Showtime: Gary Russell Jr. vs. Joseph Pedroza Diaz Jr. RBR.

You wish

 

Why exactly does Gary Russell Jr fight so sparingly, to the point where he's basically been operating to the Keith Thurman template of in-ring activity since losing to Loma? His prime years are essentially passing him by due to his inactivity.

Infuriating really.

 

Heard of hyperbole? Look it up, before sticking your head reaches your stomach.

Point is before the fight happened, Donaire was a more dangerous one than it was necessary for him to take. He won comfortably, as most might have expected, but he left potential for that not to happen. Not what a coward does.

 

Worst part is that this dude's been on the scene for like 8 years now and had plenty of opportunity to solidify himself, he's had the TV backing since the early days, good promoter, has been hyped among boxing fans since the beginning.. Yet he's only fought two names that aren't bums basically. Strange career really.

 

I can't really explain Gary Russell wasting his career. Lack of motivation on his part? Wanting big pay days without facing the top guys, moving around in weight or seriously challenging himself.

 

I agree completely. He could -- and should -- be fighting much more often and doing so much more.

 

No he wasn't. Donaire isn't very dangerous period now days. I'm still laughing that you are trying to act like Donaire isn't a journeyman at this point. He's slow, and fighting above his optimal weight classes. Nothing more than an old faded name.

 

I'm not trying to say he's going to be winning world titles here, I'm saying someone with his stature in boxing and the power he still holds, is capable of causing most featherweights some problems. The power is the last thing to go. That is a more dangerous fight (whether you like it or not) than someone who nobody has heard of, or who is a literal journeyman, which he could easily have picked instead, and would have, should you have been correct in calling him a coward.

Let's just leave it here, if you wish something to be true enough, it will become true in your head, you're good at it. You're impossible, and not just with me it seems ^^

 

It's as though he doesn't want to challenge himself, but just wants to be content to milk a defence of his WBC title once a year. Plenty of people -- myself included -- have previously dug Wilder out for the extremely questionable quality of opponent in his WBC defences save for Ortiz; but at least he defends his WBC title three or four times a year. At least he's making himself somewhat visible.

Back to Gary Russell Jr: he was calling Loma out for a rematch a while back despite Loma not even being in the same weight class as him at the time, Loma having moved up to 130. If he sincerely wanted that work then he should've been proactive about it, moved up to 130 and worked his way into contention. Or, at the very least, pushed for a big unification fight with LSC at 126. I could be wrong, but he simply doesn't seem interested in doing this.

 

Particularly given how much of his game is based on speed.

I was impressed with his heart in the Loma fight and how he rebounded vs Gonzalez. It doesn't make any sense as far as how inactive he's been since then given he bounced back like he did.

 

This is why I find him so annoying: he should be cashing in on his prime years and working his way towards big fights (whether that's at 126 or 130). But for whatever reason, he just ... isn't. Which is a shame, as I personally think he beats Frampton, and GRJ vs LSC would be a great fight with a nice blend of styles.

 

? I'm impossible because I refuse to acknowledge a shopworn Donaire as tough opposition? You were trying to defend the Cowardly Lion of Belfast, by trying to overstate Donaire's current quality.

 

Like I say, I'm done, just re-read what I've previously said because its circles, this conversation.

Let's just watch this fearsome part-time boxer that the cowardly lion is so scared of

 

Not really sure why he fights just once a year. I saw Dan Rafael one say that Russell is very content with that schedule.

What makes him fighting so sparingly frustrating is that he’s a good fighter with a lot of good opponents at/near his weight that he could be facing.