WBA junior welterweight titleholder Jose “El Rayo” Valenzuela and top contender Gary Antuanne Russell are close to finalizing a 2025 showdown, multiple sources have confirmed with BoxingScene.
The bout could land on the Gervonta Davis vs Lamont Roach PBC Pay-Per-View card on Prime Video. That fight, rumored to take place March 1 at Barclays Center in Brooklyn, New York, is expected to be announced in the coming days.
Valenzuela and Russell, both southpaws, are two of the heaviest punchers in the division. The 25-year-old Valenzuela (14-2, 9 KOs) is coming off an impressive 12-round points win over Isaac “Pitbull” Cruz in August.
A rematch between the two had been tossed around, but Cruz opted instead to face Angel Fierro on the February 1 David Benavidez-David Morrell Jr. PBC pay-per-view card. Valenzuela has now pivoted to a dangerous defense in the 28-year-old Russell. The youngest of three brothers who are professional fighters, Russell, of Capitol Heights, Maryland, was a touted amateur recognized for beating current IBF 147lbs titleholder Jaron “Boots” Ennis three out of four times in the unpaid ranks.
As a pro, Russell stopped his first 17 opponents before losing a 12-round split decision to Alberto Puello last June with the WBC interim 140lbs strap on the line. That belt was soon vacated by Devin Haney thereafter. The WBC then named Puello as the new belt holder and ordered the Dominican Republic native to face Sandor Martin in his first defense. Russell now obtains his shot at a full title for a different belt and against a different opponent.
Bernard Neequaye is a sports journalist with a specialty in boxing coverage. He wrote a boxing column titled “From The Ringside” in his native Ghana for years. He can be reached on X (formerly Twitter) at @BernardNeequaye, LinkedIn at Bernard Neequaye and through email at bernardneequaye@gmail.com.