Collins reveals Team Hyland’s tactics for Gary Russell Jr fight

Such was Gary Russell’s hand speed in his first WBC world featherweight title defence against Patrick Hyland on Saturday night that master tacticians of warfare would have struggled to come up with a plan to beat him.

The American looked every bit the elite level fighter as he stopped Patrick Hyland in round two of their Foxwoods hosted World title fight.

However, Team Hyland did go in with a plan to try and depose the featherweight of the famous green strap.

Train Pascal Collins, who believes Russell is a pound for pound talent that will be avoided, told Irish-boxing.com that they felt Hyland could have success down the stretch.

The game plan was to stay in the fight early on then try and take advantage of the fact the champion hadn’t fought since xx, but as they say even the best laid plans go to

“We knew that he was World class going into the fight, that wasn’t unknown. However, where we were surprised was he started so quick. With him being out for so long we didn’t expect that,” Collins told Irish-boxing.com.

“The plan was to stay in the fight early on and then as he had been out so long we felt he would tire and we could go to work then. The plan was not to get caught early, but Russell Jr had other ideas he seen Pajo was holding his left hand a bit low and he landed that right hook. He shook Pajo and he never really recovered.”

Hyland himself had suffered a stop start few years, but a lack of regular action wasn’t the issue claims Collins, although a lack of top level opponents since Javier Fortuna four years ago may have played a part.”