Hugh Russell

Hugh Russell (15 December 1959 – 13 October 2023) was a Northern Irish professional boxer from the New Lodge area of Belfast who competed from 1981 to 1985. He held the British bantamweight title in 1983 and flyweight title from 1984 to 1985. As an amateur, he won bronze medals at the 1978 Commonwealth Games and the 1980 Summer Olympics, both in the flyweight division.

1980 Olympic results
Below are the results of Hugh Russell, an Irish flyweight boxer who competed at the 1980 Moscow Olympics:


 * Round of 32: Defeated Samir Khiniab (Iraq) on points, 5-0
 * Round of 16: Defeated Emmanuel Mlundwa (Tanzania) on points, 5-0
 * Quarterfinal: Defeated Yo Ryon-Sik (North Korea) on points, 3-2
 * Semifinal: Lost to Peter Lessov (Bulgaria) on points, 0-5.

Professional career
Known as "Little Red", Russell turned pro in 1981 and won two British titles in bantamweight and flyweight. He was the first boxer to win a British title at both divisions in that order.

In October 1982 he defeated Davy Larmour at the Ulster Hall to win the Irish Bantamweight title. The fight was also a final eliminator for the British title.

An iconic image of Russell reaching through the ropes to kiss his mother, Eileen, after winning the fight, appears in photographer Brendan Murphy's book Eyewitness.

In January 1983, he fought in the last 15-round British title fight, against reigning bantamweight champion John Feeney. The fight was stopped in the 13th round when the referee disqualified Feeney for persistent misuse of the head.

Russell retired in 1985 as undefeated British flyweight champion after securing a Lonsdale Belt.

Death
Russell, who worked as a photographer for many years for the Irish News, died on 13 October 2023 at the age of 63.