WBC World Featherweight Champion Gary Russell Jr. and undefeated mandatory challenger Tugstogt Nyambayar both made weight for Saturday night’s showdown.
WBC Featherweight World Championship – 12 Rounds
Gary Russell Jr. – 125 lbs.
Tugstsogt Nyambayar – 125 ¾ lbs.
Referee: Gary Rosato (Penn.); Judges: David Bilocerkowec (Canada), Glenn Feldman (Conn.), John McKaie (N.Y.)
Vacant WBA Bantamweight World Championship – 12 Rounds
Guillermo Rigondeaux – 117 ¼ lbs.
Liborio Solís – 117 ¾ lbs.
Referee: Benjy Esteves (N.Y.); Judges: Don Ackerman (N.Y.), Ron McNair (N.Y.), Kevin Morgan (N.Y.)
WBA Super Featherweight Title Eliminator – 12 Rounds
Jaime Arboleda – 129 ¼ lbs.
Jayson Vélez – 130 lbs.
Referee: Eric Dali (N.J.); Judges: Bernard Bruni (Penn.), Glenn Feldman (Conn.), Eric Marlinski (N.Y.)
FLASH QUOTES:
GARY RUSSELL JR.
“My toughest challenger is myself. I never focus on my opponent. My toughest challenge is preparing myself to the best of my ability. I think he’s a good fighter. I think he’s going to bring his physical best. He has everything to gain and nothing to lose, but I feel as though he’s going to need a little more than that. The difference will be my speed, punching power, ring generalship and boxing IQ.
“I believe that all three of the Russell brothers can be world champions. I want us to be the set of brothers that makes history. I’ll be in the corners for my brothers tomorrow night. It’s fun. It’s something that I genuinely enjoy doing and supporting my younger brothers is definitely what I want to do. Hopefully, we’ll all get these W’s come tomorrow night.”
TUGSTSOGT NYAMBAYAR
“I don’t feel any pressure that my whole country will be watching. I’m a fighter and this fight is mine. I’m here to win. This will be a good fight and I’ll be the next champion.”
GUILLERMO RIGONDEAUX
“This is really my weight – 118. I fought at 122, but I feel very comfortable at 118. Boxing is like mathematics, so we’re going to adjust to whatever my opponent brings. We can box and also, what you saw in my last fight, we can pressure. I can also bring that tomorrow.”
LIBORIO SOLIS
“There’s always that same hunger to win a championship again. It’s been a while, so I want it back. With faith in God, I will get it back tomorrow. I want to state that me and Guillermo are both warriors. We’re both going to give a great show out there. If he comes out boxing, then I’ll box him. If he comes out with pressure, like he did in his last fight, then I will come out that way. We both want this fight. We know it’s a great opportunity and I’m going to show the best of me tomorrow.”
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ABOUT RUSSELL VS. NYAMBAYAR
Russell vs. Nyambayar will see WBC Featherweight Champion Gary Russell Jr. defend his 126-pound crown against unbeaten mandatory challenger Tugstsogt “King Tug” Nyambayar live on SHOWTIME on Saturday, February 8 in a Premier Boxing Champions event from PPL Center in Allentown, Pa.
