Gary Antuanne Russell vs Alberto Puello clash for Interim WBC super-lightweight title on landmark MGM Grand card
Stacked Card Marks Historic 100th Championship Fight Night at MGM Grand’s Legendary Venue in Sports Capital of the World
A pair of title showdowns will round out a stacked PBC Pay-Per-View event on Prime Video co-headlined by separate showdowns featuring boxing superstars Gervonta “Tank” Davis and David “El Monstruo” Benavídez taking place Saturday, June 15 at the MGM Grand Garden Arena.
A jam-packed four-bout pay-per-view lineup will highlight the historic 100th championship fight night at the popular sports and entertainment venue.
Undefeated rising star Gary Antuanne Russell will take on unbeaten former world champion Alberto Puello for the vacant Interim WBC Super Lightweight Title, while WBC Middleweight World Champion Carlos Adames battles veteran contender and U.S. Olympian Terrell Gausha in the pay-per-view opener.
Headlining the show is the undefeated three-division champion Gervonta “Tank” Davis defending his WBA Lightweight World Championship against unbeaten top contender Frank “The Ghost” Martin, while Benavídez is set to make his 175-pound debut against former light heavyweight world champion Oleksandr “The Nail” Gvozdyk in a matchup for the Interim WBC Light Heavyweight Title.
“June 15 will deliver a lineup truly stacked with the best talent in the sport from start to finish,” said Tom Brown, President of TGB Promotions.
“Already featuring Gervonta Davis and David Benavídez in intriguing showdowns, the card will also include the powerful Gary Antuanne Russell, as he makes his claim as the future of the 140-pound division against an undefeated Alberto Puello, while Carlos Adames can stake out his spot as the world’s top middleweight with another victory, this time against the always tough Terrell Gausha. This monumental display of talent is truly worthy of the 100th championship fight night at the historic MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas.”
Gary Antuanne Russell vs Alberto Puello
The pay-per-view lineup will feature Gary Antuanne Russell, the latest star in the fighting Russell family’s dynasty, as he steps in for a 12-round showdown against former world champion Alberto Puello. The 140-pound clash will be contested for the Interim WBC Super Lightweight Title.
Fighting out of his native Capitol Heights, Md., Russell (17-0, 17 KOs) will carry on the legacy left by his late father Gary Sr. A member of one of the sport’s preeminent fighting families, Russell trains alongside his older brothers, former WBC Featherweight Champion Gary Jr. and bantamweight contender Gary Antonio.
The 27-year-old has yet to allow an opponent to make it to the final bell since turning pro in 2017 following his run representing the U.S. at the Rio 2016 Summer Olympics.
Russell defeated his most accomplished foes to date in 2022, stopping former champion Viktor Postol in February before a TKO win against former two-division champion Rances Barthelemy in July.
Most recently, he blasted out the previously undefeated Kent Cruz in one round last August.
“Being at the top is only meant for one person, but the journey is always meant to have an audience,” said Russell. “Make sure you watch this pay-per-view on June 15, because everyone knows what I bring when fight night comes.”
Puello (22-0, 10 KOs) returned to action last December, his first bout since winning his world title, as he scored a unanimous decision victory over the previously unbeaten Ector Madera.
Puello captured the WBA Super Lightweight World Championship with a victory over Batyr Akhmedov in August of 2022. A native of San Juan de la Maguana, Dominican Republic, Puello now resides and trains in Las Vegas.
Puello first shot up the rankings in July 2019, when he bested the previously unbeaten Jonathan Alonso via unanimous decision to capture an interim title.
The 29-year-old also owns a unanimous decision triumph over VeShawn Owens in his U.S. debut that came in July 2021.
“It’s a great honour to be fighting on this platform on June 15,” said Puello. “I’ve been waiting patiently for a fight like this and now is the time to show the world that I’m worthy of the opportunity. Gary Antuanne Russell is exactly the type of opponent I want right now, because I know what a victory will do for my career. There’s a belt on the line and I’m coming to win it by any means necessary.”
Carlos Adames vs Terrell Gausha
Recently elevated after making two defences of his interim belt, Carlos Adames will step in to make the first defense of his WBC Middleweight World Championship when he faces the former world title challenger Terrell Gausha in a matchup that kicks off pay-per-view action.
Adames (23-1, 18 KOs) has become a force in the middleweight division as he looks to establish himself as number one in the historic weight class.
The 30-year-old’s last outing saw him earn a ninth-round TKO of former unified world champion Julian Williams in their June 2023 clash. Prior to that triumph, Adames bested top contender Sergiy Derevyanchenko in December 2021 and followed that up by knocking out Juan Macias Montiel in the third round to capture his interim belt in October 2022.
Adames was born in Comendador, Dominican Republic, lives in Washington Heights, New York and trains in Las Vegas. He established himself as a contender with a slew of victories over the likes of former champion Carlos Molina, Frank Galarza, Joshua Conley and Alejandro Barrera, with his only defeat coming by narrow decision in a 2019 154-pound title fight against Patrick Teixeira.
“I’m very excited to be back fighting in Las Vegas on a mega fight card, especially making the first defense of my WBC Middleweight World Championship,” said Adames.
“Terrell Gausha has a lot of experience fighting at the top level in the pros and in the amateurs. I know this is a tough fight and that makes me focus even more in training. Right now my mind is right, my body feels great and I’m going to be able to put on a spectacular performance for everybody watching on June 15. I’m going to defend my title with everything I’ve got.”
A member of the 2012 U.S. Olympic team, Gausha (25-3-1, 12 KOs) was born in Cleveland, Ohio but now fights out of Encino, Calif. and is trained by the renowned Manny Robles.
He enters this fight having won his last two bouts as he knocked out Brandyn Lynch in March of last year before winning a decision over KeAndrae Leatherwood in September.
Gausha has faced top competition throughout his career, having fought former champion Austin Trout to a draw in 2019 in addition to decision losses against former champions Erislandy Lara and Tim Tszyu and top contender Erickson Lubin.
“I’ve been training since way before this fight was signed and I’m feeling ready for the challenge,” said Gausha.
“Adames is a good fighter, but so am I. I’m confident that I’m gonna come out on top on June 15. My experience and my skill set are gonna be huge factors that help me get this victory.”
Tickets for the live event are on sale now and are available through www.axs.com.
The event is promoted by GTD Promotions, Sampson Boxing, TGB Promotions and Man Down Promotions.