Gary Antuanne Russell Dominates Jose Valenzuela in Near-Shutout Victory to Claim WBA 140-lb Title
By Dong Secuya
PhilBoxing.com
Sun, 02 Mar 2025
In a scintillating co-main event of the Tank-Roach WBA championship fight at Barclays Center Saturday night (Sunday in Manila), Gary Antuanne Russell (18-1-0, 17 KOs) of Capitol Heights, Maryland, delivered a career-defining performance, dismantling Jose "Rayo" Valenzuela (14-3-0, 9 KOs) of Los Mochis, Sinaloa, Mexico, to claim the WBA 140-lb title. Valenzuela, defending his belt, was overwhelmed by Russell’s relentless aggression and non-stop action, resulting in a lopsided decision with judges’ scores of 119-109, 119-109, and 120-108.
From the opening bell, Russell set a punishing pace that Valenzuela simply couldn’t match. The 28-year-old challenger smothered the champion with a high work rate, targeting both head and body with devastating combinations throughout the 12-round affair. Russell’s performance erased any lingering doubts from his sole loss to Alberto Puello, showcasing a marked improvement in skill and stamina.
Russell wasted no time in the opening round asserting dominance, pressuring Valenzuela with an aggressive start. A series of jabs and a left hand downstairs set the tone, while Valenzuela’s attempts to counter with right hooks were overshadowed by Russell’s superior output. The onslaught continued in the second round as Russell bullied Valenzuela around the ring, landing a double right and a sharp 1-2 combination. Valenzuela’s hesitancy allowed Russell to seize control of the early rounds. In round three, Russell’s consistent jab forced Valenzuela onto the back foot, a stark contrast to Rayo’s success against Isaac Cruz in prior fights. A left hand threw Valenzuela off balance, and Russell’s 2:1 punch output solidified his lead.
Russell-Valenzuela Compubox Stats.
With no respite for the champion, Russell’s relentless pace shone through the succeeding rounds that left Valenzuela reeling, unable to slow the challenger’s momentum. Valenzuela briefly found success in round 8 with a hard left hand, but Russell responded with a barrage—left uppercut, left hand over the top, and a four-left-hand flurry. The challenger’s body work further drained the champion. In round 9, Russell’s best spell of the fight came as he rocked Valenzuela with a three-punch combination and a left hand that left Rayo visibly hurt. Sensing a finish, Russell pressed forward, though Valenzuela survived the round. Russell continued to dominate in the championship rounds as Valenzuela's face brunt the mark of the punishment. Credit to the Mexican who did not go down and never surrendered.
Russell’s near-shutout performance left little doubt about his supremacy at 140 lbs. His ability to control range, tempo, and output overwhelmed Valenzuela, whose defense faltered under the constant barrage. Rayo, previously stopped by Edwin De Los Santos, showed resilience but couldn’t overcome Russell’s aggression or land enough to shift the fight’s momentum. For Russell, this win marks a triumphant rebound and a statement to the division. Valenzuela, now dethroned, faces a tough road back to contention after being thoroughly outclassed.
The Barclays crowd, buzzing from the main event pitting Tank Davis against Lamont Roach, witnessed a co-main event that will be remembered as a showcase of Russell’s potential as a future pound-for-pound star.
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