Gary Antuanne Russell vs Andy Hiraoka

It’s a long way from Yokohama, Japan, to the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas. Japanese super lightweight contender Andy Hiraoka makes the trip to face reigning WBA super lightweight champion Gary Antunne Russell, but not for the first time, having visited Sin City to pick up a couple of career learning fights back in 2019-20. The unbeaten Hiraoka(24-0-0) gets this chance on the back of his 9th-round stoppage of the dangerous but ageing Venezuelan, Ismael Barroso. Russell, of course, comes from an elite boxing family; his brother, Gary, reigned as the WBC featherweight champion. Russell’s resume includes the names of Victor Postel, Giovanni Santiago, Rances Barthelemy, Albert Puello, and Jose Valenzuela, which makes him far more experienced at this level. Unless Hiraoka turns out to be a sharpshooter who wins by surprise knockout, I cannot see Russell losing his world title. I’m gonna go for a hard-fought decision win for the champion.