Andy Hiraoka’s Power Complicates His Road Back

Menu Results Schedule Rankings Videos Tickets Forum Contact Us Menu Rankings Schedule Results Boxing Live Andy Hiraoka’s Power Complicates His Road Back Google News Preferred Source By Boxing News 24 Desk - 10/01/2026 - Comments Andy Hiraoka is stuck in the worst spot in boxing: maximum danger with zero payoff. More than seven months after battering Gary Antuanne Russell in the championship rounds, the Japanese southpaw sits without an opponent because nobody at 140 pounds wants to volunteer for that kind of punishment without a world title on the line.

Russell barely survived the late rounds in February, exposing just how destructive Hiraoka is when he targets the body. That lethal power makes the contender toxic business for top names. He hits hard enough to derail careers, yet brings no belt to justify taking the gamble.

The judges turned in wide tallies of 117-110 and 116-111 twice on February 21 at T-Mobile Arena, but those numbers fail to tell the real story of the second half. Once Hiraoka stepped on the gas, he turned the fight into a grueling survival test for Russell.