Former featherweight champion Gary Russell Jr. has not made his lightweight debut just yet, but it appears that he is willing to do so in the near future. In fact, he has a few potential opponents in mind. For years, he has expressed his interest in fighting WBA “Regular” Lightweight Champion Gervonta “Tank” Davis. More recently, it appears that he is open to fighting one of his potential foe’s past opponents, Isaac Cruz.
“I like little Pitbull, Isaac Cruz. I like Isaac Cruz, I would fight Isaac Cruz,” he said, per Boxing Scene.
Lightweight contender Isaac Cruz has only lost to one man since 2016, Gervonta “Tank” Davis. Beyond suffering his second professional defeat, the 24-year-old contender has beaten Yuriorkis Gamboa and Eduardo Ramirez to claim the WBC “Silver” Lightweight Championship and position himself for a shot at the division’s undisputed titleholder, Devin “The Dream” Haney. However, Haney has sights set on a title defense against Vasiliy Lomachenko in May followed by a potential move up to the 140-pound division. In the meantime, Cruz’s trainer and father, Isaac Cruz Sr., has set his sights on a potential fight with WBA Super Lightweight Champion Regis Prograis.
“If there is a world title fight, that would be an option…But only if there is a real world title fight. We wouldn’t be interested in moving up, except if there is a world title opportunity 140, we would take it,” Cruz Sr. told Izquierdazo.
“I really think I’ll stop him, I really think I beat him up bad and if I don’t, I can box circles around him,” Prograis replied.
Despite public comments from Prograis, Cruz and Russell Jr., none of the fighters mentioned currently has a fight scheduled for 2023.
