Russell vs Lomachenko Ordered by WBO (Garys response)

This is Gary's response and I agree with him fundamentally on the fairness side.

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March 20, 2014
Featherweight Gary Russell Jr. ripped the WBO's decision to grant Vasyl Lomachenko a second-consecutive title shot, even though he welcomes the chance to beat the two-time Olympic gold medalist in accordance with an organization mandate.

WBO President Paco Valcarcel announced on Thursday that Golden Boy and Top Rank have 30 days to negotiate a fight between their respective fighters Russell and Lomachenko for the vacant title.

A 2008 U.S. Olympian [Russell qualified for the team but never competed due to missing the weigh-in] who is coming off a knockout of Miguel Tamayo in January, Russell (24-0, 14 KOs) was declared by Valcarcel in October to be the organization’s mandatory challenger to face then-beltholder Orlando Salido.

The ruling did not preclude Salido from making a voluntary defense against Lomachenko, 26, which he did on March 1. Lomachenko fell by split-decision to Salido, who lost his WBO belt at the scales after failing to make the 126-pound weigh-in limit.

As a result of Salido's failure, the title became vacant, though Lomachenko was eligible to win it if he had been victorious.

Lomachenko had said that he wanted to make history by becoming a titleholder in what was being billed as his second professional fight. According to Fight Fax Inc., Lomachenko is actually 7-1 because he was paid to take part in six World Series of Boxing fights.

Russll expressed his views on the WBO's decision along with his thoughts on how a fight against Lomachenko will transpire, below.


Gary Russell Jr. on the WBO's decision:

"The WBO title is definitely something that we want, but there's no question that politics played a big part in this situation. First of all, I think that it's completely disrespectful to the sanctioning body.

"It's also disrespectful to all of the other fighters for this guy to have an opportunity to compete for a title after only one fight. Then, he loses, and he gets an automatic shot at the title again in only his third fight?

"I don't think that it's fair at all to the other fighters. I think that the whole purpose of the sanctioning bodies is to have a structure as far as the No. 1 and the No. 2 and the No. 3 in order to prevent stuff like this.

"It's just very clear that you have someone who is pushing some things behind the scenes as far as this goes for this situation. What about these guys who have worked their way up, and who have strategically fought guys and worked their way up by taking certain fights to work their way up the rankings.

"When it comes to those guys who have worked their way up, and who have earned their shot to be in position for a world title, I don't think that it's fair. They've worked their way into the top 10 or the top five the hard way.

"All of that stuff matters, because if you fight the No. 5 guy, and you beat him, that's going to push you up in the rankings to maybe a No. 3, etc. A lot of guys crossed their T's and dotted their I's to get where they wanted to be.

"So it's a little ridiculous for somebody with two fights to just jump in front of all of these guys who have been competing and trying their best to make it happen and to become a world champion.


Russell his impressions of Lomachenko's loss to Salido:

"I really didn't see much of the fight with Salido as far as what he does. I did see the fight from the seventh through the last round. It wasn't really a priority to me.

"It only becomes a priority once that name is across the ring from me for my fight. I saw briefly that he still fights like an amateur, given the background that we have, because we have a very similar background.

"Even with that background that he has, there are certain things that you have to learn. You need these extra fights, and you need these tune-up fights. You need these smaller fights to help you to get a better understanding of the professional game.

"I don't think that he has that. We have that on our side. Even with his fight with Salido, I don't think that he has the necessary skills to beat me.


On how his fight will go with Lomachenko:

"I'm going to vanquish him as a fighter. Anyone will tell you that two losses, back-to-back, in your career as a professional is tremendous when it comes to your credibility and your clout and your reputation as a fighter.

"So I think that it's poor judgement by his management, and his team, to allow him to take loss the way that he did against Salido, and I think that it is even dumber for him to jump directly into the ring with a fighter like me.

"But if this is the guy that they put in front of us, in spite of the fact that I believe that it's unfair, then by all means, we'll go and critique him, we'll find all of chinks in his armour.

"And then, we'll definitely burn his ass up and I'll have the WBO title. So he will definitely suffer his second loss, back-to-back, and that's pretty much going to be the end of his career."

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http://ringtv.craveonline.com/news/3271 ... ssell-jr-2


I've lost faith in Russell and had quite a bit when he first entered the scene. Personally I think he has major chin issues. Its easy for him to mouth off on a fight with Loma knowing full well what most fans know. I suppose there is a chance that one of the gimmick promoters offers an olive branch but there is just as good a chance of the ice breaking up on the Yukon river next week.
Even if Gary's ties are somewhat severed with Oscar none of us know the fine print.

I agree wholeheartedly with him on Loma getting another shot. Its ironic because Arum was one of the promoters who was knee deep in the Ibf scandal and suffered no repercussions and now he is effectively doing the same thing and its all apparently legal.

I like the fight and think Loma deserves a shot since they guy he was fighting had a massive weight advantage in his 1st shot. I hope Russell takes the fight. Will be a real good fight to see how good he actually is.

Its a matter of principle for me and that's why I never became a lawyer. I don't think Loma deserved the first go let alone a second.

I didn't get the whole microwave rose colored glasses circus in the 1st place and in the long run its doing Loma zero favors. Arum floated a red carpet and silver spoon to him and it blew up in his face. Loma has ability and a future but the way they are rush packaging it like a McDonald drive thru is empty. Its politricks, and Russell for whatever his flaws and snails pace is correct about seeing amatuer instincts, the shady deals and fighters needing to develope.

Yea I agree with him in principle I guess, but coming from Russell it's a bit of a joke. Even the guy Loma beat in his pro debut is probably a lot better than anyone Gary Russell has fought, what made him a mandatory challenger:D. Either way, I'd like to see the fight and couldn't give a rats whether its for a title or not, though it probably shouldn't be. Don't think it would necessarily put Loma in a worse position than he is otherwise, should he lose, either.

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Originally Posted by p4pking

Yea I agree with him in principle I guess, but coming from Russell it's a bit of a joke. Even the guy Loma beat in his pro debut is probably a lot better than anyone Gary Russell has fought, what made him a mandatory challenger:D. Either way, I'd like to see the fight and couldn't give a rats whether its for a title or not, though it probably shouldn't be. Don't think it would necessarily put Loma in a worse position than he is otherwise, should he lose, either.

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Lol true enough. I'll stick with Gary as a fan but I'm starting to fall off the horse. Its got to be his chin. Be interesting to see what happens here because I think Russell might be a free agent now but will find out for sure. Probably still ties to Gbp in some fashion though or the exclusive Showtime deal.

I agree with Russell that it's a bad joke. But that's boxing: it's a scummy, corrupt business.

I think both these guys are flawed but at least Lomachenko has the balls to fight top people unlike Russell who I'll be surprised of he actually makes it to the ring for this fight.

I don't give a fuck about Lomachenko getting either the first or second shot. Just give me exciting fights.

Russell just wants the fight to be between him and TBA

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Originally Posted by Kirkland Laing

I think both these guys are flawed but at least Lomachenko has the balls to fight top people unlike Russell who I'll be surprised of he actually makes it to the ring for this fight.

I don't give a fuck about Lomachenko getting either the first or second shot. Just give me exciting fights.

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Completely agree. Cannot believe how hypocritical boxing fans are. Complain about mismatches and fighters not fighting the best out there and then when a new prospect comes through looking to fight the best he gets criticized. Loma could be 10-0 now if he was to do what Joshua is doing or what most boxers do but hes looking for good fights straight away. Its good for boxing.

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Originally Posted by Silkeyjoe

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Originally Posted by Kirkland Laing

I think both these guys are flawed but at least Lomachenko has the balls to fight top people unlike Russell who I'll be surprised of he actually makes it to the ring for this fight.

I don't give a fuck about Lomachenko getting either the first or second shot. Just give me exciting fights.

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Completely agree. Cannot believe how hypocritical boxing fans are. Complain about mismatches and fighters not fighting the best out there and then when a new prospect comes through looking to fight the best he gets criticized. Loma could be 10-0 now if he was to do what Joshua is doing or what most boxers do but hes looking for good fights straight away. Its good for boxing.

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Apparently it was in his contract that he had to fight for a title in his second fight. He must have been watching the pros for years thinking "I can beat most of these guys with one hand" but it didn't turn out like that. Now that they've put him in at that level it looks like they're going to try and keep him there. With hindsight from a career perspective he should have had at least ten fights to gradually move up to that level. He did look pretty one dimensional against Salido.