Gary Russell, Jr.

Gary Russell Jr.
Russell Jr. in 2010
Statistics
Nickname(s)	Mr.
Rated at	Featherweight Super featherweight
Height	5 ft 4 1⁄2 in (164 cm)
Reach	64 in (163 cm)
Nationality	American
Born	(1988-06-05) June 5, 1988 (age 28) Washington, D.C., U.S.
Stance	Southpaw
Boxing record
Total fights	28
Wins	27
Wins by KO	16
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. As an amateur he won a bronze medal in the bantamweight division at the 2005 World Championships. Russell Jr. was voted Prospect of the Year for 2011 by The Ring magazine,Sports Illustrated, and ESPN.

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.