Hugh Russell won the British bantamweight and flyweight titles after turning professional and earned a medal at the 1980 Moscow Olympic Games.
After quitting the sport in 1985, he later rose to prominence in Northern Ireland Press circles as a skilled photographer for the Irish News.
Russell earned another bronze medal at the Olympics when fellow hopeful Barry McGuigan’s ambitions were dashed early. He was only 20 years old when he competed at the Moscow Games after winning a bronze medal for Northern Ireland at the Commonwealth Games in 1978.
He signed on with Belfast-based promoter Barney Eastwood, who at the time also had rising star McGuigan among his boxers. Russell worked as a professional referee for the British Boxing Board of Control after he hung up his boxing gloves.
Hugh Russell children: Meet Hayley, Hugh Jnr, James & Calum
Hayley, Hugh Russell Jr., James, and Calum are Hugh Russell’s kids. Russell had a 16-2 record when he stopped competing in boxing in 1985. Following that, he started a lucrative career as a photographer for the Irish News. He was well-known for his coverage of boxing, but he also took pictures of a wide range of other occasions, such as the Guildford Four and Birmingham Six’s and the Anglo-Irish Agreement’s signing, as well as many more.