Gary Russell Jr To Make Comeback On Showtime Extreme

ByBoxing Press

A 10-round featherweight fight between 2008 U.S. Olympian and former world title contender Gary Russell Jr. (24-1, 14 KOs), of Capitol Heights, Md., and former California State Champion Christopher Martin (28-4-3, 9 KOs) of Chula Vista, Calif., has been elevated to co-feature of this Saturday’s Showtime on Showtime Extreme live telecast at 10 p.m. ET/PT, delayed on the West Coast from Little Creek Casino Resort in Shelton,Wash.

The Russell vs. Martin scarp is co-headlining the Showtime Extreme telecast in replacement of previously announced bout between Anthony Peterson and Yakabu Amido. Peterson will now box on the non-televised portion of the card against Mexican veteran Héctor Velázquez (56-24-3, 38 KOs).

In another change to the televised lineup, promising undefeated world-class prospect Julian “J Rock” Williams (17-0-1, 10 KOs), 24, of Philadelphia, will now be opposed by Jamar Freeman of Wilson, N.C. in a 10-round junior middleweight clash.

Freeman (13-3-2, 7 KOs) is a late substitute for Mexico’s Edgar “Nene” Ortega, who withdrew due to an injury suffered in training.

The final Showrime Boxing event of the year – and the fourth and final of back-to-bac telecasts on consecutive weekends – is presented by Goossen Promotions.

The talented, quick-fisted Russell will be making his first start since suffering his lone loss via hard-fought 12-round majority decision to former international amateur standout and two-time Olympic Games gold medalist [2008, 2012] Vasyl Lomachenko, of Ukraine, last June 21 on Showtime.

Russell came up short in the epic showdown for the WBO Featherweight Championship by the scores of 114-114 and 116-112 twice.

Martin, 28, a winner of five of his last seven outings, is a clever boxer and excellent counter-puncher who is making his second start at featherweight.

One of his most noteworthy victories came in August 2010 in the first of his two appearances on ShoBox: The New Generation when he recorded an upset 10-round decision over promising super bantamweight prospect Chris Avalos, who has appeared on ShoBox more than any other fighter.

In the 12-round main event, southpaw interim WBA Featherweight Champion Jesus Andres “El Jinete” Cuellar (25-1, 19 KOs), of Buenos Aires, Argentina, will seek his ninth victory in a row when he defends against Ruben “Canelito” Tamayo (23-4-4, 15 KOs), of Ciudad Obregon, Mexico.

In the opening bout of the telecast, undefeated Julius “The Chef” Jackson (18-0, 14 KOs) of St. Thomas, Virgin Islands, will battle once-beaten Jonathan Nelson (20-1, 10 KOs), of Little Rock, Ark., in a 10-round super middleweight match.

Advance tickets priced at $100, $50 and $30 are now on sale through the Little Creek Casino Resort through their website,www.Little-Creek.com or by calling 1-800-667-7711. The Little Creek Casino Resort is located at 91 W. State Route 108 in Shelton, Washington 98584. Doors will open on Saturday at 5:30 p.m. PT. First non-televised bout starts at 6 p.m. PT.