Unbeaten bantamweight contender Gary Antonio Russell (19-0, 12 KOs) secured a closely contested majority decision victory, narrowly defeating Mexico's Alexandro Santiago (24-3-5, 13 KOs) in a thrilling match that kicked off the telecast.
"I believe I emerged victorious in this bout, and I clearly demonstrated my superior boxing skills," Russell stated. "My opponent was tough and attempted to be aggressive and rugged. I had the headbutts from my previous fight on my mind, so I aimed to keep the fight clean and accumulate rounds."
In a see-saw battle, Russell initially took the lead with an effective jab and his speed advantage, allowing him to land combinations from his southpaw stance. Russell outperformed Santiago in every round during the first half of the fight, before Santiago started to gain momentum.
Santiago commented, "It was a closely contested match today. I needed to apply more pressure to convince the judges to score the fight in my favor. I noticed early on that he was quite repetitive. If I had been more aggressive in the initial rounds, I might have pulled off the victory."
Russell added, "He was rough and didn't want to keep it clean, so I had to engage in close-range combat. Being the shorter fighter, I knew he would do his best to fight on the inside against me."
In the middle rounds, Santiago successfully closed the distance and targeted Russell's body, outlanding him 51-23 in that department overall. With the outcome hanging in the balance, the final two rounds witnessed both fighters going toe-to-toe, seeking that one decisive blow to sway the fight in their favor.
After ten rounds, Russell secured a narrow decision, maintaining his unbeaten record, with scores of 95-95 and 96-94 twice.
"I feel prepared to face the champions," Russell expressed. "I'd welcome a bout against John Riel Casimero for his title, but I'm willing to take on any of the champions. Some may question my readiness for the next level based on this performance, but I know my capabilities."
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