WBC featherweight World champion Gary Russell Jr. will defend his crown against mandatory challenger Tugstsogt “King Tug” Nyambayar on February 8 in Allentown, Pennsylvania, with former champions Guillermo Rigondeaux and Liborio Solís also clashing for the vacant WBA Bantamweight World title on the bill.
The main event will see Russell make the fifth defence of his WBC strap against former Olympian “King Tug”, who has amassed eleven straight victories in the paid ranks.
“I’m forced to defend my title against another mandatory challenger,” Russell said. “I’m going to show on February 8 why none of the other champions want to face me.
“I’m the longest current reigning WBC champion but no one has stepped up to the challenge I present. I’m going to take care of business against a strong opponent and display all my skills like I always do.”
The 27-year-old Nyambayar (11-0, 9 KOs) represented his native Mongolia in the 2012 Olympics but now lives in the U.S. and is training out of Las Vegas.
Nyambayar ascended up the featherweight rankings after his extensive amateur career with victories over Harmonito Dela Torre and former interim champion Oscar Escandon. Most recently he won his first 12-round decision by defeating former champion Claudio Marrero in January.
“This is going to be an exciting fight for everyone watching on February 8,” said Nyambayar. “Gary Russell Jr. is a great champion who is very talented, but he has the WBC belt and that’s what I want. I’m training hard to win this fight and I will be ready for anything that Russell brings to the ring.”