NEW YORK -- Welcome back boxing fans to another edition of "how the hell did that guy get a title shot?" This week's edition features rarely seen champion Gary Russell Jr. and his challenger Kiko Martinez. The fight will air on Showtime on May 18 with Russell putting his WBC featherweight title on the line. While the WBC has Martinez ranked third in the featherweight division he isn't ranked in the top 15 by the IBF, WBA, or WBO.
When it comes to skills it can't be denied that Russell (29-1, 17 KOs) is one of the most talented fighters in the sport. If his hands aren't the fastest in boxing they are certainly in the top five. The southpaw has an excellent jab that he does a nice job of throwing upstairs and to the body. Behind that jab Russell has a sharp straight left hand but his best weapon is probably his right hook. What makes Russell so good is that with his hand speed he can get off combinations at any distance and land multiple punches before his opponent has even mounted his own attack. The biggest issue for Russell has always been his inactivity.
Since 2015 Russell has only fought four times. Unfortunately he has become a once a year fighter. In 2015 he beat Jhonny Gonzalez via fourth round stoppage, in 2016 it was an second round stoppage of Patrick Hyland, in 2017 he stopped Oscar Escandon in the seventh round, and in 2018 he out boxed Joseph Diaz for the unanimous decision victory. His biggest fight came in 2014 when he took on Vasyl Lomachenko for a vacant WBO featherweight title and lost via majority decision. Now Russell will fight for the first, and based on his history probably the only, time in 2019 against Martinez. It's an odd opponent for Russell's fourth title defense because Martinez is only ranked in the top 15 by the WBC and isn't ranked by the IBF, WBA, or WBO. Also, the featherweight division is pretty stacked and Martinez certainly isn't viewed as a legitimate threat or top fighter in the division.
Martinez (39-8-2, 28 KOs) is a fine fighter but a fighter who isn't what he once was. He likes to jab his way inside and does a nice job of turning over his left hook. On the inside he likes to work the body and does so nicely with right hands. Martinez is always plowing forward though in an attempt to get in the pocket and because of that he usually eats a lot of weather on his way in. While he is certainly a tough veteran he isn't exactly the most skilled and seems completely unable to cut the ring off. Martinez also doesn't have the best chin and he's been stopped three times in his career and dropped four times. Against a slick, fast fighter like Russell is, Martinez is going to have his hands full.
The Spanish veteran has been fighting professionally since 2004, five years before Russell made his pro debut. Along the way he has never backed down from a tough fight and has been in the ring with fighters like Carl Frampton, who he fought twice, Scott Quigg, Leo Santa Cruz, and Josh Warrington. Unfortunately for Martinez, he has lost all of those fights. In his last five fights Martinez has gone 3-1-1 with a loss to Warrington. His three wins in that time came against fighters with a combined record of 65-46-7 yet he somehow fights himself with a chance to fight for the WBC title.
If Martinez were to give Russell any real problems in this fight it would be a surprise. There is always the chance that Russell, who only fights once a year, could show some ring rust but that usually isn't the case. Martinez isn't a bad fighter he just doesn't have the same level of skills or talent as Russell. Look for Martinez to try and get inside and make this a rough fight where he pounds away to the body. Getting inside won't be easy for Martinez though. Russell hands are much faster and he has an excellent jab that he can use to keep Martinez on the outside. Russell should be able to stay on the outside in this fight and simply pick Martinez apart.
PREDICTION: If Kiko Martinez were to win this fight it would be a massive upset. Gary Russell Jr. is just the better overall fighter. He is faster and better defensively and his punches are much more accurate. Russell should be able to do anything he wants in this fight and although he might not drop Martinez he will stop him in the 10th round.
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| Russell pounding Joseph Diaz with a left hand |
Since 2015 Russell has only fought four times. Unfortunately he has become a once a year fighter. In 2015 he beat Jhonny Gonzalez via fourth round stoppage, in 2016 it was an second round stoppage of Patrick Hyland, in 2017 he stopped Oscar Escandon in the seventh round, and in 2018 he out boxed Joseph Diaz for the unanimous decision victory. His biggest fight came in 2014 when he took on Vasyl Lomachenko for a vacant WBO featherweight title and lost via majority decision. Now Russell will fight for the first, and based on his history probably the only, time in 2019 against Martinez. It's an odd opponent for Russell's fourth title defense because Martinez is only ranked in the top 15 by the WBC and isn't ranked by the IBF, WBA, or WBO. Also, the featherweight division is pretty stacked and Martinez certainly isn't viewed as a legitimate threat or top fighter in the division.
Martinez (39-8-2, 28 KOs) is a fine fighter but a fighter who isn't what he once was. He likes to jab his way inside and does a nice job of turning over his left hook. On the inside he likes to work the body and does so nicely with right hands. Martinez is always plowing forward though in an attempt to get in the pocket and because of that he usually eats a lot of weather on his way in. While he is certainly a tough veteran he isn't exactly the most skilled and seems completely unable to cut the ring off. Martinez also doesn't have the best chin and he's been stopped three times in his career and dropped four times. Against a slick, fast fighter like Russell is, Martinez is going to have his hands full.
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| Martinez flattening Carl Frampton's nose with a jab |
If Martinez were to give Russell any real problems in this fight it would be a surprise. There is always the chance that Russell, who only fights once a year, could show some ring rust but that usually isn't the case. Martinez isn't a bad fighter he just doesn't have the same level of skills or talent as Russell. Look for Martinez to try and get inside and make this a rough fight where he pounds away to the body. Getting inside won't be easy for Martinez though. Russell hands are much faster and he has an excellent jab that he can use to keep Martinez on the outside. Russell should be able to stay on the outside in this fight and simply pick Martinez apart.
PREDICTION: If Kiko Martinez were to win this fight it would be a massive upset. Gary Russell Jr. is just the better overall fighter. He is faster and better defensively and his punches are much more accurate. Russell should be able to do anything he wants in this fight and although he might not drop Martinez he will stop him in the 10th round.
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