"I got more than that coming. I got something else coming. Maybe we can get Knockout of the Year for '17...Our job is to stay sharp and stay on point and do what we do as fighters. I know not to go in there overanxious and I know not to go in there rushing anything. I've been out for a minute. But in the first two rounds...probably the first round, I'll get that feeling back and make it do what it do. I might not even go in there feeling rusty," stated bantamweight Gary Atonio Russell, who talked about his upcoming return to the ring. Check it out!
PC: How is training going for your fight on May 20th?
GAR: It's going good. My first day of sparring was yesterday. I'm going to get some more work in tonight. I'm patiently waiting for the 20th to roll around the corner.
PC: You had a Knockout of the Year in 2016, you won a fight in a pair of Air Jordan basketball shoes, you were doing it all last year. I'm sure you're looking to have a great 2017.
GAR: Yeah! That Knockout of the Year is already old. That's behind me now. I got more than that coming. I got something else coming. Maybe we can get Knockout of the Year for '17.
PC: How did you use the extra time you had during the postponement?
GAR: We grinding every single day, even when we don't have fights coming up. I was still in the gym, still grinding because that's what we do. It's a lifestyle for us.
PC: Does it make it easier that it's a family affair? When you are in the gym, your entire family is basically in there as well. Does that make the grind a little bit easier?
GAR: Yeah, a lil bit, but it also makes the grind harder because with us being brothers, we are all competitive all the time. We feed off of each other. If we feel one is training harder than the other one, we pick up the momentum and try to outdo the other one.
PC: Antuanne is making his pro debut and he spoke to me about how much of an inspiration both you and Gary have been leading up to this debut. You have been in the position he is in now of making your pro debut coming is as a highly-regarded amateur star. What advice did you give him?
GAR: Don't go in there overanxious and don't go in there looking for a knockout. He already has competed without that headgear, so he knows what that atmosphere is like. However, there are smaller gloves going down to 8 ounces and that plays a big part. He's gotta have that sense of discipline and keep his hands up high, because even with your hands up high with those 8 ounce gloves, they can still slide through. So just keeping him humble and not going in there overanxious or looking for a knockout. Go in there and perform to his ability.
PC: Your older brother is a world champion, your younger brother is coming off of the Olympics, and you are mentoring him to his pro debut. Do you feel that middle kid pressure a little bit?
GAR: To be honest, we all give each other advice. Of course we all look up to older brother because he is the blueprint to all of this. But if we see Gary doing something that he could correct, we give him advice as well. Antuanne sees something I'm doing wrong, he gives me advice as well. It's an order in which we do things. Iron sharpens iron and we see things wrong, we fix it.
PC: It's going to be a little bit different because now you'll either be backstage or making it back ringside before or after your fight to watch your brother(s) fight. What are you anticipating from that scenario?
GAR: Everybody is going to be at the edge of their seats. All of the brothers will be out there doing their thing. I'm anxious. I really can't wait. I know it's coming, so we will actually see what it's like when we are actually in that position.
PC: You haven't fought since June, so I'm sure you have to take your own advice and go in there and not be overanxious or head hunting to look to make up that lost time.
GAR: Yeah, most definitely. I had a long layoff, you know. I've had almost a year long layoff by the time I get in the ring, but it comes with the territory sometimes. Our job is to stay sharp and stay on point and do what we do as fighters. I know not to go in there overanxious and I know not to go in there rushing anything. I've been out for a minute. But in the first two rounds...probably the first round, I'll get that feeling back and make it do what it do. I might not even go in there feeling rusty.
PC: Your time out of the ring could build up your patience for in the ring as well.
GAR: Yeah! We are gonna see.
PC: What would be the perfect night in your opinion?
GAR: What would be the perfect night for me? You want my honest answer?
PC: Most definitely!
GAR: The perfect night for me would be for me, Antuanne, and my older brother Gary to go out there and knock our opponents out with the very first punch that we throw. That would be the perfect night; no injuries, quick knockouts, and get these checks on our way home. That is my honest answer (laughing).
PC: That's what's up, my man. I know all of you guys are in the gym training, so I won't hold you up any longer. Thanks for the time and good luck in May. Is there anything else you want to add?
GAR: Just tell everyone they can follow me on IG [Instagram] and I appreciate you having us all on.
[ Follow Percy Crawford on Twitter @MrLouis1ana ]