Gary Antuanne Russell Wants Dalton Smith Before Shakur Fight

“If he gonna be a businessman and be business savvy, go ahead, man, and take your success to the next level. Go ahead and take the rest of these titles,” said Antuanne Russell to MillCity Boxing. “If he up for it, fight somebody with a belt. unify. If you ain’t going to unify, go up and campaign at 147 and make some solid deals. Put it in writing.”

Antuanne later identified Smith as the fighter he wants next after the collapse of Smith’s previously discussed fight against Alberto Puello.

“Honestly, I want Dalton Smith. I’m glad that the fight fell through between him and Puello because now I can really try to come up with a contract and send it to his ass,” said Russell. “If we gonna fight in UK, I would go to his backyard just like how Errol Spence did Kell Brook. I would go to your backyard, cook you. Once I cook you, there’s nothing nobody can say. We coming back home, come back to the States with that title.”

Russell also explained why he believes a fight against Shakur Stevenson makes more sense further down the line instead of immediately.

“I said before I wanted to let things build up with me and Shakur because they was telling me who would you go down the line.,” said Antuanne Russell. “I said Shakur last. Why? because he got the credentials and it shows that he earned his position. It wouldn’t be smart business-wise to that. Of course, he’s a champion. He got a belt and I would want to fight the other champions, but let the numbers add up.”

During the interview, Russell repeatedly pushed for champions to face each other rather than continue taking mandatory defenses against lesser-known opponents.

“The best supposed to compete against the best. And if you have a title, you are deemed the best, one of the best. Go ahead and make it happen and take the offer,” said Russell.