Russell Jr Tenacious Call Out, Haney Answers, Grudge Match Brings Life Back To Boxing
By Scottie “The Context” White
For boxing fans in general, the filtering feedback since the sport has returned back to prime-time has been a trail mix of criticism, mostly when it comes to the banality of fight cards presented. For what its worth, the year isn’t lost as we push forward to pockets of enticing match-ups on the backside of this calendar schedule.
The lightweight 135lb division has been the ala carte of desire during this pandemic resurgence, we’re used to seeing fight news become official from the promotional pressers. But if you notice the twitch amongst fighters have leaned heavy toward new media as of late, the free exposure, social media segways of hardworking boxing aficionados have seemly breached a higher level of accessibility for fighters in general.
WBC featherweight champion Gary Russell Jr (31-1, 18KOs) boxing out of the Washington DC stronghold has reigned extensively for five plus years and successfully defended his divisional crown. As of late, Russell jr has not only contemplated moving up to contend in a higher division but proceeded to unleash havoc in calling out elite opposition to step in to fight him.
Let’s pause for a second, in my opinion this is where Russell jr changed the game a bit when it comes to self-promotion. At the time WBO welterweight Terence Crawford was actively trying to pursue a fight with boxer Kell Brook, offering him a 1.5M dollar purse to make the potential fight, but then Russell jr intercepted headlines with a vengeance, calling out the champion who contends four division higher to fight him for the same purse. Russell jr was adamant for Crawford to acknowledge the call out for action, but he never did.
Meanwhile there was young boxing star on Russell jr call out list – WBC lightweight Devin Haney (24-0, 15KOs). It didn’t take long for these two fighters to engage in a war of words.
“Now he’s [Haney] saying that I’m trying to duck him? Stop playing,” Russell said on Instagram. “Since you playing with me, tell motherf—– Eddie [Hearn] to send the contract over. I already spoke to Al [Haymon]. Al said, ‘Gary, we have a good business relationship, but you can fight whoever you want’ … Al Haymon isn’t going to put any motherf—– money up to fight Devin Haney.
“If these guys are serious about it, tell them to send you a contract.’ So send me the contract. I’ll fight you for the $1.5 [million], and I’m going to beat your little ass, shorty.
“[Haymon] said, ‘Gary, you know, [Haney is] the champion. He’s the one that comes up with that. It’s the champion. The challenger doesn’t come up with the figures. So if he really wants to fight, tell him to send the contract.”
If there was ever a holiday that fit the build, it was this past Labor day weekend. Batman (Russell jr older brother) and Bill Haney the father of (Devin Haney) came to a head when both gentlemen joined Fannon International Boxing channel to ignite a labor intensive debate, slash a public negotiation betwixt the camps. This type of meeting was an anomaly to be honest, the language injected the viewing audience with an opportunity for social media intimacy, as both advocates presented their stipulations and demands in the company of thousands.
“If the fight doesn’t happen, Devin Haney is ducking,” said Russell Jr. “That’s some ducking sh-t right there. Don’t say, ‘Well, I’ll meet you at this number.’ Cool. You got it. ‘Now, you got to do this too.’ Nah, f–k that.
It doesn’t work that way. If y’all want to make this fight, make it the $1.5 million with the only stipulations that should be in the contract is the rematch clause because how do you like it when I scorch his little ass.”
Lets be clear, the dialogue started as space heater, then fulminated into a blazing incendiary for hours into the night. Closing out that day, then to restart Monday where it seemed that resolutions cooled the temperature talking points and Bill adjourned the meeting to converse with the powers that be concerning the 1.5M demanded for Russell jr to accept the fight. Gassing forward to Tuesday, Bill insinuated he sealed the 1.5M commitment and confirmed he was in possession of the monetary bond, emails sent to Russell jr and loosely inserted the deadline would be this Friday, 11 September.
Important note, this agreement was without the initial two-fight stipulation that Bill insisted was a huge interest of his in making the fight. The sole stipulation pending at this time is a rematch clause. Russell jr was precise in his stipulation, that if he wins, the rematch will be on Pay Per View – likely on PBC – Showtime since DAZN is strictly an app based streamline without a PPV structure.
Via Twitter, Haney affirmation on Tuesday was the contract was sent to Team Russell Jr. but in a LIVE response today, Russell jr confirmed he received the contract for which they are reviewing the contractual details as speak.