Fistic Royalty

Part of a prodigious boxing family, WBC World Featherweight Champion Gary Russell Jr. is trained by his father Gary Sr., and alongside two of his younger brothers, Gary Antonio and Gary Antuanne, who are both rising unbeaten prospects. 

Boxing since the age of seven, Russell won the Junior Olympics in 2044 and a year later earned U.S. and National Golden Gloves titles, becoming one of only two boxers to win both before the age of 17.

Russell continued to gain accolades and qualified for the U.S. Olympic team in 2008, but was unable to compete after a medical mishap at the Olympic weigh-in. This setback did not hold him back long at all, as Russell turned pro in January 2009 with a stoppage victory.

A Fast Rise

Fighting in the featherweight division, Russell racked up six victories in 2011 over a slew of veteran contenders to establish himself as a contender and earn recognition as the 2011 Prospect of the Year from ESPN, Ring Magazine and Sports Illustrated. 

In 2014 Russell was in position for his first world title when he fought Vasyl Lomachenko for the vacant WBO Featherweight Championship. In a battle of two of the division’s most-skilled competitors, Russell lost the close majority decision. 

Russell was not kept down for long however, as he scored a sensational knockout of Jhonny Gonzalez in March 2015 to grab the WBC featherweight world title in a fight taking place in Las Vegas. Russell scored three knockdowns before eventually finishing Gonzalez in spectacular fashion in the fourth round.

The Premier Featherweight

Since capturing the title, Russell has taken care of ever roadblock in his way. 

April 2016 saw Russell blast out Patrick Hyland in the second round before a May 2017 stoppage of mandatory challenger Oscar Escandon.

On May 19, 2018, Russell took on unbeaten 2012 U.S. Olympian Joseph “JoJo” Diaz Jr. in anticipated matchup. Russell proved to be too skilled for the younger Diaz as he showed off his speed on his way to a unanimous decision victory. 

On May 18, 2019, Russell returned to the ring, battering former world champion Kiko Martinez via fifth-round TKO at Barclays Center in Brooklyn, New York.  

Boxing's Longest Reigning Champion

On February 8, 2020, Russell took on dangerous, undefeated mandatory challenger, Tugstsogt Nyambayar, at PPL Center in Allentown, Pennsylvania. Nyambayar was a game, tough out but Russell again showed why he is one of the world's best fighters, successfully defending his WBC World Featherweight crown a fifth time by winning a clear, 12-round unanimous decision in a PBC on SHOWTIME Championship Boxing main event.

The southpaw’s handspeed was too much for Nyambayar (11-1, 9 KOs). Russell fought well going backward, using a left lead and a steady jab that was in Nyambayar's face for most of the fight.

All three judges were in agreement. Judge David Bilocerkowec gave Russell 10 of 12 rounds (118-110), while judge Glenn Feldman (116-112) and John McKaie (117-111) also had Russell winning by a comfortable margin.

“We put the work in every day in the gym,” Russell said. “I'm a perfectionist. We knew we had a very tough opponent and I knew he was going to bring his physical best. He had everything to gain and nothing to lose. We just focused and showed I'm one of the longest reigning champions for a reason.”

DISAPPOINTMENT IN DEFEAT

On January 22, 2022, Russell defended his title against mandatory challenger Mark Magsayo in the PBC on SHOWTIME main event from Borgata Hotel Casino & Spa in Atlantic City, N.J.

A protégé of Filipino legend Manny Pacquiao, Magsayo (24-0, 16 KOs) was able to end the reign of boxing’s longest male world champion by defeating Russell across 12 hard-fought rounds. Magsayo was able to use his size advantage to lean on Russell throughout the fight and benefited from an apparent injury to Russell’s right shoulder that became discernable in round four.
 
“I believe I have a torn tendon in my right shoulder,” said Russell. “I haven’t competed in almost two years. This is what true champions do. I wanted to step into the ring and display my superiority regardless of the injury.
 
“I hurt the shoulder about two weeks ago,” continued Russell. “But I went through with the fight because I’m a true champion and this is what warriors do. I’m going to fight regardless of what the situation is. I refuse to not compete and display my skillsets to my fans and the people that came out to show support and love. Please believe that I will be back. I still want these fights.”

Russell appeared to injure the shoulder throwing a short right hand and immediately winced in pain and retreated from the action. Russell was able to re-adjust his game plan and had success focusing solely on variations of his left hand. He slowed down the action and landed a number of clean shots to keep Magsayo at bay in a display of ring generalship, but it wasn’t enough to win over the judges.  
 
At the end of the 12 rounds, Magsayo edged out the decision on the judges’ cards with a 114-114 score overruled by two judges seeing the bout 115-113 for Magsayo. After the fight, Russell indicated that he believed he still won the fight, while Magsayo left open the possibility of a rematch.
 
“I believed in my skillset and what I bring into the ring,” said Russell. “I felt like I still won the fight to be honest. Hell yeah I want a rematch. Would he want a rematch? That’s the question.”

STILL THE MAN

The shoulder injury would sideline Russell. Then he suffered an even bigger blow. On May 23, 2022, Gary Russell Sr., the patriarch of the fighting Russell family and one of the pillars of the sport, died at the age of 63. The loss hit the entire family hard. Gary Jr. stepped up as a big brother would, training his other brothers and taking in members of his family. 

Russell would not step into the ring until 2025, when he announced his return. Many were skeptical. They had no reason to be. Looking as good as ever, Russell stopped Hugo Castañeda (15-3-1, 11 KOs) with a vicious body shot 26 seconds into the 10th and final round of their lightweight affair.

The body shot was the fourth knockdown scored by Russell, who looked sharp from the outset as he sent his opponent down twice in the second round, before scoring another knockdown in round six. Russell looked fantastic. A big fight surely awaits.