopped to that point in his Hall of Fame career. Pacquiao would go on to win the trilogy 2-1. The memorable rematch was on Jan. 21, 2006 — 16 years ago on Friday. Here is one of the two different and extremely limited site posters produced for the fight, both of which had print runs of only 250 apiece, in my collection. I also have one of these signed by both Pacquiao and Morales.

Photos: Amanda Westcott/Showtime and DAZN

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