An emotionally and physically scarred Gary Allen Russell Jr. returns from a 42-month layoff July 19 when he takes on Hugo Castaneda in a 10-round lightweight fight on the Manny Pacquiao-Mario Barrios undercard in Las Vegas.

Long stretches of inactivity are nothing new for Russell, 37, who fought only once each year from 2015-20, none in '21, and is coming off a majority decision defeat during a WBC featherweight title defense against Mark Magsayo in January 2022.

During the loss, Russell (31-2, 18 KOs) fought through a torn tendon in his right rotator cuff that required surgery three months later.

Afterwards, he lost his father and coach, Gary Russell Sr., who died in May 2022 at 63 after a years-long battle with Type 2 diabetes. He was still grieving the death of his younger brother, Gary "Boosa" Russell, who he lost in December 2020 at 25 because of cardiac arrest.

With his life upended, getting back in the ring was the last thing on Russell's mind at the time. But now, he's ready to recommit himself to the sport in a fight that will be broadcast on the non-PPV portion of next weekend's Prime Video card.

"I've learned through my DNA that I was designed to overcome this kind of stuff," Russell Jr. said during a recent press conference. "A lot of times, people give up on themselves because they don't know how to overcome the obstacles. Life is about overcoming obstacles that come your way. You have to have mental resiliency. I'm glad that I'm strong-minded enough to stay tunnel-visioned."

Russell said he now has custody of Boosa's three children and there are a total of eight kids in his house. It's always been a family affair for the Russells.

He's also training his brothers after the patriarch passed away by helping the WBA 140-pound title holder, Gary Antuanne Russell (18-1, 17 KOs), and junior featherweight contender Gary Antonio Russell (20-1, 13 KOs).

"Now that I'm competing again, my younger brothers are helping to train me," Russell said. "It's cool for the dynamics to switch like that, even a king needs to be open-minded for constructive criticism. I'm using it all as fuel for progression."

Russell was fairly active until his first loss to recently retired Vasiliy Lomachenko in June 2014. He's boxed just eight times since then with his best wins coming against Jhonny Gonzalez by fourth-round TKO in March 2015 and then-undefeated Joseph Diaz Jr. by 12-round unanimous decision three years later.

"I would have loved to compete more frequently," Russell said. "But if you want to be blunt about it, when I was at the top of my game, a lot of these guys were not in a rush to step in the ring and compete against me. I can't make these guys fight. I had to fight my mandatory challengers and the next best guy because I couldn't get title unification fights."

Russell is expected to crush Castaneda (15-2-1, 11 KOs), who was knocked out by Cuban prospect Demler Zamora inside four rounds in April, before moving on to bigger and better things.

"I'm getting the good fight nerves," Russell said. "It's really more exciting the closer we get to the fight. I'm glad that I'll be ready to go out there and display my skillset to the world.

"Boxing is a lifestyle for me. I have been doing it my entire life. I always wanted to come back to the sport. I wanted to take time out after my dad passed away, and after my younger brother passed away. It was a lot that I had to sit back, focus on and reprogram myself and lock in.

"I still don't feel that my arm will be 100 percent healthy, but I do believe it's good enough for me to display my skillset and show that I am one of the best in the world. My injury forced me not to workout and I was going crazy. Gradually I got it back and I was able to push a little more to test to see if I can take it — and I can take it."

After a career-long run as a featherweight, Russell, from Capitol Heights, Maryland, is now competing at 135 pounds and would welcome a fight that would settle regional supremacy between Baltimore, Maryland's Gervonta Davis and Upper Marlboro's Lamont Roach Jr.

Davis and Roach were supposed to square off Aug. 16 in a rematch following their hotly contested and controversial majority draw in March, though the former's arrest on domestic violence charges throws the timing of the sequel in doubt.

"We have to decide who’s the best in the area, so that would make Davis or Roach an interesting opponent," said Russell. "When I was at the pinnacle of my career, Tank was always one of those guys that was always there. There was never dislike or bad blood, but we're fighters, and I am trying to see who is the best."