The Premier Boxing Champions are at the MGM national Harbor in Oxon Hill, Maryland this Saturday night (May 20, 2017) for a seven-fight boxing card that will see the main and co-main events air on Showtime in the United States. The main event has Gary Russell Jr. (27-1) defending his WBC world featherweight title against the challenge of Oscar Escandon (25-2). This fight was originally scheduled to happen in March, but Escandon requested the delay due to a back injury. The back may or may not be a factor for Escandon, whose two losses came in interim world title shots, and he is getting a third chance here.
The only real question around Russell for this one is his inactivity, as we last saw him back in March of 2016 when he defeated Robinson Castellanos via seventh-round stoppage. A former Olympian, Russell’s only pro loss is to the all-world Vasyl Lomachenko, and that came via a majority decision. This fight is being seen as a showcase for the 28-year-old Russell, and he enters the fight as a prohibitive favorite. Look for Escandon to make it fun, as the hard-hitting Colombian will likely come out aggressive, but fans of the “sweet science” will likely see Russell outclass him with technique.
At 140 pounds, undefeated Rances Barthelemy (25-0) will also return to face off against once-beaten Kiryl Relikh (21-1) of Belarus in the co-main event. Barthelemy is a talented fighter who has had to vacate world titles at lightweight and at super featherweight, and this is his first fight at super lightweight. Relikh has been fighting his whole career in Europe, and he is coming off his first loss in a world title bid against Ricky Burns in England this past October. Relikh has good stopping power, with 19 knockouts in his 21 outings. Perhaps more importantly, he has fought his entire pro career at super lightweight, and he may naturally be the bigger, stronger man in this one.
The card also counts on an interim world title fight at super middleweight as Andre Dirrell (25-2) faces Jose Uzcategui (26-1) in a bout Several Bookmakers may post later in the week, so check back soon to see if that will in fact be the case.
MGM National Harbor – Oxon Hill, Maryland – Showtime
Featherweight – 12 rounds
Oscar Escandon +1500
Gary Russell Jr. -3000
Super Lightweight – 12 rounds
Kiryl Relikh +450
Rances Barthelemy -600
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