Classy Scot Russell back from the wilderness

Boxing is a funny sport. People have such short memories. One minute you can be hot property, adored by the media and fans alike, the next you can be yesterday's man. There can be two reasons for this reversal of fortune. One can be a bad defeat, we know how knee-jerk many of us can be. The other, much sadder reason is inactivity. You just fade away, people who you have beaten with ease move on and become the future 'big names'. It really is a case of 'out of sight, out of mind'. This is the fate that has befallen Paisley stylist and former amateur stand out Stephen Russell.

A man so talented that on his first day as a Senior he defeated the top two ranked fighters in Scotland to book his place on the Commonwealth Games team for 2006. Here is a man who should be a household name, 6-0, undefeated. Sadly those six wins have come over the space of three years and his victims during his amateur reign of terror in Scotland have overtaken him as Scotland's premier young fighters. But there is always time, and when Stephen steps into the ring and face Chester's fellow unbeaten starlet he can re-emerge as Scotland's premier young talent. It seems such a long time ago when he first laced on those gloves.

“I went down the gym when I was about nine or ten. I stuck at it and as I was pretty good I got to get out of school to go on trips, it all started there really.”

Something really had begun. A natural, Russell detailed his list of achievements.

“I had about 50 fights as an amateur, I wasn't always that active, due to injury and not always being able to get fights but I think I managed to win about 45-46 of them. I was undefeated in Scotland for about six or seven years, the only time I lost was in The British or on international duty. I won the home nations two years in a row, first in Liverpool, then in Edinburgh. I would have won it three years in a row. I had already won the Scottish and I was fighting really well but I couldn't make the weight. I won numerous Scottish and district titles also.”

The list of Russell's victims is equally impressive.

“I beat Kris Hughes (currently 9-0) three times and I beat Dean Savage (also 9-0) as well. I also beat Paul Appleby, that was in the Scottish finals, I did that quite comfortably.”

The only setback came when he faced off with Vinny Mitchell in the British junior finals, a night that still rankles with the youngster.

“It was a bit of a shambles really. It was in Liverpool and I had won about six fights to get there. But when I did the ref was on may case for holding, he docked me six points and I lost about 12-5. It was a shambles but I would love a go at avenging that in the pros.”

Dodgy refereeing aside, this brilliant run, as previously stated continued when he went senior. The Scottish system has its qualification format for the Commonwealth Games a little different to other nations. A day of semi-finals and finals determines who will be taking that prized berth. Russell, on his first day as a 'big man' made his move to get into that blue shirt.

“I went there and I beat both of them. It was amazing. Sadly I couldn't make the weight to go so I decided to go pro.”

Stephen sells himself short, he didn't just beat his opponents, he schooled them, trouncing James Ancliff in the final. The failure of the ever-growing youngster to make the weight must have been heartbreaking but what he achieved in the vest can never be taken away. Let's put this into context, Stephen Russell was the best. There is a very good possibility that Stephen Russell is still the best. One wonders whether the Paul Economides camp (himself unbeaten and Russell's next opponent) quite know who they are dealing with. They will find out on November 13th when they step into the ring on the undercard of Matthew Hatton-Lovemore Ndou.

Sadly things didn't go as planned when he started punching for pay, as the Paisley man explains.

“When I turned pro I was promised six fights a year by my ex-manager. This just hasn't happened (he hasn't fought in over a year) but I am never away from the gym. I never really suffer from ring rust but I would like to be more active.”

The question is, does he feel that this time away from the ring will affect him against the much more active Economides? Russell answers in no uncertain fashion.

“I would have liked to have more fights this year but I'm not in a position to refuse fights. Still, if I'm at 80% I feel I can beat most super-bantams in Britain.”

There is no doubt that the confidence is there. Much of Britain may have forgotten how good Stephen Russell is. One man who hasn't is Stephen himself.

So onto fight night, how does Russell feel the fight is going to go and what does he know about the 'Spartan Warrior'?

“I know he's a come forward, orthodox fighter, 5ft 5 inches. That's perfect for me, I tell you something, he won't be coming forward for long. I have been putting them down in sparring, I am getting so much stronger, he is perfect for me.”

On a very recent BoxRec News interview Economides stated that not only did he feel he had fought the better opposition, he had also heard 'reports that Russell wasn't the best trainer around'. Stephen reacted in his typical confident manner over both comments.

“I have had a look at his record and we have fought the same kind of people. The only difference is that he has lost rounds and I haven't, I have the advantage there. And as for these 'reports', if anybody has seen me in the gym they will know I train hard, I'm a big super-bantam and I need to train hard to get the weight down. Oh, and if I was 'lazy' I wouldn't be going down the Gary Booth fight factory in Manchester for extra sparring would I? But he has given me a reason to train even harder in the gym. We will see on the night if I train hard or not.”

Strong words from a confident man. So come fight night, how does Stephen Russell see the fight going?

“The only person who can beat me is me. I can't wait for this fight. I would like it to go six rounds but if it goes two rounds I will be happy also.”

It is apparent that there is no doubt in the slickster's mind, he is going to win this fight and from then it is onwards and upwards. We need to remember however, that the most exciting part of this fight is that its prospect v prospect, this isn't the be all and end all, but one thing is for sure, the winner will have a springboard to future success. So how far does Russell think he can go as, despite the inactivity, he is still young and has plenty of time to make an impact? Stephen explains.

“If I didn't think I could make my mark at British or European level I wouldn't even bother. I want to do something big, always have done ever since I was a youngster.. I would like to win a British title and move on from there. It's an open division at the moment. Jason Booth is good but after that there isn't much, I'm sure I can make my mark.”

So it's on to fight night, who will win this battle of undefeated prospects? It will be hard to pick a winner. But one thing is certain, if Russell can win this one, a few of us may look rather stupid for forgetting him.