NEW YORK – Gary Antuanne Russell achieved one of the most meaningful goals Saturday night that his late father set for the youngest of Gary Russell Sr.’s boxing sons two decades ago.

A disciplined Russell was the harder, sharper puncher, defended himself effectively and soundly out-pointed Jose Valenzuela unanimously to win the WBA super lightweight title from him on the Gervonta Davis-Lamont Roach undercard at Barclays Center in B

rooklyn. Judges Max De Luca (119-109), Tom Schreck (120-108) and Benoit Roussel (119-109) all scored their pay-per-view co-feature by huge margins for Russell, a 2016 U.S. Olympian from Capitol Heights, Maryland.

An emotional Russell alluded to his father after he joined his older brother Gary Russell Jr. as world champion from their family. Gary Russell Jr., a former WBC featherweight champion, has trained Gary Antuanne Russell since their father died from complications caused by Type-2 diabetes in May 2022.

Gary Antuanne Russell (18-1, 17 KOs), who entered the ring ranked No. 5 among the WBA’s 140-pound contenders, suffered his lone loss in his previous bout. Alberto Puello defeated Russell by split decision last June 15 at MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas.

The 28-year-old Russell hopes his career-changing victory over Valenzuela (14-3, 9 KOs) leads to a rematch with Puello (24-0, 10 KOs). Puello is The Ring’s No. 2-ranked junior welterweight, whereas Valenzuela entered his loss to Russell rated 10th by The Ring.

The Dominican Republic’s Puello successfully defended his WBC belt in the bout before Russell took Valenzuela’s title. Puello out-pointed Spanish southpaw Sandor Martin (42-4, 15 KOs) by split decision in that 12-rounder.

The 25-year-old Valenzuela, of Renton, Washington, won the WBA super lightweight title from Isaac Cruz by split decision in his prior appearance August 3 at BMO Stadium in Los Angeles.

Valenzuela knew he was way down on the scorecards entering the 12th and final round. He landed several power punches on Russell in the final round, but that only encouraged Russell to throw back punishing punches of his own at the battered, bruised former champion.

Russell rocked Valenzuela with two left hands just after the halfway point of the 11th round. Valenzuela moved away from Russell and landed a couple punches of his own to keep Russell honest, but Russell caught Valenzuela with a right hook just before the 11th round ended.

Russell blasted Valenzuela with his left hand when there were just over 20 seconds to go in the 10th round. Russell pressured Valenzuela throughout that 10th round and built upon his obvious lead.

An aggressive Russell backed Valenzuela into the ropes in the final minute of the ninth round. There he landed left hands and right hooks that drew roars from the crowd.

Russell’s left found its way around Valenzuela’s guard with just under a minute to go in the seventh round. Russell got the crowd excited when he landed another left toward the end of the seventh round.

Valenzuela landed a straight left with about a minute to go in the sixth round, only to have Russell drill him with a right-left combination that backed up the former champion.

Russell landed multiple right uppercuts in the fifth round and made Valenzuela think twice about exchanging with him.

A flurry of punches by Russell landed toward the end of the fourth round.

A right hook and follow-up left by Russell got Valenzuela’s attention at the midway mark of the third round. They traded hard body shots later in the third round, when Russell also drilled Valenzuela with a right hook.

Russell’s left hand connected again early in the second round. Valenzuela eventually landed jabs in that round and landed a left uppercut with about 30 seconds to go in the second round.

Valenzuela complained to Dock about a head-butt just before the second round. Russell took advantage of a distracted Valenzuela and hit him with a left hand a couple seconds before the round concluded.

Russell got the better of an intense exchange during the middle minute of the opening round. One of the left hands he landed made Valenzuela take a step backward to reset his feet.