Gary Russell Jr.

For his brother, see Gary Antuanne Russell.

Gary Russell Jr.
Russell Jr. (center) in 2010
Born	(1988-06-05) June 5, 1988 Washington, D.C., U.S.
Nationality	American
Other names	"Mr."
Statistics
Weight(s)	Featherweight Super featherweight
Height	5 ft 4+1⁄2 in (164 cm)
Reach	64 in (163 cm)
Stance	Southpaw
Boxing record
Total fights	32
Wins	31
Wins by KO	18
Losses	1
Medal record Representing United States Men's amateur boxing World Championships Mianyang 2005 Bantamweight

Gary Russell Jr. (born June 5, 1988) is an American professional boxer who has held the WBC featherweight title since 2015 and challenged once for the WBO featherweight title in 2014. As of January 2020, he is ranked as the world's second best active featherweight by The Ring magazine, ESPN and BoxRec, and third by the Transnational Boxing Rankings Board.

As an amateur, Russell won a bantamweight bronze medal at the 2005 World Championships. In 2011, he was named Prospect of the Year by The Ring, Sports Illustrated, and ESPN.

Amateur career and Olympics

Russell was born in Washington D.C. At age 16, he won both the U.S. Championships and the Golden Gloves in 2005. He became one of only two boxers to win both the U.S. Championships and National Golden Gloves before his 17th birthday. In October 2005, the small southpaw boxer-puncher had a record of 163-10.

In November 2005, at the world championships in Mianyang, Russell beat Bulgarian Detelin Stefanov Dalakliev, 25-21, in the first round; dec. Canadian Tyson Cave, 22-9, in the second round; dec. Jordanian Al Gharaghir Ibrahim, 34-13 before losing to German Rustamhodza Rahimov, 28-17 thus winning the bronze medal at age 17 (joining Rau'shee Warren) and was named 2005 USA BOXING Athlete of the year.

Russell repeated his national title win in 2006, at the US championships 2007 injuring his hands in the process.

At the Olympic Trials 2007, Russell sensationally lost to Roberto Marroquin in his first fight (17:18), his first defeat to a countryman in eight years, but beat him twice later and bested national champion Rios to qualify. Russell became only the fourth boxer in U.S. team history to lose in the opening round and rebound to win his weight class, the others were Evander Holyfield, Roy Jones, Jr. and Floyd Mayweather, Jr.

At the 2007 World Amateur Boxing Championships in Chicago, Russell beat Ali Hallab to qualify for the Olympics but was beaten soundly by Russia's eventual winner Sergey Vodopyanov 16-6 and didn't medal.

Russell's quest for a medal ended prematurely as he missed the Olympic weigh-in hours after losing consciousness in his Olympic Village dorm room.

Professional career

Russell stopped Antonio Reyes at 0:21 of the third round of his pro debut.

Russell Jr made his HBO debut on Saturday night against Leonilo Miranda, the co-feature to the main event of Andre Berto vs. Jan Zaveck from the Beau Rivage Casino in Biloxi, Mississippi.

Russell had a stellar 2011, defeating Feider Viloria, Adolfo Landeros, Antonio Meza, and Leonilo Miranda. On July 23 Russell faced Eric Estrada on the undercard for the Amir Khan vs. Zab Judah fight at Mandalay Bay Resort & Casino in Las Vegas. Russell put on a brilliant performance winning an easy unanimous decision.

On November 26, 2011, Russell was originally scheduled to face Dat Ngyuen, who was forced to withdraw after suffering a knee injury the week before during training camp. Instead, Russell defeated Mexico's Heriberto Ruiz on November 26, 2011 at the US Bank Arena in Cincinnati, Ohio with a stunning knockout at 2:12 in the first round.

Russell would get his first professional title shot in 2014, when he faced Ukrainian prospect Vasyl Lomachenko for the vacant WBO featherweight title. Lomachenko, fighting just his third pro fight after a record-breaking amateur career, beat Russell by majority decision (116-112, 116-112, 114-114). Russell would claim his first belt the next year, beating holder Jhonny Gonzalez by TKO to take the WBC featherweight title. Russell scores three knockdowns; down once in the third round and twice in the fourth to force the stoppage.

Professional boxing record

32 fights	31 wins	1 loss
By knockout	18	0
By decision	13	1

No.	Result	Record	Opponent	Type	Round, time	Date	Location	Notes
32	Win	31–1	Tugstsogt Nyambayar	UD	12	Feb 8, 2020	PPL Center, Allentown, Pennsylvania, U.S.	Retained WBC featherweight title
31	Win	30–1	Kiko Martínez	TKO	5 (12), 2:52	May 18, 2019	Barclays Center, New York City, New York, U.S.	Retained WBC featherweight title
30	Win	29–1	Joseph Diaz	UD	12	May 19, 2018	MGM National Harbor, Oxon Hill, Maryland, U.S.	Retained WBC featherweight title
29	Win	28–1	Óscar Escandón	TKO	7 (12), 0:59	May 20, 2017	MGM National Harbor, Oxon Hill, Maryland, U.S.	Retained WBC featherweight title
28	Win	27–1	Patrick Hyland	KO	2 (12), 1:33	Apr 16, 2016	Mohegan Sun Arena, Montville, Connecticut, U.S.	Retained WBC featherweight title
27	Win	26–1	Jhonny González	TKO	4 (12), 0:37	Mar 28, 2015	Pearl Concert Theater, Paradise, Nevada, U.S.	Won WBC featherweight title
26	Win	25–1	Christopher Martin Peña	UD	10	Dec 20, 2014	Little Creek Casino Resort, Shelton, Washington, U.S.
25	Loss	24–1	Vasyl Lomachenko	MD	12	Jun 21, 2014	StubHub Center, Carson, California, U.S.	For vacant WBO featherweight title
24	Win	24–0	Miguel Tamayo	KO	4 (8), 1:04	Jan 30, 2014	Barclays Center, New York City, New York, U.S.
23	Win	23–0	Juan Ruiz	UD	10	Aug 9, 2013	Fantasy Springs Resort Casino, Indio, California, U.S.
22	Win	22–0	Vyacheslav Gusev	UD	10	Mar 2, 2013	The Joint, Paradise, Nevada, U.S.
21	Win	21–0	Roberto Castaneda	KO	3 (10), 1:25	Nov 9, 2012	Fantasy Springs Resort Casino, Indio, California, U.S.
20	Win	20–0	Christopher Pérez	TKO	3 (10), 1:41	Jun 30, 2012	Fantasy Springs Resort Casino, Indio, California, U.S.
19	Win	19–0	Heriberto Ruiz	KO	1 (10), 2:12	Nov 26, 2011	U.S. Bank Arena, Cincinnati, Ohio, U.S.
18	Win	18–0	Leonilo Miranda	UD	8	Sep 3, 2011	Beau Rivage, Biloxi, Mississippi, U.S.
17	Win	17–0	Eric Estrada	UD	8	Jul 23, 2011	Mandalay Bay Events Center, Paradise, Nevada, U.S.
16	Win	16–0	Antonio Meza	KO	4 (8), 2:42	Jun 17, 2011	State Farm Arena, Hidalgo, Texas, U.S.
15	Win	15–0	Adolfo Landeros	UD	6	Apr 15, 2011	Longshoremen's Hall, San Francisco, California, U.S.
14	Win	14–0	Feider Viloria	TD	7 (8), 0:50	Jan 28, 2011	Four Points by Sheraton, San Diego, California, U.S.	Unanimous TD after Viloria was cut from an accidental head clash
13	Win	13–0	Guadalupe de Leon	UD	6	Oct 28, 2010	Nokia Theatre L.A. Live, Los Angeles, California, U.S.
12	Win	12–0	Willie Villanueva	KO	1 (6), 2:56	Sep 25, 2010	Fitzgeralds Casino and Hotel, Tunica Resorts, Mississippi, U.S.
11	Win	11–0	Mauricio Pastrana	TKO	1 (6), 1:46	Jul 22, 2010	Nokia Theatre L.A. Live, Los Angeles, California, U.S.
10	Win	10–0	Rodrigo Aranda	KO	2 (6), 0:34	Jun 24, 2010	Nokia Theatre L.A. Live, Los Angeles, California, U.S.
9	Win	9–0	Carlos Diaz	KO	1 (6), 1:32	Apr 16, 2010	The New Daisy Theatre, Memphis, Tennessee, U.S.
8	Win	8–0	Jairo Delgado	KO	1 (6), 2:38	Feb 19, 2010	Wolstein Center, Cleveland, Ohio, U.S.
7	Win	7–0	David Orosco Cano	TKO	1 (4), 2:58	Jan 30, 2010	Fitzgeralds Casino and Hotel, Tunica Resorts, Mississippi, U.S.
6	Win	6–0	Rodrigo Romero	TKO	3 (4), 0:38	Dec 18, 2009	Grand Casino Mille Lacs, Hinckley, Minnesota, U.S.
5	Win	5–0	Noe Lopez Jr.	UD	4	Oct 23, 2009	Entertainment Center, Laredo, Texas, U.S.
4	Win	4–0	Jason Jones	TKO	1 (4), 0:28	Aug 7, 2009	Star of the Desert Arena, Primm, Nevada, U.S.
3	Win	3–0	Alvaro Muro	UD	4	May 1, 2009	Chumash Casino Resort, Santa Ynez, California, U.S.
2	Win	2–0	John Wampash	UD	4	Feb 14, 2009	BankAtlantic Center, Sunrise, Florida, U.S.
1	Win	1–0	Antonio Reyes	TKO	3 (4), 0:21	Jan 16, 2009	Million Dollar Elm Casino, Tulsa, Oklahoma, U.S.

See also

• Notable boxing families#United States

External links

• Boxing record for Gary Russell Jr. from BoxRec (registration required)
• Gary Russell Jr. amateur boxing record
• Gary Russell Jr. profile at Premier Boxing Champions