By Jake Donovan

It’s been nearly a year since Gary Russell claimed the World Boxing Council (WBC) featherweight title. He is now at risk of losing the belt without making a single defense.

The 27-year old boxer from the greater Washington D.C. area is due to face Patrick Hyland on April 16 at Foxwoods Casino in Mashantucket, Connecticut. However, he first needs to comply by the WBC’s rules, which requires all participants submit to 30- and 7-day pre-fight safety weight checks, to ensure that boxers are not losing an abnormal amount of weight in a short period of time.

WBC champions and challengers cannot weigh more than 10% over the contracted limit 30 days out and no more than 5% over the limit at the seven-day pre-fight mark. As Russell and Hyland are fighting at 126-pounds, both fighters must weigh in at no heavier than 139-pounds (12.6, or 10% of 126, rounded up to 13-pounds).

Hyland (31-1, 15KOs) came in within the limit at a healthy 137.7 lbs. 30 days out, according to the records submitted by WBC inspectors. The 32-year old contender from Ireland – entering his first full title fight – has also completed all of his pre-fight medical work, save for having to submit a blood sample.

As for Russell – much like the majority of his pre-title competition, his information is TBA.

“We have not received the (required) information yet,” WBC President Mauricio Sulaiman informed krikya360.com via text Friday evening.

Russell has not yet submitted his pre-fight medicals or 30-day weight check, both of which are in violation , respectively. Rumors of his being too far above the 10% overage limit were suggested as the reason for not scheduling a 30-day check, although such whispers remain largely unconfirmed.

Failure to comply by such rules “may result in the WBC taking such actions as it deemed appropriate in its sole discretion including, but not limited to, imposing fines, suspensions, removal from the ratings, revocation of challenger status and opportunities, or vacating a title.” 

Such determination has not yet been made by the WBC as this goes to publish.

Should the bout go on as scheduled, it will headline the April 16 edition of Showtime Championship Boxing. Also to be included on the show, Jose Pedraza makes the second defense of his International Boxing Federation (IBF) super featherweight title as he faces mandatory challenger Stephen Smith from England.

Both bouts were rescheduled from previously separate dates in March. The idea of a Pedraza vs. Smith was pitched for several planned shows, but ultimately defaulted on a previous agreement Lou DiBella – who promotes Pedraza and Hyland – and Smith’s promoter, Eddie Hearn reached in accordance with IBF rules. The sanctioning body reordered a purse bid, with DiBella serving as the sole bidder after having worked out an agreed upon financial package for Smith’s side.

Russell vs. Hyland was due to land on the eventually canceled March 12 show that would aired live both on free-to-air CBS in primetime and on Showtime – with the featherweight clash landing on the latter end.

The headlining bout was to be Keith Thurman in a welterweight title defense versus Shawn Porter. However, the unbeaten Floridian suffered a car accident and was forced to postpone the bout to June, with its remaining parts now spread out over various cards.

Of the four major fights attached to the card, Russell vs. Hyland was the first to get reassigned, but now officially in jeopardy.

Russell has not fought since his win over Gonzalez. A title defense versus Oscar Escandon was planned for last November, only for Russell to suffer an injury and have to withdraw.  The D.C.-area featherweight was a member of the 2008 U.S. Olympic boxing team, but passed out due to dehydration at the weigh-in the morning of his scheduled opening round fight.

His pro setbacks have come from injuries, while having suffered just one defeat – a 12-round decision to two-time Olympic Gold medalist Vasyl Lomachenko in their June ’14 vacant World Boxing Organization (WBO) featherweight title fight. The latest folly in his career comes on the heels of his 19-year old brother, Gary Antoine Russell being eliminated from competition in the Americas Olympic Qualifiers, with a second chance coming in June in order to make the 2016 U.S. Olympic male boxing team to compete in Rio.

A ruling on this particular title fight is expected to be made in the coming days. The final decision will determine whether a late submission by Russell Jr. (if one comes at all) will be accepted, if he is stripped of the title, or if the fight simply goes on as planned and he is disciplined in other ways as previously cited in the WBC rules.

Jake Donovan is the managing editor of krikya360.com. Twitter: @JakeNDaBox