Dazn Boxing: Gary Antuanne Russell Declares Himself Best Ahead of Hiraoka Defense
LAS VEGAS — Gary Antuanne Russell says he is the best in the junior welterweight mix as he headlines a dazn boxing pay-per-view at T-Mobile Arena, where he will defend his WBA 140lbs belt against Japan’s Andy Hiraoka. Russell made the case while acknowledging the stacked division and recent movement among its top names.
Dazn Boxing headline: Russell vs. Hiraoka at T-Mobile Arena
Russell, 29, arrives at T-Mobile Arena with a record of 18-1 (17 KOs) for the WBA 140lbs defense against Hiraoka, 28, who is 24-0 (19 KOs). The card also features Richardson Hitchins defending his junior welterweight belt against Mexico’s Oscar Duarte, keeping three titleholders prominent on the same pay-per-view.
Russell points to Stevenson, wants the matchup that would change his standing
Russell said he watched unbeaten four-division champion Shakur Stevenson join the crowd after Stevenson’s unanimous-decision triumph over Teofimo Lopez Jnr on January 31, and he believes a win over Stevenson would elevate him. Russell noted he was a U. S. Olympic teammate and sparring partner with Stevenson and framed a potential fight with Stevenson as “the fight that would [carry] me to the position I [deserve], ” saying a victory would “shake up the world. ” He added, “I don’t kiss and tell, but it will be a great fight. ”
Hiraoka’s arrival was delayed but visa issues cleared
Hiraoka’s travel from Japan was delayed by visa problems that were ultimately solved, a hiccup Russell acknowledged with thanks. “Shoutout to the embassy – because if it wasn’t for Japan green-lighting him, I wouldn’t be having an opponent right now, ” Russell said. Hiraoka, a southpaw who has won 10 straight bouts by knockout, became the WBA mandatory after his knockout of Ismael Barroso in Tokyo in September 2024.
Russell’s mindset: adaptable, powerful and wary of Hiraoka’s run
Russell said his power and development set him apart from peers and that he must remain flexible against an undefeated opponent. “I was always told that a diamond shines from all sides, ” he said, describing his need to answer whatever Hiraoka brings. He warned that expecting a weakened Hiraoka because of travel would make him “a fool, ” and added that while he’s heard Hiraoka is “a brick layer, ” Hiraoka “hasn’t fought anybody like me, ” so he should be prepared.
Background and what’s next
Russell’s lone amateur defeat came to Fazliddin Gaibnazarov at the 2016 Summer Games, and that Olympic history links him to Stevenson as teammates and sparring partners. Plans to stage Russell’s fight with Hiraoka in 2025 were shuttered earlier by Gervonta Davis’ legal problems, making this Saturday’s matchup the immediate priority for Russell and his team. The WBA defense at T-Mobile Arena will proceed on Saturday as the featured bout on the dazn boxing pay-per-view card.
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