Golden Gloves boxing: Russell lives up to h..

Washington, D.C., native who shares a name with 6 brothers wins 123-pound division.

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When your name is Gary Russell and you are from Washington, D.C., it isn't easy to stand out. Winning a national Golden Gloves championship should do the trick.

Gary Antonio Russell learned that on Saturday night as the 2013 Golden Gloves National Tournament of Champions wrapped up by crowning 10 individual champions and a franchise (team) winner at the Salt Palace Convention Center.

In the 123-pound division, Detroit's Ja'Rico O'Quinn said after his semifinal win on Friday that he had been waiting a long time to fight Russell.

However, Russell — who has six brothers who also have the first name of Gary — had O'Quinn well-scouted and took home the belt. He won the Golden Boy Award as the tournament's most outstanding boxer.

The sons of Gary Russell Sr., all go by their middle name, except one — Gary Russell Jr., who happens to be 22-0 as a professional. Gary Antonio Russell is the third brother to win a national Golden Gloves title.

"This was a little more difficult to win than the USA Boxing [title in Spokane, Wash.]," Gary Antonio Russell said. "I faced better competition, and the altitude here in Salt Lake City kinda made it more difficult."

It was Gary Antonio Russell's fourth trip to the Golden Gloves national tournament, but first championship.

"It feels as good as I thought it would," he said.

Texas wrapped up the team title on Friday night, its second in three years — despite losing all six of its semifinal bouts — so Saturday's focus was clearly on the 10 championship bouts.

"We have a real young team, a real humble, respectful team," said Texas' first-year coach, cowboy-boots-and-hat-wearing Joe Guzman. "But they fight like veterans."

After Texas "got kicked in the you-know-what" in the semifinals, in Guzman's words, Pennsylvania put the most boxers into the finals — three — but went 1-2. That tally included a mildly controversial loss at 165 pounds when judges gave the decision to Colorado-New Mexico's Marquis Moore over Kyrone Davis of Pennyslvania.

In the 114-pound title bout, Stephen Fulton Jr. of Philadelphia took a close win over Chicago's Cristian Williams, six weeks after losing in the USA Boxing national championship bout in a heavier division, 123 lbs.

Super heavyweight Cam F. Awesome, who won his third Golden Gloves crown and 10th national title overall, donned a pink and black cape and pranced around the ring after defeating Jermaine Franklin of Michigan in the final. —

Results

Final team results

1. Texas 2. Kansas City 3. Knoxville

Saturday's championship bouts

108 lbs.

Nico Hernandez, Kansas-Oklahoma, dec. Tyrone Arzeno, Pennsylvania

114 lbs.

Stephen Fulton Jr., Pennsylvania, dec. Cristian Williams, Chicago

123 lbs.

Gary Antonio Russell, Washington, D.C., dec. Ja'Rico O'Quinn, Detroit

132 lbs.

Lamont Roach, Jr., Washington, D.C., dec. Maliek Montgomery, Knoxville

141 lbs.

Julian Rodriguez, New Jersey, dec. Eddie Ramirez, Chicago

152 lbs.

Erickson Lubin, Florida, dec. Ardreal Holmes Jr., Michigan

165 lbs.

Marquis Moore, Colorado-New Mexico, dec. Kyrone Davis, Pennsylvania

178 lbs.

Steven Nelson, Colorado-New Mexico, dec. Randy Foster, Knoxville

201 lbs.

Earl Newman, New York Metro, dec. Joshua Temple, St. Louis

201+ lbs.

Cam F. Awesome, Kansas City, dec. Jermaine Franklin, Michigan

Golden Gloves boxing: Russell lives up to his name with title win