CARSON, CALIF.) – Featherweight contender Gary Russell Jr. (Capitol Heights, Md.) and his team arrived in the Los Angeles area on Tuesday night for his WBO Featherweight title fight with two-time Olympic gold medalist Vasyl Lomachenko of Ukraine on June 21.
Russell traveled to California with his father and trainer Gary Russell, Sr., and three younger brothers, Gary Allan III, Gary Antonio and Gary Antuanne for his first title shot on Saturday at the StubHub Center in Carson, Calif., and live on SHOWTIME CHAMPIONSHIP BOXING. The Russells recently made history by becoming the first set of four brothers to win National Golden Gloves titles and his three younger siblings will be ringside on Saturday as Gary Jr. competes for a world championship.
Russell Sr., a former heavyweight boxer, brought Gary Jr. in to the sport at a young age and the future Olympian became a fixture at Washington, D.C. area fight shows. His exceptional hand speed was apparent early on as the then five-year-old Russell would entertain the crowd by shadow boxing in the ring during breaks in the action. He went on to enjoy a stellar amateur career, which culminated in a berth on the 2008 United States Olympic Team, before turning professional in January of 2009.
Russell has built a perfect 24-0 record over the past five years while showcasing what many believe are the fastest hands in the sport. While Russell racked up a streak of convincing wins, the boxing world has awaited an opponent that will truly test the 2011 Prospect of the Year. Russell and his team have ignored the criticism about his competition level and stuck to the plan that father and son laid out for his career. The step up fight that the boxing world has been waiting for has finally arrived and Russell Jr. is primed and ready for his moment.
