Andy Hiraoka Leaves Ohashi Gym After Russell Loss

That is a major move for Hiraoka. After 13 years and 25 professional fights, leaving Ohashi Boxing Gym, the stable that houses the likes of Naoya and Takuma Inoue, is a clear “reset” move following the loss.

While he fell short against Russell on February 21, Hiraoka actually saw his stock rise in many circles. Despite the lopsided scores from the judges (117-110, 116-111, and 116-111), he showed real toughness by rallying in the second half of the fight,

Hiraoka is still a dangerous 5’11” southpaw with a 76% knockout ratio. At 29 years old, he has enough time for one more serious run at 140 lbs. The big question now is whether he stays in Japan or looks toward a U.S.-based trainer to better prepare for the logistical and stylistic challenges of fighting on American soil.

Hiraoka’s performance against Russell definitely proved that his power translates to the world-class level. Even in a losing effort, he showed that those ten straight knockouts leading up to the fight weren’t just a product of protected matchmaking in Japan.

He caught Russell’s attention multiple times. For a guy who had never been past the 10th round, Hiraoka’s ability to stay dangerous in the “championship rounds” was the biggest takeaway. Most punchers of his type fade when the early KO doesn’t materialize, but he was still winging heavy shots in the 12th.