Victor Ortiz vs Luis Collazo Weigh-In, Gary Russell Jr. Returns
From left: Gary Russell Sr., Gary Allen Russell, Gary Russell Jr., Gary Antonio Russell
by Sarah Deming
BROOKLYN, N.Y.–There’s nothing better than a weigh-in to lift the spirits on an icy afternoon.
We joined the press, Corona girls, and off-duty Atlantic Center employees in the Barclays Center atrium to ogle Golden Boy’s latest line-up. Although some have criticized Golden Boy’s monopoly on the Barclays Center, we think their cards have been excellent for boxing in Brooklyn, providing a larger stage for some of our favorite local fighters.
Main event welterweights Luis Collazo (34-5, 17 KOs) and Victor Ortiz of Ventura, California (29-4, 22 KOs), weighed in at an identical 146.6 lbs. for their WBA title match. The fight will headline tomorrow’s special Super Bowl edition of boxing on Fox Sports 1.[[MORE]][[MORE]]
Even in this sport of tattooed men, Collazo’s ink is scarily extensive. In the stare-down he opted for the crazy-smile-while-chewing-gum technique, while Victor Ortiz radiated cold contempt. If weigh-ins are like first dates, this had chemistry and boded well for tomorrow’s consummation. Golden Boy executive Bernard Hopkins made a show of pulling the men apart before any damage could be done.[[MORE]]
The usual Brooklyn boxing family was present, including Paulie Malignaggi, who picks Collazo.
“That’s my boy. It’s a very even fight, though. They all are. The Gomez-Arnette match will be great.”
Paulie, Luis Collazo, and I were all teammates on the 1999 Empire State Games team, guest-coached by a young Zab Judah. It was easy to see back then that Paulie and Luis would be the standouts in the pro ranks. Paulie reminded me that Orlando Cruz was also on our team.
“He was living in New York for a year,” said Paulie. “He hadn’t come out yet.”
Next up were Bronx favorite Eddie Gomez (15-0, 10 KOs), and Orlando’s Daquan Arnett (11-0, 7 KOs) in a co-main event super welterweight bout. Gomez had the puncher’s body, hard and compact, while Arnette had the sleek physique that says “boxer.” The stare-down here lacked some of the sizzle of the main event’s, and devolved into a camera-hogging contest.
Gary Russell, Jr., of Capitol Heights, Md. (23-0, 13 KOs), looked sleepy, trim, and enormous compared to little Miguel Tamayo of Obregon, Mexico (14-7-2, 12 KOs).
“Sir” Marcus Browne, (8-0, 7 KOs) has abs as flashy as his record. I felt bad for his opponent Kentrell Claiborne of Shreveport (4-8, 3 KOs) even before he failed to make weight. With his soft belly and camouflage pants, Claiborne looked like he had just wandered in from off the street. He was 181.2 for the scheduled light heavyweight showdown, but clearly the weight is the least of his problems.
Bronx featherweight Manny Gonzalez (13-0, 7 KOs) is built like a praying mantis and towered over his opponent, Texan import Victor Sanchez (5-7-2, 2 KOs).
Next up was Brooklyn’s Zachary Ochoa (5-0, 3 KOs) a good-looking super lightweight who just signed with Golden Boy.
I got the scoop on “Zungry” from Mel Rau, a make-up artist and member of the Gleason’s Gym family who just won her first fight as a Master’s boxer.
“He’s a very clean kid,” she told me. “Doesn’t drink, doesn’t smoke, very religious. Wants to go all the way. Kelly made this happen for him.”
Ochoa shares Eddie Gomez’s excellent trainer, Kelly Richardson, who is making waves out of his Gym U in Williamsburg.
Jose Valderrama of Puerto Rico (3-6, 3 KOs) was the only designated opponent with a physique that suggested a serious approach to training, and he wouldn’t stop staring in Zungry’s eyes. Coming off a string of six straight losses, it seems unlikely that he’d prove a spoiler, but it’s nice to see he’s giving it a go.
Brooklyn’s Rafael Vazquez (9-1, 7 KOs) has a lot to fight for, with an autistic daughter and a wife recently diagnosed with cancer. His last outing was a dramatic come-from-behind stoppage win at Resorts World Casino. His Twin Cities opponent Bradley Patraw (10-6, 5 KOs) wins the award for flashiest underwear, but he looked a little shook in the staring department.
We chased the fighting Gary Russells (top) out to their van to ask Junior why he had been so inactive and what he had planned for the coming year.
“We were getting my contract and everything together,” said Gary Russell, Jr. “We’re the mandatory for the WBO, but we’ll fight anybody.”
His younger brother Gary Antonio Russell says he plans to fight in the Golden Gloves one more time before turning pro. And when will Gary Russell, Jr. fight again in his hometown?
“I want to get a title first,” he said.
“What do you have to say to your fans back in DC?”