Valenzuela vs Russell: A Battle of Brains Over Brawn

Jose “Rayo” Valenzuela has a big fight coming up on March 1, where he’ll take on Gary Antuanne Russell at Barclays Center in New York. The highly anticipated Valenzuela vs Russell matchup promises to be a tough test for the WBA junior welterweight champion. For this fight, Valenzuela’s trainer, the well-respected Robert Garcia, has one key piece of advice for him: fight smart. Russell is known for his power and strength, so Garcia believes this isn’t the kind of fight where Valenzuela can just rely on moving around the ring or outboxing his opponent like he did in his last fight.

“Russell is strong. He’s powerful, and he’s not someone you can just outwork with speed or movement,” Garcia said in an interview with BoxingScene. “This fight is going to be about strategy—being smart in how we approach every round and staying consistent. We’re not looking for a knockout here, and we don’t want to waste energy on unnecessary movement. It’s all about fighting intelligently.”

The Journey Back to the Top

Valenzuela’s road to becoming a champion hasn’t been easy. The 24-year-old, originally from Mexico and now living in Washington state, had to claw his way back after back-to-back losses. In 2022, he suffered a tough defeat against Edwin De Los Santos, followed by another loss to Chris Colbert in early 2023.

For most fighters, back-to-back losses can be career-defining, but Valenzuela didn’t give up. Nine months after losing to Colbert, he came back with a vengeance, knocking him out in the sixth round of their rematch. That win not only boosted his confidence but also earned him a shot at Isaac “Pitbull” Cruz, one of the toughest fighters in the division.

Against Cruz, Valenzuela shocked everyone by winning a close, 12-round split decision. The victory crowned him as the WBA junior welterweight champion, marking the biggest moment of his career so far.

“Those losses could’ve broken him, but they didn’t,” Garcia said proudly. “Instead, he came back stronger, more focused, and ready to prove himself. That’s what being a champion is all about—getting back up after you’ve been knocked down.”

Smart Strategy Over Brute Force

Valenzuela’s victory over Cruz wasn’t a fluke. It was the result of sticking to a well-thought-out plan. Garcia emphasized the importance of keeping Cruz on the outside, using his jab effectively, and avoiding dangerous exchanges in close range. Valenzuela followed the strategy perfectly, and it paid off.

“Cruz is a pressure fighter. He’s the kind of guy who’ll try to get inside and overwhelm you,” Garcia explained. “We told Jose to stay on the outside, keep him at arm’s length, and don’t let him get comfortable. It wasn’t about doing anything flashy—it was about being smart. And Jose listened. Every break between rounds, we reminded him to stick to the plan, and he did.”

For the upcoming fight against Russell, Garcia is planning a similarly calculated approach. Russell is known for his knockout power, but Garcia isn’t interested in trying to match strength with strength.

“Russell is dangerous because of how strong he is, but that doesn’t mean we need to fight his fight,” Garcia said. “The goal is to outthink him. Jose has to stay sharp, be patient, and not take unnecessary risks. It’s about making the right decisions at the right time.”

Source: Jose Valenzuela must fight ‘smart’ against Gary Antuanne Russell, says trainer

No Rush to Move Up in Weight

As a newly crowned world champion, Valenzuela is starting to get attention, and there’s already talk about what’s next for him. Some fans have speculated that he might move up to welterweight (147 pounds) to chase bigger fights, but Garcia quickly shut that down.

“There’s no reason to rush,” Garcia said. “Jose is comfortable at 140 pounds, and there are plenty of big fights for him here. Right now, our only focus is Gary Antuanne Russell. After that, we’ll think about what’s next, but for now, it’s one fight at a time.”

When asked about potential opponents in the future, Garcia acknowledged that a fight with Gervonta “Tank” Davis could be exciting. Still, he insisted that all their energy is on the March 1 matchup.

“There’s no shortage of options at 140, but the most important fight is always the next one. We can’t look past Russell,” Garcia said. “This is boxing—you can’t afford to overlook anyone, especially someone as dangerous as Russell.”

Focus, Discipline, and Patience

As the fight draws closer, Garcia is confident that Valenzuela has what it takes to handle the challenge, but it’ll come down to how well he sticks to the plan. Against a fighter like Russell, one mistake could cost you the fight, so Garcia is drilling the importance of discipline into his fighter’s mind.

“Jose has all the tools he needs to win this fight,” Garcia said. “But it’s about execution. It’s about being smart every second of every round. Russell is tough, and he’s not going to give anything away. We need to earn this win by fighting the perfect fight.”

For Valenzuela, the fight against Russell is more than just another title defense—it’s a chance to show the world that he belongs at the top of the division. He’s already proven he can bounce back from adversity, and now he’s ready to take on one of the most dangerous fighters in his weight class.

“This fight is going to test everything—his skills, his mental toughness, and his ability to stick to a game plan,” Garcia said. “But if Jose does what he’s capable of, I have no doubt he’ll come out on top.”

The Road Ahead

Valenzuela’s story is one of resilience, growth, and determination. From back-to-back losses to becoming a world champion, he’s already achieved what many fighters only dream of. But for Valenzuela, this is just the beginning.

“There’s so much more for Jose to accomplish,” Garcia said. “He’s only 24, and he’s just getting started. This fight against Russell is another step in his journey. If he keeps working hard and believing in himself, there’s no limit to what he can achieve.”

For now, though, all eyes are on March 1. With Garcia in his corner and a smart game plan in place, Valenzuela is ready to step into the ring and prove once again why he’s a champion.

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