Gonzalez motivated to keep grip on WBC featherweight belt

It took Jhonny Gonzalez a long time to get the respect he thought he deserved. And now that he finally has it, he doesn’t want to lose it.

Gonzalez, the World Boxing Council featherweight champion, makes his third title defense when he faces Gary Russell Jr. at 7 p.m. today in the 12-round main event at the Palms’ Pearl Concert Theater before a national TV audience on Showtime.

Gonzalez won the WBC title for a second time in August 2013, knocking out Abner Mares in the first round. He’d previously held the belt from April 8, 2011, to Sept. 15, 2012.

“Ever since beating Mares, I feel like I am finally getting the respect and support from the fans and the media,” Gonzalez said through a translator. “I get recognized all the time now, and that recognition motivates me to work harder than ever before.”

Before getting on the scale at the Palms on Friday afternoon to weigh in — both fighters made the 126-pound limit — Gonzalez found out Golden Boy Promotions had filed suit against him. The company claims Gonzalez breached his contract and that his current promoter in Mexico, Promociones del Pueblo, and Al Haymon collaborated to violate Golden Boy’s exclusive rights to promote Gonzalez.

Golden Boy is seeking damages of a minimum of $1 million. Gonzalez’s team had no comment on the lawsuit.

The fight will go on as scheduled, and Gonzalez (57-8, 48 knockouts) isn’t expecting it to be easy. He’ll have to deal with Russell’s quickness and ability to effectively counter punch.

“I prepared for his speed,” Gonzalez said. “I’ve fought fast guys before. But I think my experience is an important key to winning this fight. (Russell) hasn’t faced the quality of opponents I have faced. I’ve fought many great fighters, and he hasn’t fought many big names.”

Gonzalez, 33, who turned pro in 1999, said his long career has not worn him down.

“I feel like I’m in my boxing prime,” he said. “There is still much to prove and show the world I am still at the top of my game and capable of fighting with the best.”

Gonzalez scoffed at Russell’s claim that he wasn’t at 100 percent capacity June 21 when Russell lost to Vasyl Lomachenko for the vacant World Boxing Organization featherweight title. Russell (25-1, 14 KOs) said he was in a sauna three days before the fight and was sapped of his power and endurance.

“I don’t know if he prepared or he didn’t,” Gonzalez said. “I’m not concerned with his excuses. I’ve been focused during the past three months in my camp. We’ve been training at high altitude in Toluca (Mexico). I feel great.”

Gonzalez said Russell, 26, reminds him of Elio Rojas. Gonzalez won a 12-round unanimous decision over Rojas in April 2012 in Mexico.

“He was very fast, too,” Gonzalez said. “The only difference is Russell is a southpaw and Rojas wasn’t.”

Gonzalez said he plans to keep his hands held high, pick off Russell’s punches, then go to work on the body.

“I know Gary Russell is an excellent boxer,” said Gonzalez, who will make $500,000 to Russell’s $350,000. “A lot of people are doubting me going into this fight because of the speed of Russell. But I have proven people wrong before, and I’ll prove them wrong again.”

The first bell for the nine-bout card is at 2:30 p.m.

Contact reporter Steve Carp at scarp@reviewjournal.com or 702-387-2913. Follow him on Twitter: @stevecarprj.