Tony Bellew previews the Gary Russell Jr vs Mark Magsayo WBC world featherweight title fight
Former WBC World cruiserweight champion Tony Bellew provided his expert view on the first World Boxing Council championship contest of the year.
After nearly two years out of the ring, WBC world featherweight champion Gary Russell Jr is set to finally defend the iconic green and gold belt against Mark Magsayo at the Borgata Hotel Casino & Spa in Atlantic City this Saturday, January 22.
Gary Allen is well known for his bouts of inactivity, often fighting just once per year, but this is the longest hiatus he has had as the world champion and has become a bit of concern amongst fans and former fighters, including 'Bomber' Bellew.
Asked for his prediction on The DAZN Boxing Show, Bellew had plenty of praise for Russell Jr's astounding ability, but questioned whether he still has the hunger to compete after just six fights in seven years.
"I really like Gary Russell Jr’s slick style. Brilliant counter-puncher, slick, straight out the box. His footwork’s fantastic," the 39-year-old said.
"This week, it’s a tough one because the guy’s unbeaten, he doesn’t know how to lose.
"We have to see what’s left of Gary Russell Jr, but we don’t know. It’s been so long since I’ve seen him in a ring, he’s inactive, he's only got that one loss and it’s against the absolute elite in Vasiliy Lomachenko, but at the same time we need to find out how hungry he is.
"Is he still wanting to do this, he’s been in the game a long time and it’s not like he’s a heavyweight who can drag the years out, he’s one of the smaller weights.
"These guys are usually done by his age so we’ll see what he’s got left."
Rusell Jr's father recently underwent a foot amputation which is believed to be one of the reasons why the 33-year-old has been so inactive over the past couple years.
"Inactivity is the biggest killer of boxers. It’s what finishes careers," Bellew explained. "Very rarely it can have the reverse effect, I didn’t know Gary Russell Jr. had been going through a lot family wise, this might be the ignition that sparks the fire again.
"He might be going out there wanting to do this for his father now."
Russell Jr. vs Magsayo is presented by Premier Boxing Champions on Saturday, January 22, broadcast live on Showtime.
Read BBN's full fight preview and prediction HERE
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