CHANGE MY LOCATION
Sports
Examiners
Sports Examiner
Most Recent Post
"Retaliation Watch" is over as Torre's Dodgers buzz one near Victorino
California News
Multimedia News
Russell hoping to pack golden punch
SEE THE LATEST ON THIS STORY
Related Topics: BALTIMORE
)
Gary Russell Jr. of Capitol Heights in Prince George’s County seeks to win gold when he competes in the bantamweight class at the Olympics next month. - AP
BALTIMORE (Map, News) - When Gary Russell Jr. retires from fighting and hangs up his boxing gloves, he has the modest goal of becoming a real estate agent — albeit one with an Olympic gold medal.
“A lot of people take it so serious, they forget the real reason they started doing the sport — because it was fun and they enjoyed doing it,” he said. “I look at [the Olympics] as a reward for me, and not as me going to a job or duty, but something I always wanted to do.”
Russell, a resident of Capitol Heights in Prince George’s County, will fulfill his dream of fighting for his country next month at the XXIX Olympic Games in Beijing.
But he almost had to wait another four years for his chance at Olympic glory. Russell, 20, overcame an opening-round loss at the Olympic trials to Roberto Marroquin, 18-17, by winning six straight bouts, including victories over defending world champion Ronny Rios and a rematch with Marroquin. The title put him in elite company, as just three others had lost their opening fight yet won their division: Evander Holyfield, Roy Jones Jr., and Floyd Mayweather, Jr.
“The comeback didn’t really build a level of confidence,” the bantamweight said. “I knew I was already capable of doing it. It made me mad [I lost] and mad turned into anger because I knew I would beat [Marroquin’s] ass.”
So did his father and trainer, Gary Russell Sr.
“I got into his head that you don’t posses the title,” he said. “You are fighting like you are defending something. You have to go out there and fight the man and do what you do.”
And that’s exactly what he did at the 2007 World Amateur Boxing Championships, where he officially qualified for the Beijing Games when he beat France’s Ali Hallab to reach the quarterfinals. The victory was especially sweet for Russell, who had to split the 2005 WABC bronze medal with Hallab. Russell, however, failed to medal at the event, as he lost his next fight to eventual-champion Sergey Vodopyanov of Russia, 16-6.
Russell hopes to earn a rematch in Beijing. After the loss, he returned to the Olympic Training Center in Colorado Springs, Colo., to continue training six hours a day with his Olympic boxing teammates. Russell’s journey to China began more than a decade ago, when his father trained him in basement of the family’s home on the 4600 block of Omaha Street in a crime-ridden neighborhood.
Russell’s “gym” didn’t have a ring or a punching bag — just an empty room with a mirror hanging from the wall. It’s where Russell Sr. trained his five sons, with four becoming Golden and Silver Gloves champions.
But Russell Jr.’s success in the ring isn’t what makes his father most proud. It’s the character boxing has developed in his son, keeping him off of the streets in one of the most dangerous areas of the state. Russell Sr. calls his son a “gentleman’s gentleman,” referring to when he presented each member of the U.S. women’s boxing team with a rose before the squad left for a tournament in Argentina last year.
“The last couple of tournaments they went to, they didn’t do so good,” Russell said. “I wanted to let them know they do have support.”
And so does Russell.
“He set his mind to become an Olympian and that’s what he’s done,” Russell Sr. said. “Anything past that I am proud of, and a gold medal would go down forever.”
dcarey@baltimoreexaminer.com
Comments from Examiner Readers
6:09 AM MST on Wed., Aug. 20, 2008 re: "‘Put the guns down,’ boxing coach says"
Report as inappropriate
4:02 PM MST on Mon., May. 12, 2008
re: "Let teens fight it out in the ring?"
Report as inappropriate
6:53 AM MST on Wed., Jul. 25, 2007
re: "“Dream” continues for local boxer"
Report as inappropriate
8:51 AM MST on Tue., Jul. 24, 2007
re: "Jail time offers perspective for ‘The Persecutor’"
Report as inappropriate
African American Woman said:
sounds like a grate idea, back in the day you had a good fight today and lived to laugh about it and become best friends the next day.
4 agree | 2 disagree
Vote on this comment: I agree or I disagree
Havre De Grace resident with family in Edgewood said:
This would be a great idea. I support you 150%.
2 agree | 2 disagree
Vote on this comment: I agree or I disagree
Digital Williams said:
Thanks Dave, for your coverage of the Beltway Boxing scene! Nice seeing you at last Friday's card! Keep up the good work!
108 agree | 115 disagree
Vote on this comment: I agree or I disagree
Digital Williams said:
Hey Ron! Nice meeting you at last Friday's card! Great articles on two solid Beltway prospects. I appreciate your coverage of the Beltway Boxing scene! Keep up the good work!
96 agree | 109 disagree
Vote on this comment: I agree or I disagree