Russell Outguns Hiraoka

By Boxing Bob Newman

WBA Jr. Welterweight champion Gary Antuanne Russell made the first defense of his title against #1 ranked Andy Hiraoka. It was a highly tactical, fast paced all-southpaw battle, with Hiraoka fighting off the back foot and relying on his jab, while Russell balanced body work with head shots. Hiraoka landed two excellent body shots in the sixth round, his first such attempted punches of the fight, as he moved forward also in that round, as opposed to back pedalling.

Round seven saw Hiraoka out on a body punching clinic. The throne was fought at a decidedly pedestrian pace as both men slowed down for a well deserved breather. The ninth was very close as Russell was throwing shoe-shine body shots while Hiraoka was throwing vicious body shots at every opportunity.

Russell got a brief rest early in the tenth after he suffered a hard low blow and referee Allen Huggins give him a couple moments to recover. After a hard warning, the action resumed but with 37 seconds left, Hiraoka landed a severe low blow that actually went between and through Russell’s legs. The ref deducted a point from Hiraoka, which led crucial and what appeared at this point to be an extremely close fight.

In what looked to be a good 11th round for Russell, he finished the round getting rocked badly by a three-punch combination from Hiraoka, which saw Russell follow Hiraoka to his corner before the referee turned him around and redirected him back to his own. The twelfth was give and take with the last several seconds ending in a toe-toe exchange to the bell leaving fans on their feet. Both men bore the marks of battle on their faces.

The Georgia’s final scores were as follows: 117-110, 116-111 twice, for Russell, who is successful in the first offense of his WBA title. He improves to 19-1, 17 KOs. Hiraoka loses for the first time at 24-1, 19 KOs.

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