Hugh Russell

Born in Belfast, Northern Ireland, Hugh Russell was a boxer who fought as a bantamweight and flyweight during the late 1970s and early 1980s before becoming a successful press photographer. Russell began his boxing career as a teenager fighting at the Holy Family Boxing Club in his hometown. When he was 20-years-old he won bronze in the flyweight for Northern Ireland at the 1978 Commonwealth Games in Edmonton. Two years later Russell represented Ireland, also as a flyweight, at the 1980 Moskva Olympics. He won his first three fights on points, defeating Samir Khenyab, Emmanuel Mlundwa, and Jo Ryon-Sik, before losing to Petar Lesov in the semi-finals to win a bronze medal.

In December 1981 Russell turned professional, winning his first title the following October with victory over Davy Larmour for the Irish bantamweight belt. Russell’s 12th professional fight was in January 1983 against John Feeney at the Ulster Hall in Belfast. Feeney was disqualified in the 13th round for persistent misuse of the head, with Russell winning the British bantamweight title as a result. His final fight was in February 1985 where he won the Lonsdale Belt and retired undefeated.

Following Russell’s retirement from boxing he became a noted press photographer. In November 1985 he was one of the photographers present at Hillsborough Castle in Northern Ireland when the British and Irish Prime Ministers Margaret Thatcher and Garret FitzGerald signed the Anglo-Irish Agreement. Russell won several awards in his new career, which saw him document events including the releases of the Guildford Four and Birmingham Six following their wrongful convictions. While at the Irish News he still maintained a connection to boxing, working as a chief official in the British Boxing Board of Control. Russell was inducted into the Belfast City Council Sporting Hall of Fame in 2019.