In the Tank vs Roach co-main event, Gary Antuanne Russell (18-1, 17 KOs) cruised to a unanimous 12-round decision to win his first world championship by dethroning now-former WBA Super Lightweight World Champion José “Rayo” Valenzuela (14-3, 9 KOs).
The 28-year-old Russell admitted to feeling offended by Valenzuela’s pre-fight contention that he was “nothing special,” and, as promised, came out firing from the opening bell with speed, power in both hands and an unrelenting pressure, which allowed him to dominate the action while effectively muting Valenzuela’s usual offensive fireworks in return.
After five clear rounds for Russell to begin the action, Valenzuela’s corner implored him to pick up the aggression after round six, but the 25-year-old’s attempt to initiate more exchanges left him briefly stunned by an uppercut and follow-up hook from Russell late in round seven.
A left-right combination appeared to stun Valenzuela again in round eight and lumped up his right eye.
Russell turned up his aggression in round nine, as he battered Valenzuela around the ring with both hands throughout the stanza and outlanded him 20-4 in power punches. The ringside physician elected to have a look at the champion before the start of round 10 and again before rounds 11 and 12.
Valenzuela’s trainer, Robert Garcia, implored him not to come out for the final round, but the now-former champion refused. To his credit, Valenzuela was able to send Russell’s mouthpiece flying with a hook in the final frame.
Russell overwhelmed Valenzuela, throwing 957 punches and landing 252. Russell averaged 80 punches thrown and 21 punches landed per round. Valenzuela averaged 37 and 11 respectively. Valenzuela was never in the fight as reflected by the judges’ scores: 119-109, 119-109, and 120-108- all for Russell.
“I want to thank god,” said Russell, post-fight. “This is a small steppingstone. I’m going for the rest of the belts. I love y’all for supporting us. Thank you for making this arena a grand arena. I did it for DC and my family. We onto the next!”
When asked about the secret of his success, Russell said, “A rule of thumb in my profession is you have to follow instructions. My brother always told me, the difference between great and good is inches or centimeters and the ability to produce, because that what it takes.”
Alluding to being called nothing special, Russell claimed the perceived sleight added more fuel to the fire. “It motivated me a hell of a lot,” he said. “In this sport, you have to be dominant. You have to have a mentality that is rough, and he brought it out of me. I had the right dance partner in front of me and I’m glad he gave me the opportunity. I told him to keep that same energy because I’m bringing it in the ring.
“My father would be proud of me,” he concluded. “This is a steppingstone. This is a marathon. In a marathon, you come across the table with some water, but that’s just a pitstop so you can keep going to the next. I’m coming!”
“It just wasn’t my night tonight,” said a disappointed Valenzuela. “His speed got to me a little bit, and I was slow on my feet. No excuses, I have to make adjustments. I have to go back to the drawing board now, come out stronger from this and bounce back like I know I can.”
Pay-per-view action also saw WBC World Super Lightweight Champion Alberto “La Avispa” Puello (24-0, 10 KOs) of the Dominican Republic defend his title with a close 12-round split decision over Spain’s Sandor Martin (42-4, 15 KOs).
Martin immediately started the all-southpaw battle by coming forward, applying pressure, and was able to land several effective punches to the head and body of the undefeated champion.
The 31-year-old Martin complained to trainer Rafael Martin he was seeing double out of his right eye after round two, but seemingly unhindered, came out firing extended barrages of hard punches in an exciting round three.
Normally a difficult stylistic puzzle to solve, Puello was able to land the occasional counterpunch against Martin but continued to seem uncomfortable with the Spaniard’s free-swinging aggression and effective defensive movement throughout much of the middle rounds.
Making adjustments, 30-year-old Puello began to find more success in round eight, landing sharp counters and letting his hands go more often with quick combinations on a slowly fading Martin. Puello appeared to briefly hurt Martin with a left to the body in round 11.
Martin suffered a cut on his right eye during a closely contested final round, ultimately scored in Puello’s favor by all three judges.
A closely fought contest throughout, the combatants were separated by three or fewer landed punches in nine of the twelve rounds. Puello landed 36 more jabs than Martin, while Martin landed 48 more power punches than Puello. Martin had a 86-43 edge in body punches landed. One judge scored the fight 115-113 for Martin, while the other two judges scored the fight 115-113 and 116-112 for Puello.
Opening up the pay-per-view, fast-rising Cuban slugger Yoenis “El Bandolero” Tellez (10-0, 7 KOs) showed a veteran’s patience and poise while dominating former IBF World Super Welterweight Champion Julian “J Rock” Williams (29-5-1, 17 KOs) via 12-round unanimous decision to win the interim WBA Super Welterweight Championship.
The more experienced 34-year-old Williams was able to stifle much of the offense of his 24-year-old foe, especially in the first half of the fight, by using constant motion and picking his spots, but couldn’t muster enough of his own offense to sway the momentum.
Unfazed, Tellez upped the pressure beginning in round seven and was able to lump up Williams’ face with thudding hooks and uppercuts, while also sinking several hooks to the body. Williams was cut over the left eye in round three and was forced to visit the ringside physician for a check of his facial damage before round 11.
Williams, who was coming off a 13-month layoff, fought competitively and never appeared to be seriously hurt, but was bested by Tellez in every stat category tracked by CompuBox.
Tellez connected on 30% of his jabs and 44% of his power punches, while limiting Williams to connecting on 27% of his punches. Tellez also landed 47 more body punches than Williams.
The judges scored the fight 118-110, 117-111, and 119-109- all for Tellez.
Preceding the pay-per-view, a three-fight PBC on Prime Video preliminary lineup was topped by a 10-round middleweight bout that may have been the final ring appearance of 34-year-old former IBF World Super Welterweight Champion Jarrett “Swift” Hurd (25-4-1, 17 KOs) of Accokeek, MD, as he suffered a split-decision loss to Venezuelan power puncher Johan “The Chelo Manotas” González (36-4, 34 KOs).
Utilizing roughhouse tactics and finding frequent success with a powerful looping right hand, González outworked and roughed up Hurd in the majority of rounds. Hurd started complaining early on about Gonzalez leading with his head, and referee Charlie Fitch was convinced to issue a strong warning for González in round seven. However, Hurd appeared to not have the reflexes needed to answer his opponent’s harder shots effectively.
The scores were 96-94 and 98-92 for González, which overruled the remaining judge’s decision of 96-94 in favor of Hurd.
“Listen man, God is good and both fighters made it out healthy,” said Hurd, fighting back tears post-fight. “This was my first time fighting someone with three arms, but I’m a man of my word. This will be the last time you all will see me. Thank you for the love and support. I had a wonderful career.”
In a six-round welterweight battle between undefeated prospects, 19-year-old David “The Bodysnatcher” Whitmire (9-0, 6 KOs) prevailed with a clear, but competitive, unanimous decision over 22-year-old Ángel “Machete” Muñoz (7-1, 5 KOs) as all three judges scored the fight 60-54 in favor of Whitmore. In an active battle throughout, the pair threw over 800 combined punches. However, Whitmire used his three-inch reach advantage, educated jab and powerful two-handed salvos to the body to control the action.
Kicking off the livestream, undefeated Deric “Scooter” Davis (6-0, 6 KOs) displayed his power by knocking out Jamal Johnson (2-1, 1 KO) in the first round. The 22-year-old from Fort Washington, MD, dropped the undefeated, but outgunned, Johnson twice with sharp left hooks in the opening round, with the second knockdown being enough to convince referee Ricky Gonzalez to stop the fight at 1:56.
The event was promoted by GTD Promotions and TGB Promotions.
