Jhonny Gonzalez-Gary Russell: Pre-Report Card

by Cliff Rold

Talent versus experience.

Battle tested versus protected.

These are the dimensions of an intriguing clash in one of boxing’s hottest divisions on Saturday night (Showtime, 10 PM EST/7 PM PST). 2008 Olympian Gary Russell Jr. () has plenty of tools. He’s been matched like he doesn’t, carefully guided towards now two title shots on paths of lesser resistance.

It got him beat handily last year by the talented and go-for-broke from the start Vasyl Lomachenko. Will that fight, and an aging veteran, mean the second time is the charm?

Gonzalez has been in with so many of the top guys. He’s lost wars to the likes of Israel Vazquez, been shocked by Toshiaki Nishioka and Gerry Penalosa, and outboxed by Daniel Ponce De Leon. He’s shocked Hozumi Hasegawa and Abner Mares and outboxed Fernando Montiel. Does he have the experience, and the mettle, to overcome the speed of Russell?

Let’s go the report card.

The Ledgers

Jhonny Gonzalez

Age: 33


 Current Title: WBC Featherweight (2013-Present, 2 Defenses)

Previous Titles: WBC Featherweight (2011-12, 4 Defenses); WBO Bantamweight (2005-07, 3 Defenses)

Height: 5’6 ½

Weight: TBA


 Hails from: Mexico City, Mexico

Record: 57-8, 48 KO, 3 KOBY

Rankings: #1 (BoxingScene, ESPN, Ring), #2 (TBRB, BoxRec)

Record in Major Title Fights: 11-3, 8 KO 3 KOBY

Current/Former World Champions/Titlists Faced: 15 (Francisco Tejedor TKO1; Adonis Rivas UD12; Ratanachai Sor Vorapin TKO7; Mark Johnson KO8; Fernando Montiel SD12; Israel Vazquez TKO by 10; Irene Pacheco TKO9; Gerry Penalosa KO by 7; Mauricio Pastrana TKO4; Toshiaki Nishioka TKO by 3; Hozumi Hasegawa TKO4; Elio Rojas UD12; Daniel Ponce De Leon L8; Abner Mares KO1; Jorge Arce TKO 11)

Vs.

Gary Russell Jr.


Age: 26

Title/Previous Titles: None

Height: 5’5

Weight: TBA


 Hails from: Capitol Heights, Maryland

Record: 25-1, 14 KO

Rankings: Unrated

Record in Major Title Fights: 0-1

Current/Former World Champions/Titlists Faced: 6 (Mauricio Pastrana TKO1; Vasyl Lomachenko L12)

Grades

Pre-Fight: Intangibles – Gonzalez A; Russell B

Fighters who can get to Gonzalez before he gets to them are a problem. They are a problem for most fighters but it could be exacerbated here. Gonzalez can offset some of that with a considerable reach advantage. He’s only a little taller. He’s quite a bit longer. Gonzalez, while beloved for his brawls, can box better than he gets credit for. His defense isn’t superb, but he knows how to create space when he needs it.

He hasn’t lasted this long just playing a punching bag.

Opponents have to dare to cross the space. Some have gotten through. More have been caught, dropped, and punished. Russell, when hit back by Lomachenko, was less daring as the fight wore on. Lomachenko is much quicker and technical than Gonzalez. His power isn’t as intimidating. If Gonzalez can whack Russell behind the jab a few times, can he negate the younger and fresher man’s speed?

It’s not inconceivable. Russell, as he’s progressed and sometimes stagnated, has looked like a fighter with more talent than refinement. Everything he does looks pretty good, but he hasn’t shown a great deal of dimension to his game. He does his thing, does it fast, and it usually works. The southpaw can improve and develop his game. He has to start now.

Defensively, both men have holes. Russell showed against the only top tier talent he’s faced that he can be timed and tagged. Gonzalez has been felled to the head and body. Russell isn’t any sort of proven huge puncher but if he can get to Gonzalez, one assumes he can do some damage.

In terms of intangibles, this is known versus still somewhat unknown. What we do know was that Russell didn’t have a plan b the first time he needed it. Gonzalez has been in fights where he had to adjust, been in circumstances where he was presumed no more than a risky opponent (think Mares and Hasegawa) and he won. His fifteen-year career speaks for itself.

The Pick

Russell will have something to say this weekend. He’s catching Gonzalez at a good time. It’s almost two years since the Mares win and Gonzalez has been carefully matched since. His last win, over shopworn Jorge Arce, was a payday for both in Mexico and a mismatch everywhere else. It says here that Russell will get by the jab and overwhelm Gonzalez with combinations. An early stoppage wouldn’t be a huge surprise. Either way, the pick is Russell to begin to put some trophy where now only talent lies.         

Report Card and Staff Picks 2015: 11-3

Cliff Rold is the Managing Editor of BoxingScene, a founding member of the Transnational Boxing Rankings Board, and a member of the Boxing Writers Association of America.  He can be reached at roldboxing@hotmail.com