Newly minted WBC featherweight champion Gary Russell Jr. - 26-1, 15 KOs - will make his first title defense against rugged Columbian boxer Oscar Escandon - 24-4, 16 KOs - this Saturday in Las Vegas.
While Escandon isn’t really considered a legitimate title contender, he could be the first victim in a lengthy title reign by Russell.
Gary Russell Jr. vs. Oscar Escandon odds at BookMaker.eu
Oscar Escandon +1200
Gary Russell Jr. -3500
ODDS ANALYSIS
In most sportsbooks, Russell opened around -2000, with Escandon clocking in around +900. The massive shift indicates heavy action on Russell, as was expected. His odds are only going to get more steep come fight night, so now would be a good time to place a bet if you were planning on betting Russell to win.
THE LEAD-IN
Russell captured the title this past March in a trouncing of Jhonny Gonzalez, a two-division titleholder. Ghonzalez appeared completely bewildered by Russell’s speed and movement, and was floored three times before going down for the count in the fourth. While the result wasn’t surprising by any means, it was a bit shocking to see Russell win so easily.
Now, he’s back in action against a gritty, yet beatable opponent. “He’s a short fighter. He’s strong. He’s durable. He’s someone that’s a power puncher,” Russell said in a Showtime interview. “I’ll use a great deal of boxing IQ, ring generalship and stay behind the jab. We want to work on a lot of uppercuts.”
Escandon, 31, is moving up to 126 pounds to challenge Russell. The Columbian is coming off a decision loss to Moises Flores in April. Prior to that, he benefitted from an extremely contentious split decision win to win the interim junior featherweight belt against Tyson Cave in December 2014. Though he’s just 2-2 in his past four, he’s confident that he can get the job done as a massive underdog.
“I feel strong going into this fight,” Escandon said. “Moving up in featherweight has given me the added weight to be at my full strength. I’ve been training hard with Ruben Guerrero, who’s been doing a great job preparing me for Russell’s southpaw attack. I guarantee that I’m going to make it a rough fight.”
FIGHT ANALYSIS AND PREDICTION
Don’t expect too much from Escandon, who really isn’t a threat to Russell. If what we saw against Jhonny Gonzalez is any indication, Russell is simply too fast and technical for a straightforward puncher like Escandon. There’s no reason to really believe that the Colombian has what it takes to pull off an upset in what amounts to a showcase title defense for the new champ.
The under also represents an intriguing play, as there’s a great chance that Russell overwhelms Escandon like he did against Gonzalez.
HOW TO BET
Make sure to check in during fight night and get the latest live betting updates at Bookmaker Sportsbook. You can bet on real-time odds during the bout, allowing you to hedge your bets or even make new ones as you watch on live television. And with multiple reliable payout options, collecting your earnings is always quick and easy. Russell-Escandon bout takes place on Friday, November 14, 2015 at the Hard Rock Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas, Nevada. Showtime will televise the card live starting 10 p.m. ET.
