On Saturday night, under the blazing lights of the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, Japanese contender Andy Hiraoka stepped into the ring to face WBA super lightweight champion Gary Antuanne Russell in the co-main event of The Ring: High Stakes on DAZN PPV.
But before a single punch was thrown, Hiraoka had already won one very important round, the fashion round.
Rocking an unmistakable tribute to the King of Pop, Hiraoka made his ring walk wearing a jacket inspired by Michael Jackson’s iconic “Beat It” look. Yes, that “Beat It.” Sharp, bold, and dripping in 80s attitude. Japan’s enduring love affair with MJ is legendary, and seeing that flair transported from Tokyo to Vegas was a crossover moment we didn’t know we needed.
Now, full disclosure: I don’t pretend to know the intricacies of uppercuts versus overhands. But even a boxing novice could see this fight was a tale of two halves.
Russell (19-1, 17 KOs) started fast, controlling the early rounds with sharp combinations and relentless body work. Judges Steve Weisfeld (117-110), Jack Reiss (116-111), and Glenn Feldman (116-111) ultimately scored the bout unanimously in his favor, allowing Russell to retain his 140-pound WBA title for the first time.
But Hiraoka (24-1, 19 KOs) was far from a background dancer.
As the fight wore on, the nearly 6-foot southpaw found his rhythm and began pressing forward with authority. By the second half, he was ripping to the body and forcing Russell onto the ropes. Entering the championship rounds, momentum appeared to be shifting dramatically. It felt like we were gearing up for a thriller finish.
Then came the 10th-round setback, a pair of low blows resulted in a point deduction for Hiraoka after referee Al Huggins halted the action. Ouch. Not exactly the kind of “Bad” you want to channel when paying homage to MJ.
Still, both fighters swung until the final bell in a bout that felt far closer than the scorecards suggested. In the end, Russell walked away with the belt intact, and Hiraoka suffered his first professional loss.
But let’s be honest, stepping into a Las Vegas title fight dressed like you’re about to headline the Victory Tour? That’s a different kind of champion energy.
He may have lost on points, but for MJ fans watching around the world, Andy Hiraoka definitely didn’t “Beat It.”
