Clone Wars: The Fighting Gary Russells Share More Than A First Name

Gary Antuanne Russell photo by Bill Mackey

by Sarah Deming

SPOKANE, Wash.–The second day of action at the USA Boxing Nationals saw a domineering start from D.C.’s amateur boxing dynasty. Twenty-year-old bantamweight Gary Antonio Russell scored a unanimous decision over Joshua McShane of Hawaii, and his sixteen-year-old brother Gary Antuanne Russell eliminated the reigning Junior Olympic lightweight champion Christian “Kike” Bermudez. 

The latter result left me somewhat bitter, since Kike boxes for my home club, Atlas Cops and Kids. I was the one to teach him that his nickname, pronounced differently, is a slur against my people. Normally calm, Kike looked overanxious against his southpaw opponent (all the Gary Russells are southpaws), who controlled the rhythm from the opening bell.

“What was your strategy?” I asked Gary Antuanne.

“It wasn’t really a strategy,” he drawled. “It was a listening thing. My father said to relax, jab, work up and down. Always, always stay set. Once you get that down, you can put your own groove into it.”

Gary Antonio Russell (right) vs Christian Bermudez. Photo by Raquel Ruiz.

Gary Antonio chimed in, praising his father’s ability to think strategically and adapt mid-stream.

“We are so blessed. My father, he’s a peacemaker. He thinks positive spirits and positive vibes bring positive results.”

Russell père still walks with a limp from the hunting accident that derailed his pro debut. The first time I met him, a friend told me, “That man has a million sons, and they all box, and they’re all named Gary Russell.”

There are in fact six sons, and only five of them fight. The eldest, Gary Russell Jr, is here helping his father coach. A 2008 Olympian, he is 22-0 as a pro and eying Adrian Broner. Next comes Gary Allen, a decorated amateur who took a pass this week due to illness; Gary Antonio; Gary Derreke, who had a few fights before switching to basketball; Gary Antuanne; and Gary Isaiah, the youngest and lone pacifist.

“He wants to be a pretty boy,” joked Gary Antwuan about Isaiah. “He just plays basketball.”

(Left to right) Gary Russell Jr., Gary Antonio, Gary Sr., and Gary Antuanne. Photo by Sarah Deming for StiffJab.com

Russell Sr. and his eldest son joined us in the stands so the family could cheer on their former stablemate, Marquis Moore. It was an all-military battle as Moore, an Army fighter, faced Daneil Logan of the Air Force. The Armed Forces have yet to clear their boxers to fight without headgear, so nearly all the military fighters are competing in the senior division. So is Gary Antonio, who told me he would wait until he got paid to bare his head.

“Cut off the ring, Marquis!” yelled Gary Russell, Jr.

Marquis was wild but strong. Logan tried to box him, but couldn’t get away from those looping hooks.

Gary Russell, Sr. glanced over at the other ring, where Rashidi Ellis and Ivan Pandzic had yet to begin their elite welterweight bout. Pandzic was over six feet tall and had tousled raven locks.

“That boy has no business boxing,” the father said drily. “He looks like a Sears Roebuck model.”

A few minutes later, Pandzic got stopped.

It was peaceful to sit on the bleachers with this beautiful family, gazing at the smooth, gleaming surface of their solidarity. I wondered what dark secrets lay beneath, but the brothers wouldn’t crack. When I asked if the name of their gym, Enigma, described their family, all the Gary Russells laughed.

“Kinda, yeah,” said Gary Antonio.

Gary Antuanne said, “We leave a lot of people in suspense.”