Hugh Russell won a bronze medal in the flyweight division at the Moscow 1980 Olympic Games.

Russell was from the New Lodge area of Belfast and began his boxing career at the Holy Family Boxing Club, where he won numerous Antrim, Ulster and Irish titles as an amateur.

He won bronze at the 1978 Commonwealth Games and turning professional in 1981, later capturing British titles at bantamweight and flyweight before retiring as undefeated British flyweight champion.