After the fight: The perplexing career of Gary Russell Jr.

Gary Russell Jr. entered the ring against Mark Magsayo on Jan. 22 injured, lost his WBC featherweight title, and needs a reality check.

Gary Russell Jr. received some praise from commentators and fans on social media for hanging in for 12 rounds with Mark Magsayo with one arm during their WBC featherweight title bout on Jan. 22, but it was still a losing effort. If Russell was injured before the fight, why did he go through with it? He was asked that question and gave a less than stellar answer.

In round 4, a Magsayo punch to Russell’s shoulder hurt Russell and rendered his right arm unusable for the remainder of the fight. He used elusive head movement and minute physical adjustments to make Magasayo miss many of his best punches.

Russell’s southpaw stance helped fluster Magsayo, but Russell stood no chance of winning with half the offense. After the fight, he admitted to Showtime’s Jim Gray that he injured a ligament in his shoulder two weeks before the contest. Gray followed up by asking why he went through with the match, and Russell alluded to being a warrior who doesn’t back down.

Russell also said he didn’t want to miss more time out of the ring. Those two sentiments together are bemusing when you consider Russell’s history of inactivity.

Before the Magsayo bout, Russell hadn’t fought for almost two years. Yet, he elected to follow through with his title defense despite being without his father and trainer in his corner, an injury, and conditioning issues. He missed weight by half a pound on his first attempt during the weigh-in.

Russell explained the weight issue as a miscalculation with his scale. He didn’t look as toned against Magsayo as he has in the past. Russell didn’t look like he put 100 percent into his training. Yes, he was injured, which likely impacted his training, but not enough to make him look physically diminished from his past form.

Russell’s rationale for not canceling the matchup is also nonsensical. He didn’t fight for two years. Why not wait some more until you’re fully healthy? If he’s arguing that it would have hurt his pride and reputation, then he should read the criticism he has received over the last six years and change.

Gary Russell Jr. worked hard to reach champion status but lacked that same work ethic to become a great champion

Barely fighting for his six-year and 10-month reign as WBC champion has been the ire of many fans and boxing journalists. They can understand a boxer getting injured, but not a champion that doesn’t want to fight.

Russell can make up all the excuses he likes, but his track record doesn’t bode well for any of them. Before winning the title, he was an active fighter. He fought six times in 2009 and seven times in 2010. He was young and hungry in those days, but the tale of the tape shows a boxer who grew content with his success.

Since beating Jhonny Gonzalez in 2015 for the title, Russell hasn’t fought more than once in a year. Russell stated numerous times that nobody wants to fight him, but that’s not true. Any fighter without a belt would have loved a crack at the WBC title. Russell was either holding out for a unification match or just wasn’t interested. That’s on him.

Russell can give no understandable reason for only fighting six times in seven years. He can try, but it would be illogical. Almost as illogical as his reason for fighting a young, undefeated solid opponent like Magsayo with one arm and unprepared.

Russell also told Gray after the bout that he thought he won the fight even though he only landed 69 punches to Magsayo’s 150, according to CompuBox stats. The fight wasn’t entertaining, but Magsayo clearly won, which is why he’s the new WBC featherweight champion.

Russell doesn’t run out of excuses, though.

“Politics is a bad motherf**ker, you know what I’m saying,” Russell said on social media (h/t Badlefthook.com). “I beat that boy at least ten rounds to two, nine to three, man. Took ol’ boy to school man. I don’t know man. It is what it is. I just wanted to come on here and show ya’ll some love.”

That’s a laughable take from Russell, but he seems to believe what he says despite the flawed logic. He’s incapable of objective self-reflection. Russell can’t accurately assess himself and needs somebody he trusts to layout the brutal truth because it’s not getting through to him.

Boxrec.com editor Grey Johnson correctly characterized Russell’s post-fight interview via Twitter.

“Impressive levels of delusion in this interview,” read Johnson’s tweet. “Teo levels tbh. See you in 2024 dude.”

Russell did come off as delusional. He needs to take accountability for his inactivity. Russell’s inability to internalize his loss to Magsayo is a bad sign. No one has ever questioned his boxing talent, but Russell is avoiding the truth. As long as he does that, Russell’s days as an elite boxer are over.