Russell Jr. sees nearly seven-year reign over featherweights end

Boxer Gary Russell Jr. was facing an undisclosed injury, a series of family crises and a careerlong layoff of nearly two years entering the sixth defense of his featherweight title Saturday night in Atlantic City, New Jersey. Those circumstances, particularly his compromised physical status revealed after the fight to be perhaps a torn right shoulder tendon, proved too much to overcome in a loss to undefeated Filipino Mark Magsayo via 12-round majority decision, ending the longest active championship reign in the sport.

Two judges awarded the fight to Magsayo with 115-113 scored and a third scored it a draw, delivering the mandatory challenger the World Boxing Council championship that Russell (31-2, 18 knockouts) held for 6 years, 10 months, 126 days.

“This is what true champions do,” Russell said in the ring during an interview with Showtime after his first loss since 2014.“I wanted to step into the ring and display my superiority regardless of an injury or what not. We did that.”

The fight turned in the fourth round when Russell grimaced after delivering a jab. Clearly in distress, Russell threw just one jab in the fifth round and none in any of the subsequent rounds. Russell averaged 37 jabs per round throughout his career entering the weekend but threw just 64 total during the entire fight, according to Showtime statistics. Still, he landed 11 jabs compared to just 10 for Magsayo (24-0, 16 KOS), whose reach advantage forced Russell to take more chances fighting on the inside.

It’s unclear whether a rematch will happen, although Russell asked for as much after the fight.