Andy Hiraoka Deserves his Shot at WBA Champ Jose Valenzuela
Boxing is full of instances where world champions do their best to prolong or avoid a fight against their number one contender. The last example involves the reigning WBA junior welterweight champion, Jose “Rayo” Valenzuela, and Andy “Da Blade” Hiraoka, the WBA 140-pound mandatory challenger.
Valenzuela (14-2, 9 KOs) won the title in August 2024 with a unanimous decision victory over Isaac “Pitbull” Cruz. Since then, Rayo has been idle. Word on the street is that the Valenzuela camp is in talks for a March 2025 title defense against Gary Antuanne Russell.
While Russell is currently ranked fourth by the WBA, he’s coming off a decision loss to Alberto Puello in June 2024. What has Russell done to earn a fight with Valenzuela? If Russell is next for Valenzuela, Hiraoka is getting bypassed.
Da Blade became the mandatory challenger with a ninth-round stoppage over Ismael Barroso in September 2024. Immediately following that victory, Hiraoka (24-0, 19 KOs) said he was hunting a fight with Valenzuela.
A SERIOUS THREAT
In his native Japan, Hiraoka has been a fighter with high expectations since early in his professional career. However, the 28-year-old southpaw has had his share of skeptics. His performance against Barroso showed he is ready to compete with the elites in the division, including the WBA champion.
Many fight observers believe the Japanese fighter stands a very good chance of beating Rayo. Valenzuela showed excellent boxing skills in his victory over Cruz.
However, styles make fights. Hiraoka is taller, longer, and has a better ring IQ than Cruz. Those assets and his two-fisted punching power have many believing that he has a good chance of beating Rayo.
This fight should happen. Will Valenzuela ever step in the ring with the Hiraoka? If not, one can only surmise that as of this writing, Rayo doesn’t want any part of the dangerous and hungry fighter from Japan.
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