Featherweight world champion Gary Russell Jr. (29-1, 17 KOs) effectively defended his WBC title against the undefeated mandatory challenger Joseph “JoJo” Diaz Jr. (26-1, 14 KOs) on Saturday, May 19, 2018.

The bout was broadcast live on Showtime Championship Boxing from the MGM National Harbor in Oxon Hill, Maryland. Russell Jr. took an assertive approach at the beginning, repeatedly jabbing Diaz’s head and body. Russell’s quick combinations kept Diaz on the defensive with a tight stance.

By the midpoint of Round 1, Diaz’s face displayed the impact of Russell’s precise shots. Although Diaz countered with a solid body hook, Russell’s speed and sharp jab secured him an easy victory in the round, scoring 10-9 for Russell.

In Round 2, Russell aggressively pressed Diaz, momentarily causing trouble for his opponent, who fought back valiantly, earning Russell’s respect. Vicious body shots from Russell took their toll, leading to an intense exchange of hard punches. Diaz demonstrated his determination, making the round a close call but ultimately scoring 10-9 for Diaz.

Russell continued his energetic punches in Round 3, but Diaz displayed improved resilience. Russell opted for close-quarter trading instead of moving around, keeping the fight intriguing. The round was awarded 10-9 for Russell.

In Round 4, Diaz found success with impactful body shots, prompting Russell to move backward defensively. Diaz worked hard on Russell’s body, making it a tough round to score, but Diaz ultimately earned a 10-9 victory.

Round 5 saw Russell landing cleaner shots, while Diaz pursued a strategy focused on body shots. Despite a late surge from Diaz, Russell claimed the round with a score of 10-9.

In Rounds 6 to 12, Russell consistently started strong, utilizing combinations and movement. Diaz, however, often saved his best efforts for the middle to end of each round. Russell’s work rate and intelligence in the later rounds contributed to his overall lead.

In the final rounds, both fighters showed signs of fatigue, but Russell Jr. maintained control with his jab. Diaz, while continuing to press forward, struggled to land effective shots. Diaz managed to pick up the pace in Round 10, scoring a 10-9 victory.

The championship rounds, especially Round 11, witnessed an intense exchange with both fighters giving their all. Although Diaz appeared to drop Russell with a body shot, it was ruled a slip. Diaz secured Round 11 with a score of 10-9.

The final round saw Diaz attempting to capitalize on body shots, seemingly scoring a knockdown that was called a slip by the referee. Despite Diaz’s efforts in the last round, Russell was declared the winner by unanimous decision, with scores of 115-113, 117-111, and 117-111 on the official cards.

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