Gary Russell Turns Down 50 Cent

(CAPITOL HEIGHTS, MD.) – Gary Russell, Jr. (Capitol Heights, Md.) and his team, led by his father and trainer Gary Russell, Sr., are committed to their game plan for the undefeated featherweight's career. Russell has recently been courted by 50 Cent's SMS Promotions, but the 24-year-old has no plans to make changes to his team.

“Over the last few days, we've been getting a number of phone calls from 50 Cent's SMS Promotions. They want us to sign with their camp. I don't have anything against his team; but we are not interested…I'm not interested,” Russell said. “Like I've said before Team Russell is not signed to any promotions team. I have a manager, Al Haymon, and he is the only person I'm signed with.”

As boxing is a family affair in the Russell household, the 2008 Olympian and his team approach his career in the same manner.

“Growing up with all brothers, our father taught us a long time ago that loyalty is important. I feel the same way about my relationship with Al.We consider him a part of our boxing family. Al has been a big part of my career and things are going smooth. Our working relationship with Golden Boy Promotions has also been great,” Russell said.We would not sign with any promotional team without having a conversation with Al. We have watched folks commit what we feel is boxing suicide by going against the grain. We like the way I'm being moved along, and the dates, venues, and television time I have received have all been positive for my career. So while my team appreciates the offer, we chose to decline the proposal from SMS.”

A 2008 Olympian, Russell enjoys a 22-0 record and has hopes to end the year as a World Champion. He is coming off a unanimous decision victory over Vyacheslav Gusev on March 2 in Las Vegas. Russell suffered a hairline fracture to his left hand in the 10 round win and has been advised by his doctor to rest the hand for six to eight weeks.