"He reminds me of myself," Pacquiao said when he signed Magsayo. "How we both struggled to come from nothing to a world-rated contender. I love his work ethic and desire to become a world champion, and I will do everything to help promote Mark and make his dreams a reality."
Beyond this fight, boxers aren't knocking down the door to fight Russell. And for the most part, Russell is OK with that. When he's not fighting, he keeps a distance from the lights and drama of the sport.
Russell stays busy hunting and farming. He boasts that he provided the Thanksgiving turkey for his vast family the past three years and is proud of what it takes to accomplish the task.
He hunts deer with a compound bow, a crossbow, or a shotgun. And he grows watermelons, strawberries, mustard greens and collard greens on his estate in Capitol Heights, Maryland. The lesson for his four girls and two boys: provide for yourself.
"When you're on your own land, you can hunt whenever you feel like it," he said. "It's something about just getting out there and being a part of nature and being completely quiet and listening to the element. It's real sensual, man."
In his lone fight of 2018, Gary Russell Jr., left, defeated Joseph Diaz Jr. by unanimous decision to retain his WBC featherweight title. Scott Taetsch/Getty Images
Russell tries to strike a balance between his two worlds, but unlike the peace he finds in nature, his search for the fights he wants is harder to achieve. He believes the risk he poses to opponents, weighed against the potential reward of earning a win over him, scares top-level fighters away. Russell is elusive inside the ring. He knows how to control distance and packs uncanny hand speed. What he doesn't boast is star power or name recognition with casual boxing fans. He also is not the most vocal fighter in selling himself.
"He's making very good money, so it's hard to pay Gary that more than once a year if there's not a lot of business to be done," said Eric Bottjer, a longtime matchmaker who currently works for Triller Fight Club. "If he's getting $1.2 million a fight, he's not going to take a second fight for half the money just to stay busy."
There is a path for Russell moving forward, but it relies upon securing a big fight that can cement a fighter's legacy. Russell says he'd like matchups with Gervonta Davis and Lomachenko, in that order. Yes, both stars compete at 135 pounds, and Russell has never competed at even 130 pounds, but they are marquee fights.
A matchup with Davis appears more likely as both Russell and Davis are PBC fighters.
"I definitely pushed, but [PBC founder Al Haymon] can't force these guys to get in the ring with me," Russell said. "It doesn't make sense on a business aspect for someone who's trying to protect their investment when it comes to a Gervonta 'Tank' Davis [fight]. Cause it's highly likely that he can get that ass scorched."
Vasiliy Lomachenko, right, defeated Gary Russell Jr., by majority decision in 2014. Stephen Dunn/Getty Images
Given the different promoters and the way their first fight played out, a Lomachenko rematch seems unlikely. What does seem feasible, if Russell indeed fights again in 2022, is a title bout at 130 pounds. PBC will stage the Feb. 26 junior lightweight title fight between Chris Colbert and Roger Gutierrez (who's promoted by Golden Boy) on Showtime.
If Colbert wins, as expected, PBC could look to line up a fight with Russell later this year.
"Whoever the winner is in between the two of them, I would not mind moving up, competing against the champion," Russell said. "I refuse to move up in weight and have to vacate my title just to compete to possibly fight the champion after that. I refuse to do that.
"If I can't get [Davis or Lomachenko], then I would love to get a unification match with anyone that's in the division."
And just maybe, 2022 will be a year of vindication for Russell. If Colbert tops Gutierrez, a Russell potential victory over Colbert at junior lightweight would make him a two-division champion. He would also, once and for all, halt the inactivity he says has frustrated his fans.
"Of course I share their frustration," he said. "Hell yeah, I'd be willing to fight. I definitely got time to fight if I have somebody that's willing to fight, let's make it happen."
Beyond this fight, boxers aren't knocking down the door to fight Russell. And for the most part, Russell is OK with that. When he's not fighting, he keeps a distance from the lights and drama of the sport.
Russell stays busy hunting and farming. He boasts that he provided the Thanksgiving turkey for his vast family the past three years and is proud of what it takes to accomplish the task.
He hunts deer with a compound bow, a crossbow, or a shotgun. And he grows watermelons, strawberries, mustard greens and collard greens on his estate in Capitol Heights, Maryland. The lesson for his four girls and two boys: provide for yourself.
"When you're on your own land, you can hunt whenever you feel like it," he said. "It's something about just getting out there and being a part of nature and being completely quiet and listening to the element. It's real sensual, man."
In his lone fight of 2018, Gary Russell Jr., left, defeated Joseph Diaz Jr. by unanimous decision to retain his WBC featherweight title. Scott Taetsch/Getty Images
Russell tries to strike a balance between his two worlds, but unlike the peace he finds in nature, his search for the fights he wants is harder to achieve. He believes the risk he poses to opponents, weighed against the potential reward of earning a win over him, scares top-level fighters away. Russell is elusive inside the ring. He knows how to control distance and packs uncanny hand speed. What he doesn't boast is star power or name recognition with casual boxing fans. He also is not the most vocal fighter in selling himself.
"He's making very good money, so it's hard to pay Gary that more than once a year if there's not a lot of business to be done," said Eric Bottjer, a longtime matchmaker who currently works for Triller Fight Club. "If he's getting $1.2 million a fight, he's not going to take a second fight for half the money just to stay busy."
There is a path for Russell moving forward, but it relies upon securing a big fight that can cement a fighter's legacy. Russell says he'd like matchups with Gervonta Davis and Lomachenko, in that order. Yes, both stars compete at 135 pounds, and Russell has never competed at even 130 pounds, but they are marquee fights.
A matchup with Davis appears more likely as both Russell and Davis are PBC fighters.
"I definitely pushed, but [PBC founder Al Haymon] can't force these guys to get in the ring with me," Russell said. "It doesn't make sense on a business aspect for someone who's trying to protect their investment when it comes to a Gervonta 'Tank' Davis [fight]. Cause it's highly likely that he can get that ass scorched."
Vasiliy Lomachenko, right, defeated Gary Russell Jr., by majority decision in 2014. Stephen Dunn/Getty Images
Given the different promoters and the way their first fight played out, a Lomachenko rematch seems unlikely. What does seem feasible, if Russell indeed fights again in 2022, is a title bout at 130 pounds. PBC will stage the Feb. 26 junior lightweight title fight between Chris Colbert and Roger Gutierrez (who's promoted by Golden Boy) on Showtime.
If Colbert wins, as expected, PBC could look to line up a fight with Russell later this year.
"Whoever the winner is in between the two of them, I would not mind moving up, competing against the champion," Russell said. "I refuse to move up in weight and have to vacate my title just to compete to possibly fight the champion after that. I refuse to do that.
"If I can't get [Davis or Lomachenko], then I would love to get a unification match with anyone that's in the division."
And just maybe, 2022 will be a year of vindication for Russell. If Colbert tops Gutierrez, a Russell potential victory over Colbert at junior lightweight would make him a two-division champion. He would also, once and for all, halt the inactivity he says has frustrated his fans.
"Of course I share their frustration," he said. "Hell yeah, I'd be willing to fight. I definitely got time to fight if I have somebody that's willing to fight, let's make it happen."
