Gary Antuanne Russell: Tapping His Father’s Legacy Towards Championship

Gary Antuanne Russell Aims to Honor Late Father with First Interim Title Win

Gary Antuanne Russell, the younger brother of former featherweight titleholder Gary Russell Jr., will be facing off against undefeated former WBA junior welterweight titleholder Alberto Puello for the interim WBC junior welterweight title on June 15 at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas. This fight will be part of the Gervonta Davis-Frank Martin pay-per-view undercard.

The 27-year-old southpaw, who is now being cornered by his older brother, has a perfect record of 17-0 with all of his wins coming by way of knockout. His rise through the ranks has seen him defeat big names like Viktor Postol and Rances Barthelemy. However, this fight holds more significance for Russell as he looks to honor his late father and coach, Gary Russell Sr., who passed away in 2022 from Type 2 diabetes.

The loss of his father has only fueled Russell’s determination to win and make his father proud. “I know my dad would tell me to hit and not get hit, keep your hands high, don’t relax,” he said. “Right now, he’s here in spirit, and I will spontaneously hear certain things that he’d say to me. I want to honor his name and make sure that all he worked for does not go in vain.”

With the fight taking place in Vegas, Russell feels right at home under the bright lights. “I love the bright lights. It’s part of my life. It’s really second nature. This is my world now. At this point, I just want to excel,” he said.

This fight also holds significant stakes as the winner will be in position to challenge for the WBC title. Despite losing to Ryan Garcia, WBC junior welterweight titleholder Devin Haney retained his belt when Garcia failed to make weight. While Haney has been ordered to face Sandor Martin next, the winner of this bout will be next in line for the title shot.

“I want to bring boxing back to its natural state,” Russell said. “I want to climb the ladder and fight who I’m supposed to. I want to fight the guys with great credentials.”

His opponent, Alberto Puello, also holds an impressive undefeated record of 22-0 with 10 knockouts. However, Puello is not known for his power and lost his title due to a drug-test failure. After 16 months away from the ring, he made his comeback in December and won a ten-round unanimous decision against Ector Madera.

“My focus is so locked in right now. It’s hard for me to say he’s got a chance, not to be disrespectful,” Russell said. “My father always said there are three types of fighters: those who need it, those who want it, and those who like it. And they all bring a different level of hunger. I’m all three of them, but instead of liking it, I love it.”

Kosport Magazine’s Take

The upcoming fight between Gary Antuanne Russell and Alberto Puello is more than just a battle for an interim title. It’s a fight that holds a special significance for Russell as he aims to honor his late father and coach. Fighting under the bright lights of Vegas, Russell is determined to bring boxing back to its natural state and climb the ladder to face the best in the division. With Puello also undefeated, this has all the makings of an exciting showdown. Kosport Magazine is looking forward to seeing how Russell’s love for the sport and his late father’s influence will impact his performance in the ring.