Hugh Russell
Name: Hugh Russell
Alias: Little Red
Hometown: Belfast, Northern Ireland, United Kingdom
Birthplace: Belfast, Northern Ireland, United Kingdom
Died: 2023-10-13 (Age:63)
Stance: Southpaw
Height: 163cm
Pro Boxer: Record
Amateur Boxer: Record
- Manager: Barney Eastwood
- Trainer: Eddie Shaw
Russell was a Bronze Medalist at the 1980 Moscow Olympic Games in the Flyweight (51 kg) class. His results were:
- Defeated Samir Khiniab (Iraq) 5-0
- Defeated Emmanuel Mlundwa (Tanzania) 5-0
- Defeated Yo Ryon-Sik (North Korea) 3-2
- Lost to Peter Lessov (Bulgaria) 0-5
Obituary
by Denis O'Hara.
Hugh 'Little Red' Russell, who had the distinction of being the first professional boxer in these isles to win two British championships in reverse weight category order, died suddenly in his native Belfast on Friday October 13, he was 63.
The award winning professional photographer with Belfast morning newspaper,the Irish News,, became unwell some five weeks back.
Russell, born in Belfast's Antrim Road district on December 15, 1959, began in boxing with the Holy Family Club. Coached by Gerry Storey, the stocky southpaw followed his amateur title-winning brother Sean to provincial and national titles.
He plundered a bronze medal from the Commonwealth Games and also at the Moscow Olympics. He decided to leave the amateur international ranks and follow in Barry McGuigan's footsteps by turning professional with Belfast manager/promoter Barney Eastwood.
His 19-bout chart features 17 wins, including two blood-soaked battles with fellow Belfast fighter Davy Larmour.
The first rip=roaring fight with Larmour was over 12 rounds in the Belfast's Ulster Hall. on October 5 1982.
He outpointed Larmour in a British bantamweight eliminator.
Corner cuts-man Paddy Byrne of Brighton kept 'Little Red' afloat with some miracle patchwork between rounds after Russell sustained ghastly eyebrow damage.
Larmour was also bleeding heavily from eyebrow cuts.
Indeed, England referee Mike Jacobs finished the sensational showdown with his once pristine white shirt soaked in crimson blood. From this battle there was a charming aftermath when Larmour drove himself and his opponent for treatment in the nearby Mater Hospital.
From this result the ever chirpy Russell, now coached in the Eastwood gym by Eddie Shaw, defied the odds on January 21, 1983 to beat John Feeney of Hartlepool in the Ulster Hall for the British title.
He defended the crown against Larmour, this time in the iconic King's Hall on March 2,1983.
It was the first major bill at the world renowned venue in 21 years, since the 1962 epic Freddie Gilroy-John Caldwell battle.
Again it was a blood-spattered thriller.
This time Larmour took the decision - and so 'Wee Hughie' slimmed down to the flyweight division.
On January 25, 1984, he secured a special place in British boxing history by beating Kelvin Smart of Wales on a seventh-round technical stoppage for the flyweight crown. Two successful title defences in the King's Hall - against Scottish boxers, Danny Flynn and Charlie Brown, secured outright ownership of a Lonsdale.
During his May 23, 1985, match against Flynn he again sustained concerning eyebrow damage.
He decided one month later to hang up his gloves and concentrate on achieving a very successful career in press photography. Under the tutelage of Irish News chief photographer Brendan Murphy he began a 40-year association with the Belfast paper.
A true gentleman, he never forgot his boxing roots - and became a very respected official for the British Boxing Board of Control's Northern Ireland Area Council. He took up golf as a pastime with the Belfast Press Golf Society - and was a leading light in the N.I. Press Photographers' Association.
His son, Hugh Russell Jnr, is a prominent fully qualified professional fight referee.
He is survived by wife Kathy, Hugh Jnr, Hayley, James and Calum.
Former two-weight world champion Carl Frampton paid tribute to the fellow Belfast ring legend: "Hugh was one of the nicest men you could meet. He always had the fighters' best interest at heart."
Irish News Editor Noel Doran added: "Hugh Russell was an outstanding photographer and a magnificent boxer - but most of all a great friend and wonderful colleague."