Jose Valenzuela views Gary Antuanne Russell fight as bout to unlock all doors

Jose Valenzuela’s split-decision win over Isaac “Pitbull” Cruz in August made him the WBA super lightweight world champion.

Now, he is viewing his title defence against Gary Antuanne Russell at Barclays Center in Brooklyn, New York, and live on pay-per-view, Saturday night as the key to unlock bigger money fights that catapult his career and star power.

“It will open up a lot of doors for me — the big fights,” Valenzuela recently told DAZN News via a Zoom conference about what a win over Russell would spell for him.

“Everybody at 140 [pounds]: Teofimo Lopez, Ryan Garcia, Devin Haney, [Gervonta] “Tank” [Davis] maybe. It puts me up there for big fights.”

Valenzuela was even was willing to entertain how a couple of those fights might go, namely versus Davis, who is the headliner of Saturday night’s card that he’s co-featured on, and Garcia.

“I got legs under me, you know Frank Martin, he’s strong and stiff but he didn’t have legs under him to do little movements, little tricks, little experience things that you need to manoeuvre  around a fighter like ‘Tank,’” Valenzuela said, explaining the differences between he and Davis’ last opponent.

“I got all those tools, I think, when it comes down to it if we fight, I’ll be ready.

“My fights are all very exciting and explosive and so are his,” he continued, “so it would be a great fight for the fans.”

He believes the same about a clash with Garcia.

“I think it would be a great fight,” Valenzuela tacked on. “He only has a left hook … and that’s really it.

“I’ll just have to keep this hand high,” he said, raising up his right arm as if he’s trying to answer a question in class. “Touch up, touch up and he’s got nothing.

"He shoots it, roll under. He don’t got no uppercuts, he don’t got nothing. His right hand, every once in a while, I got to be ready for that but I beat Ryan. I got more tools.”

All this being said, Valenzuela (14-2, 9 KOs) vows that he is not overlooking Russell (17-1, 17 KOs) in the slightest.

“I got to get through [Russell] right now,” Valenzuela said. “I’m fully focused on him right now.

“He brings pressure, he’s strong, he’s a good fighter,” Valenzuela added. “I think he’s a good fighter, a solid fighter, but I don’t think he’s hard to hit.”

Russell is coming off a split-decision loss to Alberto Puello in June. His only pro defeat was a costly one as it was for the WBC super lightweight title.

If anything, Valenzuela can relate. Following his September 2022 third-round knockout loss to Edwin De Los Santos, Valenzuela suffered a second consecutive loss via a controversial unanimous decision defeat at the hands of Chris Colbert in March 2023.

It was a rematch and producing a sixth-round KO of Colbert roughly nine months later that Valenzuela cites as a turning point for his career.

“To be honest, I’ve been on a roll since the Chris Colbert knockout,” Valenzuela revealed. “I just switched my whole career around, doing what I know what to do and just bringing the best out of me, every fight. Not cutting any corner, not taking anyone like they’re an easy fight.

“I feel like I’ve matured a lot and I just got this new love and competitiveness,” he added. “I’m taking full advantage of it, I’m growing a lot. Every day, I feel like I’m getting better.”

That confidence took another leap forward with Valenzuela’s split-decision win over Cruz, making the Mexican fighter the new WBA super lightweight world champion. The fight, in which Valenzuela was installed as the underdog, had him using enough boxing skills and power shots to defeat a bullish “Pitbull.”

“On paper, it was an upset because I had two tough, ugly losses that stained my career,” Valenzuela said. “I just knew I was the better all-around fighter. I think I’m a real complete fighter. I can make adjustments and I just got to lean into that, instead of trying to just knock people out.”

He will likely have to show some of those attributes against a talented Russell who holds victories over Jaron Ennis and Richardson Hitchins — current world champions — in the amateurs.

Valenzuela feels like he is coming into his own and knows Russell is the obstacle he needs to clear to boost his name and fighting profile in the sport to knock on the door of stardom.

“I still need to get in there,” Valenzuela conceded. “His Excellency has never mentioned me. I’m not in these conversations. I just got to take care of business and let my fighting do the talking.”

Being co-featured on a “Tank” card is the perfect platform to make a statement.

“I think the world is going to be watching,” he said with excitement. “The kind of style I have is just pleasing for the crowd. It’s eye candy. I’m gonna just go out there, do my thing and hopefully I make new fans March 1.

“I’m just thankful to God that all these good days are adding up,” he tacked on, “and I’m ready to fight.”