Gary Antuanne Russell is rumored to be jumping ship to leave PBC to sign with Eddie Hearn’s Matchroom Boxing to fight on DAZN.
Russell’s Potential to Dethrone Haney
If Hearn can add Russell to his Matchroom stable, he would have one of the major young 140-lb contenders in the light welterweight division, poised to step in and dethrone Devin Haney of his WBC title.
Thaboxingvoice reports that Antuanne Russell is rumored to be potentially signing with Eddie Hearn’s Matchroom. This would be a good move for him because it would keep him busy fighting the top guys at 140.
The World Boxing Council permitted Haney to keep his WBC title despite losing to Ryan Garcia last Saturday night. Russell is ranked #2 WBC, and in position to fight for a world title soon.
Russell’s Activity a Concern
Russell, 27, would have likely already challenged for a world title if he’d been kept busy by PBC in the last couple of years.
Antuanne Russell (17-0, 17 KOs) has four times since 2020 and hasn’t fought since August 2023.
Hearn’s Growing 140-lb Stable
If Russell does join up with Matchroom, it would give Hearn these fighters in his stable at 140:
– Devin Haney
– Subriel Matias
– Liam Paro
– Richardson Hitchins
– Regis Prograis
Hearn is playing Monopoly at 140, collecting all the major pieces in the division and controlling the weight class to set up the biggest fights. That’s great for the boxing fans and for the fighters, many of whom were languishing in obscurity before signing with him.
Antuanne Russell’s Possible Matchups
Gary Antuanne Rusell would likely beat Haney, Prograis, and Hitchins. Matias and Paro would be tough fights for Russell because those matches would require him to go to war and outslug these guys.
If Hearn can add Antuanne Russell to his stable, WBO light welterweight champion Teofimo Lopez, who is signed with Top Rank and flights on ESPN, would have to cross the pond to fight in a joint broadcast contest if he wanted to face any of the guys with Hearn’s Matchroom that compete on DAZN.
Gary Antuanne Russell’s Recent fights:
– Kent Cruz: August 2023
– Rances Barthelemy: July 2022
– Viktor Postol: February 2022
– Jovanie Santiago: May 2021