By 
Clinton, Maryland
By Ron Harris – Families in the sport of boxing is a long-time tradition. Usually, it’s the father training his son. Or an uncle training his nephew. Rarely, if ever, does one family produce 3 champions. That is the case in the fighting Russell family of Capital Heights, Maryland. The family is famous for all of the sons being named Gary Russell, by the father Gary Russell, Sr. The Charlo family comes to mind with the twins becoming world champions. Jermell and Jermall Charlo.
The Russell’s have 3. Gary Jr was the World Boxing Council featherweight world champion and the longest reigning champion at that time. Gary Antuanne Russell is the current World Boxing Association Super Lightweight champion and most recently, Gary Antonio Russell has won the WBA Interim Super Bantamweight belt.
No other family comes to mind with 3 members becoming boxing belt holders. The Russell family is also the only family that all 4 sons won Golden Glove championships as amateurs. Gary Allen Russell, the current assistant coach of his younger brothers, Antonio and Antuanne was the 4th son to win a Golden Gloves title. Gary Allen had a short pro career.
Antuanne, is looking to fight in a month or so. “I want to fight the best at 140 lbs. I have finished with my mandatories,” says Antuanne, now 30 years old. “I will stay at 140 until I become undisputed champion.”
Gary Jr was coming off a 3-year layoff and won his last fight. He says, “I would like one last title fight, so that I can hold a belt with my brothers. I don’t need it, but it would be nice. My legacy is set.”
Antonio’s only loss came close after his father’s death. He was not in the best frame of mind. This last title fight showed that he was focused and practically pitched a shutout on the judge’s cards. “I was focused on this last fight. Nothing my opponent could say or not say was going to get me off my game”, says Antonio. He knocked down his opponent in the final round, but had no interest in going for the K O. He said, “I just wanted to finish strong and win the fight.” His next fight would be at Super Bantamweight or go back to Bantamweight.
Ron Harris is a retired college administrator, coach, broadcaster, Internet and TV sports producer and host. He’s also a former radio host of a live call-in show. Ron has been a mainstay of the Washington DC area sports landscape for decades covering all the major professional sports, college sports, boxing and more.
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