Via Allan Fox: WBC featherweight champion Gary Russell Jr believes he’s done enough to deserve a decisive 10 to 2 or 9 to 3 win over challenger Magsayo last Saturday night at Borgata Hotel Casino, Atlantic City, New Jersey.
Russell (31-2, 18 KOs) stated that he was shocked when the judges’ scores revealed that Magsayo (24-0, 16 KOs) won the 12-round majority decision, as he felt saw that he had surpassed the challenger in every room.
The umpires scored Magsayo’s match based on his overtaking Russell in rounds 1 to 4 and 9 to 12. In those rounds, 33-year-old Russell Jr was unable to put in enough punches to convince the referees that he deserves to beat them.
Scores:
It was a bitter pill for Russell Jr to swallow as he lost his 126-lb WBC title after reigning as champion for seven years, from 2015 to 2022.
In the end, the right shoulder injury Russell Jr suffered in training camp affected his performance last night, preventing him from hitting his shot.
If possible, Russell Jr said he would like a rematch with Magsayo, 26, saying he believes he will beat him even worse when he is fitter than he did on last Saturday night.
It’s unclear what direction Magsayo will take for his next fight, as he said he needs to talk to his manager about what the plan is.
Russell Jr. say he deserves to win
“I beat that boy ten rounds, in 2, 9 and 3, man,” Gary Russell Jr. Bitterness mentioned above social media after losing to Magsayo. “I took the older boy to school. You all have seen what it is.
“They tried to achieve [bleep] far. I did [bleep] My arms up two weeks before camp. To be honest with you, I’m more than him, more than he studies, and an arm ahead of him. I tore a tendon in my ***.
Russell Jr. said: “I know my arm hurt in the fight,” I said I had an impending injury, but I didn’t want to reveal what it was.
“I believe I got past him and outdone him for at least nine rounds to three, or 10 rounds to two,” said Russell Jr., believing he deserved a decisive win. comprehensive against the obligatory challenger Magsayo.
The judges were swayed by activity from Magsayo in the first four and final four rounds of the competition. It was those rounds where Russell Jr didn’t use enough offensive firepower to clearly win the young challenger.
Gary was surprised by the decision of the judges
“It’s not even a Plan-B, Plan-C type. I just know that my skill set is far superior to his,” said Russell Jr of Magsayo. “He couldn’t hit me. I can shoot at will whenever I want to punch. I can control real estate whenever I want.
“When he wanted to fire any shot, I would rush in, strangle him and take away any effective shots he tried to throw and throw. My overall ring stat and boxing IQ speak for themselves.
“I wonder what the fans have to say about this? I wonder what the fans are saying about what the judges are saying as I’m pretty sure a lot of the fans wouldn’t agree?
“Of course, I am surprised by this decision, but I am a fighter. I refuse to postpone this fight after being laid off for almost two years. I wanted to go back there and show my skill set, and I believe I did so with an arm and a tough opponent.
“Like I said, ten rounds to two, nine rounds down to three hands,” said Russell Jr., asserting that he deserved to be decisive against Magsayo.
Russell Jr’s coach should have told him what he was up to as he headed into the championship rounds because it was no surprise he lost.
We didn’t see Russell Jr with a sense of urgency in innings 9 to 12 to show that he wanted to win.
The only thing you can say about it is that maybe Russell’s coach didn’t tell him he needed the last four innings to win the fight, so he didn’t put in the effort to win. they.
No regrets fighting trauma
“I don’t regret it because I have to show the fans what I can really do,” Russell Jr said when asked if he regrets fighting Magsayo with a pre-existing wound in his right shoulder.
“I am a true champion. I do not regret. I think there will be a lot of fans who will be disappointed in the decision with what the judges call this.
“There will also be a lot of people saying, ‘Hey, Gary is definitely true. I truly believe that I have won the battle of nine rounds to three, ten rounds to two. He can’t touch me. The little scars that I have here are from the head-butt.
“He’s got two solid clean shots for the whole game I can think of,” said Russell Jr.
“Healthy, I’ll beat that even worse than I did tonight,” Russell Jr said when asked what he would do in the rematch against Magsayo. “We’re definitely trying to see if we can rematch,” said Russell Jr.
If Russell Jr is to rematch, he will need treatment for his injured right shoulder. If it’s a tendon problem, as he says, he should consider surgery if that’s what his doctor recommends.
Assuming Russell Jr chooses a non-surgical method to heal his right shoulder, he could be in trouble later if the problem flares up again.
Considering that this has been a problem for him since his amateur days at the 2008 Olympics, it’s a sign that he needs to follow whatever advice his doctor gives him.
Russell Jr has good looking shoulders
“Of course, I’ll definitely figure this out,” Russell Jr said of his shoulder problem. “It was an injury that haunted me for a long time. Before the Olympics, they wanted me to have surgery. I refused surgery and went under the knife.
“They told me I would be able to strengthen the muscles around it and protect it. That’s what I’ve been able to do throughout my career. I hurt it two weeks from today.
“If you pay attention to some of my interviews, you can actually see me wearing a sling in some of my interviews — this little white thing that’s over my shoulder. I was really careful about you actually being able to see my arm in the sling, but you can see this little white thing on my shoulder in some of the interviews I’ve done.
Ready to increase the weight to 135
“I can go up [in weight]. I always say that I can gain and fluctuate my weight as long as I can compete with a champion. Some of the best have had adversity. What is life without adversity?
“Like the people I wanted. Gervonta ‘Tank’ Davis or a rematch with Vasily Lomachenko,” said Russell Jr when asked who he would want to fight if he increased the weight class to 135.
