Gary Russell Jr. Dominates Kiko Martinez To Defend His WBC Featherweight Title!

In the co-featured bout leading up to the Wilder vs Breazeale main event at the Barclays Center in Brooklyn, New York, Captitol Heights, MD's Gary Russell Jr. (30-1, 17 KO) dominated every round of the his WBC featherweight title defense bout against. His hand speed and skills were to much for Kiko Martinez (39-9-2, 28 KO). 

Russell landed multiple hard right hooks to the left eye of Martinez that had him cut and bloody. During the fifth round the referee paused the action to have the ringside physician look at the cut. That is when it was determined that the cut was too bad for Martinez to continue. Russell won by technical knockout in round five.

Here's what Russell Jr. had to say during his interview inside the ring:

“We knew that intellect over athleticism would win this fight, but before all is said and done, y’all need to read the back of my shirt,  “LEO NEXT, WHAT’S UP AL?”,  referring to WBA featherweight titleholder Leo Santa Cruz.

“We want Leo Santa Cruz. We want to make that fight happen,” Russell continued. “The fire’s all the way hot on this side of the field. You will get burnt. I would love for that fight to happen this year. If we can get that fight, that’s the fight we want.”

When asked about Gervonta Davis:

“I will immediately vacate my title and challenge (WBC super featherweight titleholder Miguel) Berchelt. Once I get that fight, I want the unification fight Davis, definitely.”