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GARY ANTONIO RUSSELL: "I HAVE TO WIN FLAWLESS...GOTTA LOOK GOOD WITH IT"

By Percy Crawford | December 20, 2014
GARY ANTONIO RUSSELL:

"The losses I took as an amateur that I might not ever get back, I can't think about that. We're going to move forward and see what we can accomplish as a pro... I feel good at 118. I think 118 will be a good weight for me because of my punching power and my skills. They say I'm kind of big for 118...I have to win flawless. I gotta look good with it," stated bantamweight Gary Antonio Russell, who talked about his upcoming pro debut tonight. Check it out!

PC: You are just moments away from making your pro debut. How do you feel?

GAR: I'm kind of excited, you know. I thought I would be a little more excited than what I am, but when you're constantly preparing and training, when it hit, it's like, "Okay, this is it." Maybe I'll be more excited when fight day actually comes.

PC: With a decorated amateur career, any pressure on you to succeed in the pro ranks or are you leaving what you accomplished as an amateur in the past and starting a new chapter tonight?

GAR: Of course I am. I can't dwell in the past anymore. The losses I took as an amateur that I might not ever get back, I can't think about that. We're going to move forward and see what we can accomplish as a pro.

PC: Do you feel like you've worked on something specifically going into the pro ranks or do you feel you already had a pro style?

GAR: A lot of people already told me I had a pro style when I was in the amateurs. A lot of people told me in the pros that you can pace yourself and pick your shots better because you have more time to get in there and get the job done. I would say not necessarily changing my style, but preparing for the accidents that could happen in the pros, such as headbutts and everything like that, and how to react towards certain situations.                                                                                                                                                 

PC: How much has it benefited you for having an older brother who has already enjoyed success at this level already?

GAR: It helps a lot because where I am at now in my career, they have already been there. They can tell me exactly what it is I will be preparing for. So it makes it a lot easier for me to actually grasp on and hold it and make the transition as opposed to me not having no knowledge of it at all.

PC: What do you feel will be the biggest adjustments for you moving up to the pro ranks?

GAR: I'll probably say the glove size. They are a lot smaller and I do all of my training in big gloves. I don't want my hands to feel like they are moving too fast; like I'm running downhill. And the whole no headgear thing. That is something to get used to.

PC: As I mentioned, you were a decorated amateur. Tell us a little bit about your accomplishments there and a little background info.

GAR: I'm southpaw...actually, all of my brothers are southpaw. In the amateurs, I was fighting 123, but instead of me going in at 122, I'm fighting at 118 as a professional. I thought making the weight would be a problem, but I was actually on weight now 2 weeks ago. I still feel strong, fast, and I don't feel dehydrated or anything. I feel good at 118. I think 118 will be a good weight for me because of my punching power and my skills. They say I'm kind of big for 118. They actually said I was kind of big for 123 in the amateurs. My pops think that 118 is a good weight class that I should campaign at. I won the Trials 3 times. I went to the juniors twice open. I won outstanding at the USA's, I won the Golden Gloves and got outstanding there, and then me and my brothers, we made history being the first four brothers to ever win the National Golden Gloves title.

PC: It's crazy all of y'all are left-handed.

GAR: Actually, none of us are left-handed (laughing). All of us are right-handed, but we all fight southpaw.

PC: Was that natural for you or did it take a little bit of getting used to?

GAR: It just came natural. I remember one time in the gym, they asked me what hand was I and I realized I was right-handed and they said I had to stand this way. And in the mix of him showing me things, I just kept turning southpaw. I just didn't like the orthodox stance. And he said, "You must feel comfortable that way," and I was like, "Yeah!" So I stayed that way.

PC: You said you don't feel pressure from your amateur accomplishments moving forward, but do you feel any pressure from your name or do you use that as a something you could build off of?

GAR: Both! It's always pressure because I will have big shoes to fill. My brother did a lot. And he opened the doors for us and he paved the way. So yeah, I feel the pressure. I feel as though I have to compete to a certain standard because of my name. I just can't go out there and win; I have to win a certain way. I have to win flawless. I gotta look good with it. I just can't be like an average fighter because of the name that we uphold. But at the same time, I could build off of it like, "Oh, that's Gary's brother. Let's see what he can bring to the table. Is he Gary's brother or better?" I think I can build from it and it's pressure that comes with it.

PC: It's gotta feel good to make your debut on the same card as him.

GAR: It is! Before I turned pro, I always talked about it. I was like, "It would be tight if all four of us was on a card together as opposed to a different card with all of us on it." I don't think that's ever been done. I know the Klitschko brothers probably fought on the same card at once.

PC: I think I remember Jeff Mayweather telling me right before Roger retired, Bob Arum did a show in Michigan with Roger, Jeff and Floyd Jr. on it. So you had two brothers and a nephew, but I don't ever think four brothers was on the same bill. That would be a first.

GAR: Yeah, so that would be tight!

PC: Gary is coming off of his first career loss. You're around him every day. How do you feel he dealt with it?

GAR: Being his brother, I know my brother, so I know he was hurt. But Gary is not the type to sit and dwell on it. He's gonna bounce back just like he did after the Olympics. The Olympics was a major setback. He hurt all of his fans who wanted to watch him compete and he didn't dwell on it. He learned from it and grew from it. What he did, he just got in the gym and he grind harder when he became a pro. He showed up for his fans. This here is another setback. I seen Gary dwell on it for a little bit and a week went by and he was like, "I can't sit in it. I gotta get ready for another fight. Dad, start setting up my next fight. I gotta get it back. Hopefully we get that fight back." It made him a little more hungry. He's been training extra hard and I expect a better comeback from him.

PC: I appreciate your time. Best of luck to you and I'm sure we will conduct a lot more interviews as your career progresses. Is there anything else you want to add?

GAR: No, that's about it. I appreciate it, man!



[ Follow Percy Crawford on Twitter @MrLouis1ana ]

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