'Hitman' Russell faces tough Munoz test

Jamaica's 28-year old boxing star Kemahl 'The Hitman' Russell will put his junior NABF middleweight title on the line tonight at the National Arena when he clashes with a tough 36-year old Mexican fighter, Michi 'The Matador' Munoz, over eight rounds. The action starts at 7 p.m. with two amateur bouts.

The six-fight professional card - which is being promoted by Real Deal Boxing, linked to former world heavyweight champion Evander Holyfield, and Uprising Promotions from the United States - gets under way at 8 p.m.

The other fights are Sakima Mullings versus Edmund DeClou and Deandre Ware against Kwesi Jones over eight rounds each; Lawrence Newton versus Rudolph Hedge; Fedrica Bianco versus Rewinna David in the lone female fight; and Christopher Pearson against Tsetsi Davis in six-rounders.

The feature attraction promises to be an action-packed affair as both men have shown that they have punching power. Russell, the man with most to lose, has a 12-1 record with 10 knockouts, while Munoz, a hard-hitting veteran, has 17 knockouts on his record. When they got together at a press briefing last Wednesday, they took jabs at each other, but behind it all, the message was " I am coming for you."

A smiling Russell said: "No man who eats tacos can beat me, and I am going to take care of business."

Munoz, on the other hand, said that he was "very confident of victory, and the public will be the winners on Friday as we are going to give you a great fight".

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The Jamaican, who is trying to break into the world rankings, has a lot at stake. Last year, he had three fights, winning two and suffered his only defeat. A loss tonight would be a setback that he cannot afford. He will have the crowd behind him, and that should help. The Mexican, who won one and lost one in 2017, both inside the distance, was very relaxed and shows that he knows his business. The fans, as he has predicted, could be the real winners tonight regardless of whose fist is raised in victory.

In the undercard, Jamaica's Sakima Mullings goes up against Guyanese DeClou, who has fought in Jamaica in the Contender series. He has a 17-3-1 record as opposed to Mullings, who is 27-3.