When Gary Russell, Jr., was about to fight Joseph “Jo Jo” Diaz, Jr., he let the world know that there is a timeline on his career. As such, he was looking to fight all the biggest names in a short period of time and also move up in weight.
“I want to maximize our revenue because I don’t plan on fighting for too much longer. I had my first fight at seven years old. I’m 29 now. That’s a long time competing and a lot of wear and tear on your body. I’m a guy that doesn’t cut corners, so it takes away from the time I could be spending with my family and friends. I’m ready to spend time with my family and children and live out the fruits of our labor. But in the meantime, everybody else is in my way.”
That was in April 2018.
Fast forward a year, during the Jarrett Hurd vs. Julian Williams fight, Russell ratcheted up the passion for a fight with Gervonta “Tank” Davis. With Russell the champ at 126 lbs and Davis a 130 lb champ, Russell made no qualms about how he feels about Baltimore’s star or the guy he feels is blocking that encounter, Floyd Mayweather, Jr.
“Gervonta “Tank” Davis i’m on your ass. Leo Santa Cruz i’m on your ass. Baltimore y’all supposed to known for being all these gangsters and go hard, your man making y’all look bad, man. He making y’all look like some clowns. You might want to step up and do something. Tell him to come see me. Tell him to stop letting Floyd control his career and treat his career like its a fragile package on Amazon or something.”
The Mayweather Rebuttal
Recently, during the post-fight press conference for Tank’s 22nd win and 21st KO victory over Ricardo Nunez in his native Baltimore, Davis shrugged off Russell.
More interesting though was his mentor, Floyd Mayweather’s reaction to the hard questions being volleyed at the young star. First, when asked his opinion about Donald Trump’s race-baiting remarks towards Congressman Elijah Cummings, Mayweather took center stage with deflection to avoid Tank answering the question.
[jwplayer B0vCcPBs]
However, he also chose to elaborate on why he feels a Gary Russell, Jr. matchup isn’t in the cards now.
“Gary Russell is a solid opponent,” said Mayweather. “I don’t think Gary Russell is fighting at 130 at this particular time. When Gary Russell comes up to 130 and makes some noise, if Tank hasn’t moved up to 135 then anything is possible down the line. But as of right now we are looking at a unification bout, maybe even Tank versus Gamboa, but right now we want the Tevin Farmers.
“The belt that Tevin Farmer has, actually Tank really still is the IBF champion and the WBA champion, so if we have to take the belt twice then that what we’ll do.”
Former two-division world champion Yuriorkis Gamboa turned back the clock with a sensational second round knockout of Roman “Rocky” Martinez. The bout was the co-feature of the Davis card.
The former Cuban Olympic Gold Medalist displayed the brilliant hand and foot speed that has been the hallmark of his career, and paired it with tremendous combo shots. He came forward from the opening bell, pressing the action against Martinez, who is usually known as the aggressor.
Tevin Farmer (30-4-1 ) retained his IBF World Super-Featherweight title with a dominant points win over mandatory challenger Guillaume Frenois the same night at the College Park Center in Arlington, Dallas.
Farmer banked the first half of the fight, investing in the body and displaying dazzling defensive skills in the sixth round, the same session where a low blow saw Frenois need to take some time out of the action. Farmer strayed low again in the tenth round and was penalized by the referee, but the Philly champ had banked too many rounds for the French challenger to threat 119-108 and 116-111 twice.
“Gervonta Davis says he wants Tevin Farmer then Leonard Ellerbe says something else,” said Farmer in his post-fight interview. “I’m moving forward from that fight. If I can’t get that fight, give me JoJo Diaz.”
There is a feeling that unlike other fighters, Davis is unable to make his own decisions and is forced to dance to the beat of the Mayweather and Ellerbe drum. With a sell-out crowd of 14,686 fans in Baltimore, The Money Team knows its the A-side and with a plethora of options at their disposal, they are happily keeping the world waiting.
