Andy Hiraoka training in the UK!
Over the past few days it’s been revealed that former Japanese and WBO Asia Pacific Light Welterweight champion Andy Hiraoka (23-0, 18) [平岡アンディ] has been training in the UK as part of a notable camp that has seen him working with one of the best Light Welterweight fighters on the planet.
The unbeaten Japanese fighter, who arrived in the UK on March 31st, has been revealed to be training with once beaten British fighter Jack Catterall (28-1, 13), ahead of Catterall's rematch with former undisputed champion Josh Taylor (19-1, 13). The training has included sparring between the two men, in what is a smart choice from the Ohashi Gym, giving their man a training camp alongside one of the best in the world at the weight, and also letting Hiraoka get accustomed to European conditions, something that could prove useful given the European talent at 140lbs, including Catterall, Taylor, Sandor Martin, Dalton Smith, Adam Azim and Ohara Davies, any of which could be potential foes down the line.
For Catterall the sparring will help him sharpen up against someone with similar dimensions to Taylor, with Taylor being 5'10" and Hiraoka being 5'11", and both being southpaws. Whilst Taylor and Hiraoka do fight very differently stylistically, the sparring should still serve some real purpose as he looks to avenge his sole defeat, which was a hugely controversial one back in 2022. A win for Catterall could also help send Taylor into retirement, though with Taylor only fighting once a year since 2020, including a loss to Teofimo Lopez last year, we do wonder if maybe the "Tartan Tornado" already has one foot out the door.
The unbeaten Japanese fighter, who arrived in the UK on March 31st, has been revealed to be training with once beaten British fighter Jack Catterall (28-1, 13), ahead of Catterall's rematch with former undisputed champion Josh Taylor (19-1, 13). The training has included sparring between the two men, in what is a smart choice from the Ohashi Gym, giving their man a training camp alongside one of the best in the world at the weight, and also letting Hiraoka get accustomed to European conditions, something that could prove useful given the European talent at 140lbs, including Catterall, Taylor, Sandor Martin, Dalton Smith, Adam Azim and Ohara Davies, any of which could be potential foes down the line.
For Catterall the sparring will help him sharpen up against someone with similar dimensions to Taylor, with Taylor being 5'10" and Hiraoka being 5'11", and both being southpaws. Whilst Taylor and Hiraoka do fight very differently stylistically, the sparring should still serve some real purpose as he looks to avenge his sole defeat, which was a hugely controversial one back in 2022. A win for Catterall could also help send Taylor into retirement, though with Taylor only fighting once a year since 2020, including a loss to Teofimo Lopez last year, we do wonder if maybe the "Tartan Tornado" already has one foot out the door.