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In response to criticism, Russell posted:
“Andy would’ve beaten Richard Hitchins, Teo and he would’ve dominated Smith as well as Matias. He been the WBA mandatory for 5yrs why nobody fought him? Why 4 former champions paid him step aside money if he was so easy. Wake up yall.”
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 multiple former champions chose to pay step-aside money instead of facing him.
That argument addresses Hiraoka’s perceived risk within the division. It does not resolve the scoring debate.
Many observers focused on impact punching. Hiraoka’s left hand landed with authority, and Russell spent portions of the bout clinching or moving after exchanges. The pace remained steady late, and Hiraoka did not show obvious signs of fatigue.
Travel has also entered the discussion. Hiraoka flew in from Japan, dealing with a significant time-zone shift before the fight. Some fans argue that full adjustment might have sharpened his timing further, though there was no visible drop-off in his work rate on fight night.
If Russell views Hiraoka as a threat to top names in the division, a rematch would provide the cleanest answer. Until then, discussion will continue to center on whether the champion’s win was clear enough to quiet doubt.
Russell kept his belt. The debate around the performance has not ended.
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