Victor Santillan vs Gary Antonio Russell Preview August 22nd, 2026
Victor Santillan of the Dominican Republic will be putting his interim WBA Junior Featherweight Title on the line against Gary Antonio Russell of Capitol Heights, Maryland this Saturday, August 22nd. The 12-rounder from Las Vegas, Nevada can be seen live on Prime Video and DAZN pay-per-view on the undercard of the Rolando Romero vs Teofimo Lopez tilt. Russell last fought 12 months ago when he beat Dervin Rodriguez by a wide eight-round unanimous decision. Santillan was last in the ring in February when he stopped Noel Reyes Cepeda in the third round for the WBA interim belt.
Santillan vs Russell Betting Odds
Here are the betting odds from online sportsbook BetOnline.ag (full review here).
- Victor Santillan +124
- Gary Antonio Russell -160
My Pick
The 31-year-old Santillan is a southpaw who makes the ring walk with a mark of 16-2 with 7 Ko’s. His first defeat came at the hands of Sho Ishida by 12-round split decision in Japan in June, 2023. He then travelled back to Japan two years later and dropped a 10-round unanimous decision to Tenshin Nasukawa. Santillan has boxed 108 rounds since making his pro debut in 2018. As an amateur he boxed at the 2017 AMBC American Boxing Continental Championships and won a bronze medal at the 2015 Pan American Games. He reportedly went 200-25 as an amateur.
Santillan doesn’t possess too much in the way of power as just 43.per cent of his wins have come by stoppage. He has stopped two of his last five opponents and they were in his last two outings. However his record is just 3-2 in his past five contests. Santillan stands just over 5-feet-5-inches tall with a 65.5-inch reach. He beat Jose Armando Valdes Bernal by 10-round unanimous decision for the vacant WBA Fedecaribe Bantamweight Title in 2021. He also has a pair of wins win over Alfree Ramirez and a victory against Carlos Caraballo.
The 33-year-old Russell is the brother of the rest of the fighting Gary Russell’s including Gary Allen Russell, the former WBC Featherweight Champion and Gary Antuanne Russell. Gary Antonio climbs into the ring with a record of 21-1 with 13 Ko’s and has boxed 102 rounds since making his pro debut in 2015. He’s a natural right-hander who fights as a southpaw and also enjoyed a fine amateur career.
Russell was a 2014 National Golden Gloves runner-up, a 2013 National Golden Gloves Champion and a 2010 National Golden Gloves runner-up. He measures 5 feet-7 inches tall with a 67-inch reach which gives him a 1.5-inch edge in both height and reach over Santillan. However, he has a little bit more power in his fists as 62 per cent of his wins have been by stoppage. However he’s halted just one of his last seven opponents.
His lone defeat came in 2022 in a rematch with Emmanuel Rodriguez when he lost a 10-round technical decision. Rodriguez was unable to continue after an accidental head butt and was well ahead on the scorecards at the time. Rodriguez and Russell originally met in August, 2021 when the fight was called a no-decision as Rodriguez suffered an accidental headbutt in the first round and couldn’t continue. Russell’s biggest wins have been against Juan Carlos Payano, Jesus Martinez and Jose Cardenas.
Prediction…
Like all of the boxing Russell brothers, Gary Antonio possesses a fine combination of speed, skills and power with a solid chin. However he hasn’t been very active as this is just his fourth fight since October, 2022. Russell is still hoping to make a name for himself and to emerge from his brothers’ shadows and if he’s at his best he should be able to handle Santillan in a hard-fought fight.
Russell’s speed and power should pave the way to victory.
Play: Russell -160 @ BetOnline.ag
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Gary Antonio Russell betting • Victor Santillan betting