Another Head-Butt Ends Gary Antonio Russell vs. Emmanuel Rodriquez Fight Resulting In Technical Decision

(Photos by David Algranati) 

In last year's meeting between Russell and Rodriquez an accidental head-butt caused their first fight to result in a no-contest just 16 seconds of the opening round. Tonight at the Barclays Center in Brooklyn, New York the two fighters took the fight a little deeper into the rounds. Rodriquez gets technical decision victory over Russell.

In the earlier part of the fight Rodriguez pressured Russell throughout the rounds. Russell took Rodriguez’s hardest shots better during the fifth round than he did in the fourth round, but Rodriguez was in complete control by using the opportunity to counter punch. Rodriquez made good use of his right hand as he landed it multiple times throughout the fourth round. Russell landed a low blow on Rodriquez with 16 seconds to go in the eighth round causing referee Benjy Esteves to give him the time he needed to recover. Rodriguez was ahead on the scorecards over Russell and added to it when he dropped Russell toward the end of the eighth round. Rodriguez went to canvas after he suffered a cut beneath his right eye when Russell head-butted him with less than 20 seconds left in the ninth round. Referee Benjy Esteves stopped the contest seconds into the 10th round. Here are the scores. Judges Bernard Bruni (100-90), Tom Schreck (99-91) and Ken Ezzo (99-93) all for Rodriguez in this IBF/WBA batamweight elimination contest. 

Russell suffers his first defeat and falls to (19-1, 12 KO's, 1 NC) and Rodriquez improves to (21-2, 13 KO's, 1 NC).

Keeshawn Williams Victorious In Brooklyn

(Photos by David Algranati)

Keeshawn Williams of Lanham, Maryland wins by six-round unanimous decision over Julio Rosa Orlando, Florida at the Barclays Center in Brooklyn, NY. This bout was part of the undercard leading up to the main-event of former WBC heavyweight champion Deontay Wilder vs. Robert Helenius. 

Williams starting the opening round by making good use of his jab. He showed he was the quicker boxer from the opening bell. During round one Williams was stunned a little when he and Rosa clashed heads and Rosa landing a right hand afterwards. Williams recovered and continued to show he was faster than Rosa by landing jabs to the body and head. Rosa tried to counter punch but Williams used good footwork to keep his distance. Williams ended the fight by putting together some good combinations in the beginning of the six-round and continued to controll Rosa with his jab as the final bell sounded. All three judges scored the contest for Williams with the scores of 60-54, 59-55 twice. 

Williams improves to (10-1-1, 2 KO's) while Julio Rosa falls to (5-2, 2 KO's).

Final Press Conference Quotes from Gary Antonio Russell and Emmanuel Rodriguez

GARY ANTONIO RUSSELL

“I’m versatile. Our father named our gym The Enigma Gym for a reason. I’m going to be an enigma in the ring on Saturday night.

“I feel good and I feel strong. I’ve gotten all the rounds in that I needed for this fight and I’m well prepared.

“Sometimes it’s still hard to deal with the passing of our father Gary Sr. You see all the pictures of him up in the boxing gym. I’m just glad that he molded me and the rest of my brothers. He molded us into men. It’s a bittersweet thing, because I’m definitely still coming to perform. My dad is the mad scientist behind everything that I’m going to display on Saturday.

“My feelings about this fight are the same as they were the first time. If anything, I’m looking to go in there and hurt him. This is the hurt business. After the fight, I’ll wish well and take my hat off to him as a fighter. But the mission doesn’t change.

“If anything I’m motivated even more now since the passing of my father. He instilled so many great things into us, up until the very moment of his passing. He would want me to be in this position right now and he wouldn’t want me to take my foot off the gas.

“All of my brothers have stepped up. We’re a dynasty and we’re a unit. We work together, because iron sharpens iron.

“We don’t overlook anybody. I don’t make any stage bigger than what it appears to be. I treat every fight as if it’s a championship fight.”

EMMANUEL RODRIGUEZ

“I’m really looking forward to Saturday night. We spent time training hard in the altitude and Mexico and we’re just eager to get back into the ring.

“In the first fight, we knew that we were going to win. Everyone knows what happened, but for this fight we’ve prepared much better. I’ve had great sparring that simulates Russell’s style, so with every single day that passes, I’m more and more confident that I’m going to win this fight.

“For me it’s an honor and privilege to have my first time fighting here in New York. I know this is home for a lot of Puerto Ricans and I know that I’m going to have a lot of people supporting me.

“We know that he’s got a good jab. It’s going to take about three rounds to adapt to the jab, then we’re going to take the strong hand away and there won’t be anything else he can do.

“Since my fight against Naoya Inoue I believe that I’m a much better fight.er I’ve faced better opposition and I’m a former world champion than Russell. I don’t take anything away from him, but I just believe that I’m the better fighter all around.

“We’re ready. All I can say, is that this fight won’t go the distance. You’ll have to tune in and catch the action on Saturday night.”

Weights from Hanover, Maryland for Jeter Promotions card

Weights are in for the Jeter Promotions card that is full of Beltway Boxers. The card will take place tomorrow night, Saturday, October 15th at the Maryland Live Casino and Hotel in Hanover, Maryland.

Here are the weights:

Main-Event

8-Round

WBC USNBC Silver Bantamweight Title

Daron Williams 119.4 lbs. vs. Elijah Pierce 121.4 lbs.

Co-Main Event 

4-Rounds Super Featherweight

Francois Scarboro Jr. 130.2 lbs. vs. Antonio Dunton El Jr. 129.8 lbs.

4-Round Super Middleweight

Mansaborie Conde 164.4 lbs. vs. Brandon Clark 164 lbs.

6-Round 

Vacant ABF Super Bantamweight Title

Jaqeem Hutcherson 121.8 lbs. vs. Ernest Hall 121.6 lbs.

6-Round Welterweight

Joseph Veazey 144.2 lbs vs. Rashad Kilpatrick 142.4 lbs.

6-Round Super Middleweight

Anthony Leon Williams, Jr. 168 lbs. vs. Derrick Vann 165.6

6-Round ABF Super Bantamweight Title

Brandon Chambers 120.6 lbs. vs. Vit Y  120.4 lbs.

4-Round Super Lightweight

Stacey Selby 144.lbs. vs. Maurice Anthony 148 lbs.

4-Round Featherweight

Jeffrey Yu 128.6 lbs. vs. Mateo Diaz 128 lbs.

4-Round Super Lightweight

Ahmad Muhammad Jones 140.6 lbs. vs. Kani Burnside 139.8 lbs.

4-Round Super Bantamweight

DWayne Holmes Jr. 122.2 lbs. vs. Rensley Washington III 121.4 lbs.

*All bouts subject to change at anytime*

Russell and Williams Make Weight In New York

Two Beltway Boxers will be participating in separate bouts on the card the features former heavyweight WBC champion Deontay Wilder taking on Robert Helenius at the Barclays Center in Brooklyn, New York tomorrow night, October 15. Both Gary Antione Russell and Keeshawn Williams made weight in preparation for tomorrow night's showdown.

Undefeated Gary Antonio Russell (19-0, 12 KO's) of Capitol Heights, MD will be taking on Emmanuel Rodriguez (20-2, 13 KO's) of Vega Baja, Puerto Rico in a 12-round bantamweight rematch on the Fox Sports Pay-Per-View card that also includes former titlists Caleb Plant and Anthony Dirrell in a super middleweight co-feature eliminator bout. 

Gary Antonio Russell 116.5 lbs.

Emmanuel Rodriquez 117.75 lbs. 

Keeshawn Williams of Lanham, Maryland (9-1-1, 2 KO's) will be taking on Julio Rosa (5-1, 2 KO's) of Orlando, Florida in a six-round super lightweight contest.

KeeshawnWilliams 144 lbs.   JulioRosa 141 lbs.