Petaluman Mike Russell makes pro boxing debut

Petaluma boxer Mike Russell has turned professional, and he will be fighting his first pro contest against Ignacio (El Toro) Zambrano at the Alameda County Fairgrounds in Pleasanton on Saturday.

The fight is schedule for 3 p.m., but there are several bouts on the card, so the exact time for Russell’s fight is not certain.

The fight also will be Zambrano’s professional debut. It will take place in the cruiserweight division (178 to 200 pounds).

Russell is a 2010 graduate of Petaluma High School. He was the starting quarterback on the champion Petaluma football team that went 12-1 on the season, beating Rancho Cotate and Cardinal Newman in the North Coast Section playoffs and reaching the NCS championship game.

He has been boxing since 9, compiling an amateur record of 78-12.

The card will be headlined by featherweight Albert Torres (7-0-2, 3 KOs) facing Filipino prospect Adam Fiel (10-0, 4 KOs). This bout has been peppered by a war of words taking place between the two in social media.

The card will also include hard-hitting undefeated welterweight power puncher Luis Garcia against Eddie Diaz, and women’s middleweight Raquel Miller from San Francisco against Latashia Burton in a battle of two tough undefeated women.

Russell is hoping to follow in the footsteps of another Petaluma High grad, Danny Chavez, who fought Hector “Macho” Camacho in the 1990s. Russell has been training at the Double Punches Boxing Club with trainer Richard Lopes.

Russell has also worked with Casa Grande graduate Raze Chapin, who at one time trained with Sugar Ray Leonard before being hurt in 2008.

Russell’s day job is with the Golden Gate Bridge painting crew, where he works alongside his father, Brian.

Russell will be dedicating this fight to the memory of his beloved stepmom, Shelly, who recently lost her battle with brain cancer.