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Russell, Williams, Jackson notch wins on Cuellar-Tamayo undercard

Fighters Network
20
Dec

Former featherweight title challenger Gary Russell Jr., junior middleweight contender Julian Williams and super middleweight prospect Julius Jackson improved their records on the Jesus Cuellar-Ruben Tamayo undercard on Saturday at the Little Creek Casino in Shelton, Washington.

The fights were televised live on Showtime Extreme in the U.S.

Russell (25-1, 15 knockouts) looked sharp out-classing former fringe contender Christopher Martin en route to a near shutout unanimous decision. Martin (28-5-3, 9 KOs), a 28-year-old veteran from San Diego, had no answer for Russell’s blazing hand speed, stiff jab or rapid-fire combinations. The 26-year-old southpaw, who won by scores of 100-90 (twice) and 99-91, controlled the action and tempo of the bout with his jab and lateral movement, and gradually increased his offensive activity as the fight progressed.

Martin, who was coming off a sixth-round KO loss to undefeated Colombian puncher Miguel Marriaga in October, tried to press and crowd Russell in the middle rounds but was soundly out-landed even when he had the speedster on the ropes or in a corner.



The victory was Russell’s first bout since dropping a majority decision to Vasyl Lomachenko in a WBO title bout that took place on June 21.

Williams (18-0-1, 11 KOs), a 24-year-old technician from Philadelphia, wore down late substitute Jamar Freeman to an eighth-round stoppage in the second bout of the Showtime Extreme broadcast. Freeman (13-4-2, 7 KOs), a talented-but-inexperienced 29-year-old club fighter from North Carolina, was unable to get any kind of offense going against Williams, who easily slipped the 6-foot-2 boxer’s jab as he walked him down.

Williams softened Freeman up with body shots in the middle rounds before dropping the rangy fighter twice in Round 7. Williams fought the first six rounds of the bout somewhat cautiously, but once he hurt Freeman he pressed harder and let his hands go. The fight ended early in Round 8 when Williams pinned Freeman to the ropes and crumpled him to the canvas with a series of right hands.

In the opening bout of the broadcast, Jackson (19-0, 15 KOs) stopped Jonathan Nelson in Round 9 of their scheduled 10 rounder. Jackson, the 27-year-old son of former junior middleweight and middleweight titleholder Julian Jackson, dominated most of the fight, scoring knockdowns in Round 1 and Round 8 before referee Jack Reiss waved the fight off after Nelson was wobbled early in Round 9.

Nelson (19-2, 9 KOs), a tough-but-limited 27-year-old pro from Little Rock, Arkansas, had some moments in Round 6 when landed right hands after Jackson loaded up and missed with big shots, but he couldn’t handle the activity and movement of the Virgin Islands native.

Jackson landed 51 percent of his power punches and 40 percent of his total punches, according to Sho Stats/CompuBox.

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