In response to criticism, Russell posted:
“Andy would have beaten Richard Hitchins, Teo and he would have dominated Smith as well as Matias. He was the WBA mandatory for 5 years why didn’t anyone fight him? Why did 4 former champions pay him on the side if he was so easy. Wake up.”
Russell’s position is that the competitiveness of the fight reflects Hiraoka’s level rather than any decline in his own performance. He cited Hiraoka’s five-year tenure as WBA mandatory challenger and claimed that several former champions chose to cash in instead of facing him.
This argument addresses Hiraoka’s perceived risk within the division. This does not resolve the points debate.
Many observers focused on impact punching. Hiraoka’s left hand landed with authority, and Russell spent portions of the match clinch or move after exchanges. The pace remained steady late, and Hiraoka showed no obvious signs of fatigue.
Reis also joined the discussion. Flying in from Japan, Hiraoka was dealing with a significant time zone shift before the fight. Some fans argue that full adjustment may have further sharpened his timing, although there was no visible decrease in his work rate on fight night.
If Russell sees Hiraoka as a threat to top names in the division, a rematch would provide the cleanest answer. Until then, discussion will continue to focus on whether the champion’s victory was clear enough to put to rest any doubt.
Russell kept his belt. The debate surrounding the performance has not ended.
