After nearly three and a half years away from the ring. Former long reigning WBC featherweight champion Gary Russell Jr. (31–2, 18 KOs) is officially set to make his comeback. The supremely skilled southpaw will return on the undercard of Pacquiao vs. Barrios on July 19, facing off against Hugo Castaneda, a 23-year-old Mexican prospect.
The bout is slated for the preliminary portion of the card, giving fans an early look at Russell’s first appearance since his close majority decision loss to Mark Magsayo in January 2022, a fight that ended his nearly 7-year title reign.
Castaneda, though young and relatively untested at the elite level, offers Gary Russell a chance to shake off ring rust and potentially set the stage for a run at another world title.