O’Shaquie Foster calls Gary Antuanne Russell “stiff as hell” and picks Shakur Stevenson to win their proposed fight. Having watched them spar, Foster believes Russell’s style would give Shakur opportunities to read his attacks.
Russell’s challenge would be getting close enough to use his offense without showing Shakur when and where he intends to attack. Fast hands can make a fighter dangerous once he reaches punching range, but they do not guarantee he can get there consistently.
“Antuanne stiff. He’s stiff as hell,” Foster said to Fighthype. “He got skills. He been around the game for a long time. His people know the game, especially his brothers and stuff.”
“I think Shakur beat him for sure. I watched them spar a lot. Even though that was a long time ago, the styles ain’t different. They both still fight the same as they sparred then.”
It remains unclear whether Zuffa wants Gary Antuanne Russell for Shakur’s first fight under his contract. If Foster’s assessment is right, Russell could be the safer choice. Raymond Muratalla would arguably offer a more competitive fight and has shown strong interest in facing Shakur. Fellow Zuffa fighter Jose “Rayo” Valenzuela would be another option. Russell is part of the discussion, but Foster’s prediction should not be mistaken for confirmation that the fight is next.
If Russell approaches in straight lines with little variation in his upper-body movement, Shakur would have fewer adjustments to make. He could time Russell’s entries and change position before the heavier punches arrive. Russell would need to disguise those approaches with feints, changes of pace, and attacks to the body.
The quality of his pressure would be more useful than simply throwing more punches. Following Shakur around and launching one attack at a time could leave Russell repeatedly having to close the distance again. Sustained combinations would give him a better chance of catching Shakur as he moves, provided Russell stays balanced enough to continue attacking.
Foster’s observations deserve attention because he watched the two work together and understands those exchanges as a fellow fighter. Still, he acknowledges that the sparring happened years ago. It offers a basis for his prediction, rather than proof of how a professional fight would unfold.
He also remembers the action and expects an entertaining matchup. Foster respects Russell’s skills, but believes Shakur would handle the style he saw in the gym. Russell would need to show him something different.
