Photos: Gary Russell Decisions Nyambayar, Retains WBC Title

PPL Center in Allentown, Pennsylvania - WBC featherweight world champion Gary Russell Jr. (31-1, 18 KOs) won a twelve round unanimous decision over previously undefeated mandatory challenger Tugstsogt "King Tug" Nyambayar (11-1, 9 KOs). (photos by Amanda Westcott)

The scores were 116-112, 117-111 and 118-110.

A very close first round with Nyambayar pressing the action, and Russell countering and picking his punches at short distance. Russell's quick punches controlled the second. The jab of Russell kept Nyambayar at bay in the third. Russell's quick punches were bothering Nyambayar in the fourth.

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Nyambayar was doing better in the fifth, as he used his jab to get in and land punches. Nyambayar came out firing punches at the start of the sixth. Russell was happy to exchange punches.

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They were trading shots at the start of the seventh. Russell was looking to exchange and connecting with the better punches. Russell was letting the hands fly in the eight as Nyambayar was trying to get inside. Russell controlled things early in the ninth, before Nyambayar came on in the second half with good punches.

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Russell came out to trade punches in the tenth. Russell controlled it early, but Nyambayar closed very strong with hard punches. They were fighting at close range in the eleventh. Both had moments with Russell unable to hurt Nyambayar.

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Both came out looking to win the final round in the twelfth. Russell was landing better to the head and Nyambayar was tagging to the body. Nyambayar closed stronger with the better connects.

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