Gary Russell Jr. Wins Second Title Defense Over Oscar Escandon!

“Mr.” Gary Russell, Jr. Stops Escandon In Seven!

The TGB Promotions card at the MGM National Harbor Casino in Oxon Hill, MD featured a match-up between WBC Featherweight champion Gary Russell Jr. of Capitol Heights, MD taking on mandatory challenger Oscar Escandon of Tolima, Colombia.

Gary Russell Jr. opened round one working from the outside, and gradually working his way inside landing sharp uppercuts inside the guard of Escandon. In round two, Russell came out the same way he finished the previous round, on the inside landing more body shots. It was almost in the midpoint of round three when Russell landed a solid right hook to send Escandon to the canvas. 

In round five, Russell started well, but Escandon applied some pressure of his own by coming forward throwing shots to the body of Russell. In round six and seven, Russell turned on the heat and put together some 6 punch combinations. 

It was a right hook that landed to the head of Escandon sending him against the rope and down to a knee. Referee Harvey Dock stopped the bout at 59 seconds of round seven.  Russell is now (28-1, 17 KO’s) while Escandon is now (25-3, 17 KO’s).


GARY RUSSELL JR. QUOTES

“First and foremost, I got to say happy birthday to my father. Secondly, I’d like to tell all the fans that came to support me: I love you all. Thank you.

“I want to apologize for the gladiators. The gladiators are warriors. The Dirrell camp, sometimes emotions build up and take the best of us. Please forgive them.

“I fought a tough competitor. I knew Escandon wanted to come and bring his best. I knew he was going to come forward. I was ready for him. We are warriors. 

“Lomachenko, that’s a no-brainer. I don’t want to do it for the fans or for the media, I  want to do it for myself. And I want to do it twice. I’ll knock him out the first time and then, he’ll want me to fight him again.

“I’d love to unify against all the other guys in the featherweight division. I’d like Leo Santa Cruz, Lee Selby, Oscar Valdez."


OSCAR ESCANDON

"I was getting my rhythm going and I felt like Gary was getting tired. I didn't see him coming with the big punch he threw at the end and that was it. I went down and was hoping to get a 10 count but the referee didn't give it to me and he stopped the fight." 

"I knew that Gary was going to go fast from the first to the fifth round and it was part of my strategy to let him do that and get tired. It didn't work unfortunately."


"Now we need to go back to the drawing board to rest and see what my manager has planned for me."


GARY RUSSELL SR.

"I'm ecstatic. I'm really happy. I got three wins. Three stoppages. It's my birthday. I'm 15 minutes from home and I can go home and relax.

"We prepared fully for Mr. Escandon. We knew he was going to do what he did - come forward. I don't want to diminish or take anything away from Mr. Escandon. He really is a hard, rough fighter. Throughout the course of the fight, I instructed Gary to hit him with some good shots. Some hard shots. It is a brutal sport."