Russell, who I have often stated that I believe in his talent more than he does it seems", has fought exactly once a year since Russell won the title over the aging Jhonny Gonzalez and other than his 2018 win over Joseph Diaz, who recently won the IBF junior lightweight title, against weaker competition.
Nyambayar is the best fighter that Russell has seen since his only loss to Vasyl Lomachenko, but Nyambayar's win over contender Claudio Marrero in January 2019 was his last bout and for all the deserved flack for Russell's inactivity, Russell has fought more recently than Nyambayar.
Nyambayar won a silver medal in the London Olympics and he has the ability to pull a mild upset, but I have a feeling for once, Gary Russell's "Activity" might be in his favor.
The co-feature is an interesting fight as Guillermo Rigondeaux, who is often noted as the best junior featherweight in the world, drops in weight to the bantamweight division against Liborio Solis for a minor title.
Rigondeaux's drop in weight is almost unheard of for a boxer of his age (39), but Solis hasn't fought in over two years and that fight lasted just three rounds after a clash of heads caused a no-contest against Jamie McDonnell.
Solis is talented and his first fight with McDonnell in 2016 that ended in a unanimous decision loss that was such a bad decision that I brought the Hamburglar out of hiding, but Solis is 37 himself and unless Rigondeaux is drained from making weight, is a level below Rigondeaux.
DAZN and Matchroom will offer a card from London with two fights for the challenge in the afternoon.
The main event will see the return of former IBF welterweight champion Kell Brook after a fourteen-month layoff against journeyman Mark DeLuca.
Brook, who hasn't been the same fighter since an ill-advised attempt to tackle middleweight champion Gennady Golovkin, looked bad in his last fight against Michael Zerafa and could be a shot fighter.
Opponent Mark DeLuca might not be the fighter to prove that as he is a product of the New England circuit and hasn't fought anyone close to Brook's level-If that Brook is still is around.
The co-feature is an IBF featherweight eliminator between Kid Galahad and Claudio Marrero.
Galahad lost a split decision to Josh Warrington for that title in his last fight while Marrero lost a decision to Tug Nyambayar last year before rebounded with a decision win over Eduardo Ramirez.
Marrero's a fairly good puncher but has been outboxed before and Galahad is pretty slick, so I can see Galahad by decision as the most likely outcome
The other challenge event is untelevised as WBA flyweight champion Artem Dalakian defending against Josber Perez in Kiev, Ukraine.
The undefeated and heavy-handed Dalakian is one of the best two flyweights in the world (it's two because Kosei Tanaka vacated his WBO title last week) along with WBC champion Julio Cesar Martinez and should have few problems with Perez, who has never fought outside his native Venezuela, lost to his only strong opponent in 22-2 Rober Barrera (4th in the WBA and fighting Friday for a WBA minor title) last year and his last seven opponents could have picked from a Disney Channel lineup.
Check these records out: 1-1, 0-1, Pro Debut, 0-4, 8-13-1, Pro Debut, and 2-7.
Those are pathetic qualifications for a world title opportunity, but the WBA ranks him 12th anyway.
Dalakian-Barrera would be interesting, Dalakian-Perez is a squash match.
In the boxing challenge, I lead Ramon Malpica 17-15.
WBC Featherweight Title. 12 Rds
Gary Russell vs Tugstsogt Nyambayar
R.L: Russell KO 5
TRS: Russell Unanimous Decision
Bantamweights. 12 Rds
Guillermo Rigondeaux vs Liborio Solis
Both: Rigondeaux Unanimous Decision
Junior Middleweights. 12 Rds
Kell Brook vs Mark DeLuca
R.L: Brook Unanimous Decision
TRS: Brook KO 8
Featherweights. 12 Rds
Kid Galahad vs Claudio Marrero
Both: Galahad Unanimous Decision
WBA Flyweight Title. 12 Rds
Artem Dalakian vs Josber Perez
R.L: Dalakian KO 8
TRS: Dalakian KO 6
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