Dazn Boxing: dazn boxing — Russell Outguns Hiraoka, Confident Among Stevenson and Hitchins
Gary Antuanne Russell will headline a dazn boxing pay-per-view night as he defends his WBA 140lbs title against Japan’s Andy Hiraoka at T-Mobile Arena. Russell, 18-1 (17 KOs) and 29 years old, says the spotlight and his place alongside Shakur Stevenson and Richardson Hitchins justify his confidence.
Russell vs Hiraoka set
Russell is scheduled to defend his WBA 140lbs belt against Andy Hiraoka, 24-0 (19 KOs), at T-Mobile Arena on the same card that features Richardson Hitchins defending his title versus Mexico’s Oscar Duarte. Hiraoka, 28, arrives with 10 straight knockout wins and had been the mandatory WBA contender since his knockout of Ismael Barroso in Tokyo, Japan in September 2024.
Visa delay and arrival
First comes Hiraoka, who was delayed in leaving Japan for the US due to visa issues that were ultimately solved. Russell acknowledged the delay and credited diplomatic help, saying, “Shoutout to the embassy – because if it wasn’t for Japan green-lighting him, I wouldn’t be having an opponent right now. ”
Confidence after Stevenson night
Russell watched unbeaten four-division champion Shakur Stevenson join the crowd with his unanimous decision triumph over ex-two-division titlist Teofimo Lopez Jnr on January 31, and he said that moment underscored his belief in himself. Russell said: “Definitely – hands down, and I still haven’t shown everybody my full potential. ” He added, “I use what I need to use to become victorious against the opponents I have in front of me. Until then, y’all have just got to stay tuned. ”
Dazn Boxing undercard context
Russell sees the DAZN pay-per-view card as a chance to expand his exposure while competing in a division that includes Stevenson and Richardson Hitchins. He noted Stevenson’s rise — “He’s ranked three pound-for-pound now and has come up to 140” — and called a potential matchup with Stevenson transformative: “That’d be the fight that would [carry] me to the position I [deserve]. ” Russell said of how he would approach such a fight: “I don’t kiss and tell, but it will be a great fight. ”
Preparing for a tricky opponent
Russell stressed that he will not make assumptions about Hiraoka despite the travel troubles. “I don’t overlook any opponents, even though I have a lot of people I want to fight in the future, ” he said. “I’ve got to put that fantasy on hold right now. The guy in front of me is undefeated, young, and I hear he’s a brick layer. But he hasn’t fought anybody like me. So he better be prepared. ”
Ring craft and background
Russell, who lost to eventual junior-welterweight gold medalist Fazliddin Gaibnazarov in the 2016 Summer Games, was a US Olympic teammate and sparring partner with silver-medalist and fellow east coast fighter Shakur Stevenson. On adapting to opponents, Russell said: “I’ve got to make sure that I’m very flexible and be a diamond. I was always told that a diamond shines from all sides. So whatever he’s bringing to the game plan, I’ve got to have an answer for it. ”
The matchup reached this point after earlier plans to stage the fight versus Hiraoka in 2025 were shuttered by Gervonta Davis’ legal problems. With those complications behind the scheduling, Russell arrives at T-Mobile Arena as a 29-year-old champion determined to validate his claim to be the best in his division and to make the most of the dazn boxing showcase.
Closing details: Russell is 18-1 (17 KOs); Hiraoka is 24-0 (19 KOs) with 10 straight KOs; Hiraoka knocked out Ismael Barroso in Tokyo in September 2024; Richardson Hitchins will defend his belt against Oscar Duarte on the same card; Shakur Stevenson beat Teofimo Lopez Jnr by unanimous decision on January 31; Russell lost at the 2016 Summer Games to Fazliddin Gaibnazarov; visa delays for Hiraoka were ultimately resolved; earlier 2025 plans were affected by Gervonta Davis’ legal problems.
