By Jake Donovan

Jhonny Gonzalez returns to the city that played host to his last defeat, while Gary Russell Jr. looks to exorcise the demons still lingering from last year’s letdown versus Vasyl Lomachenko, his lone test to date in an otherwise protected career.

Yes, you can say both sides face must win situations ahead of their featherweight title fight Saturday evening at The Palms in Las Vegas, Nevada. The bout will air live on Showtime (10:00pm ET).

Gonzalez (57-8, 48KOs) attempts the third defense of the title he violently claimed in a 1st round upset knockout win over then-unbeaten Abner Mares in Aug. 2013. The moment registered as BoxingScene.com’s 2013 Upset of the Year, with Gonzalez extending his second featherweight title reign as he hopes to continue to sidestep Father Time.

The 33-year old is coming off of a well-publicized 11th round mercy stoppage of the legendary Jorge Arce last October. The clash was a huge deal in Mexico, so big that network rivals Televisa (Gonzalez) and TV Azteca (Arce) agreed to work together to present the most watched fight of 2014 in Mexico.

Russell (25-1, 14KOs) still has a long way to go in validating the accolades that came with his turning pro following a brilliant amateur career capped by his placement on the 2008 U.S. Olympic Boxing team. The D.C. native never had the chance to actually compete in the 2008 Beijing Olympics, passing out from dehydration during the morning weigh-in prior to the opening round of competition. 

His run in the pro ranks has been met with well-deserved criticism, as Russell was spoon-fed less than stellar opposition while being positioned towards his first title shot. The lack of real-time experience was evident in the lone loss of his career, as he was outpointed by two-time Olympic Gold medalist Vasyl Lomachenko – appearing in just his third pro fight at the time of their vacant featherweight title fight last June.

Read on to see how the staff at BoxingScene.com believes Saturday’s featherweight bout in Las Vegas will play out.

BOXINGSCENE.COM STAFF PREDICTIONS: JHONNY GONZALEZ vs. GARY RUSSELL JR.

Ryan Burton (Gonzalez TKO8): I think Russell will be jump out to an early lead in a competitive fight but will get caught in the middle of the fight and the power punching Gonzalez will roll on.

Jake Donovan (Russell UD): The biggest question here is what happens when Gonzalez lands a bomb. The guess here is Russell Jr. has no designs on finding out, relying solely on hand and foot speed to coast to a points win.

Terence Dooley (Russell late TKO): Given Gonzalez's recent fights, I wouldn't be surprised to see a few head clashes, lots of blood and some two-way action, but Russell's style, youth and recent form should see him through via a decision, maybe a Technical one, or a TKO (cuts).

Lyle Fitzsimmons (Russell Dec.): Gonzalez beat a legit champion to win his belt and Russell was thrashed in his lone title shot, but I still think the kid has too much skill for the older guy.

David Greisman (Russell TKO): I know a lot of people aren't sold on Russell Jr., and for very good reason. I know that Gonzalez is coming off a big one-round stoppage win of Abner Mares. But that was more than a year and a half ago, and I can't shake the feeling that maybe Gonzalez's career and style will take its toll, and that Russell has the style and hand speed to capitalize on these circumstances.

Steve Kim (Russell Dec): I think he builds up an early lead on his speed and quickness and coasts in the late rounds.

Peter Lim (Gonzalez mid-rounds TKO): Jhonny Gonzalez is one of those fighters who hits hard enough to knock out a charging rhinoceros, and at the same time, frail enough be rendered unconscious if a pigeon inadvertently flew smack into his head during his morning run. But Gonzalez will catch Russell before Russell catches him and the Mexican retains his title via stoppage win midway through the fight.

John MacDonald (Russell UD): A fight that's intriguing on paper may be far from it in the ring. Although Gonzalez has pulled of upsets before I can see Russell using his hand speed in spurts to steal enough rounds.

Takahiro Onaga (Gonzalez TKO5): Gonzalez hits so hard that I don't see Russell taking it.

Per-Ake Persson (Gonzalez Dec.): Difficult to go against a guy like Gonzales and I won’t.

Cliff Rold (Russell KO): Russell has been spoon fed outside Lomachenko but that doesn't matter here. Gonzalez is chinny, has miles, and the speed gap will be wide. Russell should impress and a stoppage inside three or four rounds wouldn't be surprising. Talent wins.

Victor Salazar (Russell Dec.): Was Gonzalez left hook on Abner Mares a mirage of what he truly is? Before the Mares fight, Gonzalez couldn’t seem to figure out the awkard style of Daniel Ponce De Leon. While we still don’t know what Gary Russell truly is, the only loss on his record is to Vasyl Lomachenko who everyone says is a pound for pound talent. I think Russell’s hand speed will give Gonzalez fit. While the danger of the left hook remains, I think Russell boxes his way to a decision victory.

Reynaldo Sanchez (Russell UD): Perhaps the most interesting fight of the week; The power vs. the skills. Gonzalez has problems in the past with faster and defensive fighters. Russell has no power to win by KO, but he has all the tools to win by points.

Alexey Sukachev (Russell MD): You never know which version of Jhonny will show up. He can be outboxed by Daniel Ponce De Leon the next night after a classy win over Elio Rojas. The feeling is that Gonzalez is slowing down. You never know - again! - but his wins over Mares (too quick) and Arce (too faded) ain't telling me anything. Russell in a hard fight with a display of speed against grit and power of the Mexican, maybe with a split.

Stacey Verbeek (Russell UD): In a classic youth and speed vs experience and power showdown, Gary Russell will start out early and build a lead over Gonzalez, using his speed to avoid Gonzalez's dangerous body punches.  Assuming that Russell has improved his conditioning to dictate the pace through 12 rounds, he should get the UD.

Danny Winterbottom (Gonzalez late TKO): Russell Jnr looked 'the business' on his way up the rankings.  His blurring hand speed and power proving too much for the trail horses and journeyman he was feeding on.  Fans demanded to know when he would step up.  The time finally came against outstanding former amateur star Vasly Lomachenko in June last year when they clashed for the vacant WBO featherweight title, but Russell came up short losing a majority decision. Now the Maryland native gets his shot at another outstanding fighter, WBC champion Jhonny Gonzalez.  But will the demons of the Lomachenko loss come back to haunt him? Gonzalez  blitzed the previously undefeated Abner Mares in one round back in 2013 and is a battled hardened warrior as well as a hard puncher.  This is a classic boxer vs. puncher encounter.  Russell has the hand speed to cause Gonzalez problems in the early going but I believe the Mexican will catch up with his flash challenger in the middle rounds to wear him down and perhaps force stoppage.

Jake Donovan is the Managing Editor of BoxingScene.com. Twitter: @JakeNDaBox