Gary Antuanne Russell vs Kent Cruz Preview August 12th, 2023
There’s a battle of unbeaten junior welterweights this Saturday, August 12th as southpaw Gary Antuanne Russell of Capitol Heights, Maryland takes on Kent Cruz of Saint Louis, Missouri. The 10-rounder from Oxon Hill, Maryland can be seen live in America on Showtime. Russell last fought in July, 2022 when he stopped former Lightweight Champion Rances Barthelemy of Cuba in the sixth round. Cruz was last in action in November when he battled to an eight-round majority draw with Enrico Gogokhia. It was his second straight draw with Gogokhia as they also fought to an eight-round stalemate nine months earlier in a fight which saw Cruz hit the deck twice.
Russell vs Cruz Betting Odds
Here are the betting odds from online sportsbook BetOnline.ag (full review here).
- Kent Cruz +1000
- Gary Antuanne Russell -2000
My Pick
Russell is now 27 years old and is one of the fighting Russell brothers who are all named Gary. He owns a perfect record of 16-0 with all 16 wins coming by way of stoppage for a 100 per cent knockout mark. He has just 45 rounds of experience under his belt since making his pro debut in 2017. Before that he enjoyed a fine amateur career as he boxed at the 2016 Summer Olympics in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil and lost in the quarterfinals in the light welterweight division.
Russell stands 5-feet-10-inches tall with a wingspan of 69 inches. He’s gone past the sixth round just once as a pro and that was against Viktor Postol in February, 2022 when he stopped him in the 10th round. He also has seven first-round knockouts, three in the second, two in the third, one in the fourth and two in the sixth. He took a step up in class against Postol and Barthelemy but is arguably taking a step backward against Cruz. He’s also beaten the likes of Wilmer Rodriguez, Marcos Mojica, Luis Leal, Juan Huertas and Jovanie Santiago.
The 30-year-old Cruz made his pro debut in 2013 following his amateur career and has boxed 76 rounds since. He makes the ring walk with a near-perfect mark of 16-0-3 with 10 Ko’s. Cruz also measures 5-feet-10-inches tall and has a 71.5-inch reach for a 2.5-inch reach advantage on Russell. As far as power goes, he’s a little above average with a current knockout ratio of 52.6 per cent and has gone the distance in four of his last five fights.
Cruz has three draws in his last five outings as his last two fights were stalemates against Gogokhia and he battled to an eight-round draw with Carlos Mohamed Rodriguez in April, 2018. Cruz has never gone past eight rounds and is certainly taking a step up in class against Russell as his biggest wins have come against the likes of Rickey Edwards, Eric Manriquez, Travis Hartman and Erik Humberto Castillo.
Prediction…
Russell possesses power as well as fine boxing skills and even though he’s stopped all 16 opponents he doesn’t necessarily have to rely on a knockout to win. Cruz is a class or two below Russell when it comes to skill and power and his chin is somewhat questionable as he was dropped twice by Gogokhia last year. I’m expecting the favourite Russell to win his 17th straight fight by way of stoppage.
Russell has better power, skills and experience.
Play Russell -2000 @ BetOnline.ag
Check out my recent boxing betting picks to see my current form.
Gary Antuanne Russell betting • Kent Cruz betting