'Hitman' signs 3-year contract with Real Deal

Kemahl 'The Hitman' Russell has officially put pen to paper on a three-year contract with Real Deal Boxing, with the aim of getting more matches booked in the near future.

Real Deal Boxing is headed by four-time World Heavyweight champion Evander 'The Real Deal' Holyfield and, as part of the terms of the contract, Russell will be booked in six fights per year.

"That would be very good for any boxer, because of activity," he said. "Activity means everything, you know. When you're inactive, it causes ring rust (errors and sharpness issues because of time spent away from competition). You can spar a thousand rounds in the gym but fighting is totally different - the lights, the crowd, everything."

Russell says that he is eager to be partnering with Holyfield, whom he enjoyed watching fight on television as a child.

"It's a dream come true. I've been watching him box from a young age and I didn't know anything about boxing at the time, but knowing that he sees potential in me and signed me to his company means a lot. It shows that Jamaican boxers do have the talent to match up to the rest of the world."

DEAL TOOK TIME

The deal had been in the works for a number of weeks, but had delays because of logistical issues.

Russell's manager, Leiza-Mae Keane, said the promotion had been scouting her client for some time before the move.

"They were looking at him from January and they had waited a bit just to kinda see what Kemahl's potential was. After his last fight, they decided that it was time for him to be signed and they signed a contract on Monday."

Russell is already booked for his first title fight under the promotion, as he will face American Ian 'The General' Green for the Junior North American Boxing Federation (NABF) Middleweight title at the Resorts World Casino in New York on September 9. Keane said that how Russell performs in this bout will be pivotal to how he is booked afterwards.

"How Kemahl wins this fight is what will determine how the promoter will move forward with him as well," she said. "It would kind of tell us exactly where Kemahl is. Green had two upsets on television and he has always wanted to fight Kemahl, so they're going for it and we're ready for that right now."

When asked if Russell's relationship with Uprising promotions, whom he signed with early last year is over, Keane said: "Absolutely not! Uprising is actually in a co-promotional situation with Real Deal Boxing. Uprising still has everything to do with Kemahl, but Evander Holyfield will be the one making the decisions as to the fights and placing him forward."