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Why Gary Antuanne Russell and Andy Hiraoka could upstage Barrios and Garcia
Gary Antuanne Russell had a redeeming 2025 with a resounding boxing masterclass to become the new WBA super lightweight world champion. The rousing victory helped him rebound from his first professional defeat.
On Saturday night, as part of the Mario Barrios vs. Ryan Garcia fight card, Russell will look to defend his title for the first time as he faces undefeated Andy Hiraoka at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada, and live on DAZN PPV and Ultimate Tier.
After suffering his first professional loss in a split-decision defeat to Alberto Puello in June 2024, Russell (18-1, 17 KOs) nearly shut out Jose Valenzuela with a dominating points victory last March to snatch the WBA 140-pound title.
Meanwhile, Hiraoka (24-0, 19 KOs) did not fight in 2025 and last produced a ninth-round TKO of Ismael Barroso back in September 2024.
Will Russell launch his 2026 with a dominating title defense? Or will Hiraoka devise a way to haul the championship to ‘The Land of the Rising Sun’? I examine who has the edge between the champ and challenger.
Boxing Styles
Gary Antuanne Russell is an aggressive fighter who likes to double up on his jab to close the distance between he and his opponents.
Once he has established that stick, the WBA super lightweight world champion often launches his lead left uppercut and pieces together sharp combinations with speed and power, drowning the opposition with punching volume.
That style will be up against the undefeated Andy Hiraoka, a fellow southpaw who does not waste any movement inside the ring.
The Japanese fighter will have a five-inch reach advantage which he could use to exploit clever angles, sit on his precise power punches and leverage their maximum impact to ward off a rugged Russell.
That said, Russell’s hand speed and diversity in his punch portfolio makes this an intriguing clash of styles — one that Hiraoka just manages to eke out behind his efficiency.
Edge: Hiraoka
Power
Both Russell and Hiraoka have punching power as evidenced by their knockout ratios of 94% and 79%, respectively.
While Hiraoka sits on his power punches with blunt delivery, the speed Russell is able to generate drives his power punches into another gear.
Plus, the champ has produced his knockouts against better competition. Again a close category, but one that Russell takes.
Edge: Russell
Mental Warfare
This WBA 140-pound title has had a rather slippery history in the last few years. Rolando Romero won the championship in May 2023 before losing it to Isaac ‘Pitbull’ Cruz in March 2024. That August, Cruz was upset by Valenzuela who was outpointed by Russell last March.
All this being said, none of the aforementioned titleholders were able to successfully defend the WBA strap. That could either play mind games with Russell or serve as his fuel.
Russell has fought superior opponents in former world champions such as Valenzuela, Alberto Puello, Rances Barthelemy and Viktor Postol.
That experience should give him confidence heading into this bout with a dangerous Hiraoka who has fought all but two of his fights in his native Japan. That makes Saturday night’s fight a possible adjustment Hiraoka might need to make under the bright lights of the fight capital of the world, Las Vegas.
Edge: Russell
Who has the edge in Russell vs. Hiraoka?
Russell has the multi-faceted tools and experience to defeat Hiraoka. It is why I am giving him the slight 2-1 edge.
That said, Hiraoka could turn this fight into his own coronation as the new WBA super lightweight king if he catches an unsuspecting Russell lacking.
It is part of the dynamic that makes this bout a must-see and possibly even the show-stealing fight on this DAZN PPV.
Watch Barrios vs. Garcia only on DAZN PPV
The WBC welterweight world title is on the line this Saturday - Feb 21 - as Mario Barrios and Ryan Garcia go toe-to-toe, exclusively on DAZN. Buy the PPV as a one-off cost or get included with DAZN Ultimate Tier.
