Russ Anber - Canadian Boxing legend

Montreal, Canada’s Russ Anber is a lifer and a legend in the sport in the great white north. But, a closer look at his storied career sees that he is indeed a global figure in the sport that has been his life’s passion for 4-plus decades.

From coaching and conditioning at the beginner-amateur level to working with Canada’s Olympians to the very best of champions at the professional level, Anber has seen and done it all.

No matter what age or stage you are at in your boxing journey, Anber brings the same enthusiasm that has been his trademark throughout his career.

Outside the ropes, Anber has been a figure in many other areas of the sport. Russ hosted his (outstanding) weekly boxing TV show, “In This Corner”, on Canada’s TSN (The Sports Network) years ago. And he is the founder of his globally recognized boxing equipment company, “Rival”. In short, Anber has been involved in just about every area of the sport.

On Saturday, May 31, Boxing Canada ushered Anber and 4 other deserving inductees into the National Boxing Hall of Fame in Quebec City, Canada.

Joining Anber was Quebec’s 1996 Olympian and former professional Jean-François Bergeron. Also, Benoit Gaudet, a former amateur Olympian and professional world title challenger. Former 2-time world champion Jean Pascal was honoured as well as Niagara Falls, Canada’s 2000 Sydney Olympics fighter Mark Simmons.

All in all, Anber was keeping some impressive company.

Anber deserves all of this and more for the dedication and unwavering support of the sport he has championed for his entire adult life.

These days, when not running his worldwide boxing business, “Rival”, he can be found in the corner of some of boxing’s biggest global superstars, from Vasyl Lomachenko to heavyweight champion Oleksandr Usyk.

On the inductions, Boeing Canada’s Ryan O’Shea said that, “Our Hall of Fame exists not just to honor achievement but to celebrate the values that elevate our sport—dedication, humility, resilience, and community,”, he said. “On May 31st, we will formally welcome five individuals who have lived those values every step of the way.”

Those words capture Russ perfectly. From helping upstart amateurs to decorated, professional world champions, Anber has worked tirelessly to elevate the sport, advocate for safety, champion the participants at both the amateur and professional level, and do everything he can to shine a positive light on boxing.

Congratulations Russ!