Russell does not treat that run over Hitchins as a line on the record. In his mind, it serves as the blueprint.
What Russell Still Sees
“I feel like he’s now grown more into his professional look,” Russell said on DAZN’s Inside The Ring. “But some habits is hard to break. And I still see the same old habits that he had in the amateurs.”
That single observation defines how Russell sizes up the 140 pound division. He credits Hitchins for sharpening his pro game, though he treats the base as fixed. From Russell’s vantage, the same targets stay available, with reactions and habits under heat set deep through years of repetition.
While that psychological edge is powerful, it carries a distinct risk. The professional Richardson Hitchins bears little resemblance to the amateur Russell remembers, now an IBF beltholder seasoned over twelve-round distance with a pace he can hold deep into a fight. The hurried flurries that shape many amateur exchanges no longer define his work.
Instead, he wins through a disciplined control of distance and a level of patience that can frustrate even the most aggressive fighters. He has traded the headgear for a calculated, defensive style that frustrates the world’s best.
Russell, a seek and destroy specialist with 17 knockouts in 18 wins, relies on the opposite. He presses until the opening shows and then lets his hands go with bad intentions. Should his view prove accurate, those old reactions may surface once the temperature rises and the rounds grow demanding. A miscalculation leaves him preparing for a younger version that no longer exists while a seasoned champion answers back.
While Russell listed Dalton Smith as a priority because of the WBC belt, the Hitchins talk feels internal. It’s about the pride of that 4-0 mark. It’s the confidence of a man who feels he already holds the answer key.
Pride vs. Progress
Hiraoka is the immediate hurdle. As an unbeaten, powerful southpaw, he deserves full attention, yet Russell’s language suggests his mind is already working toward a unification rooted in years old scorecards. He is treating a dangerous world title defense like a pit stop on the way to a personal grudge match.
If Russell and Hitchins ever meet, the belts will be secondary. The real test is whether a fighter can truly outrun his past or if growth has finally rewritten memory. This isn’t just about professional rankings anymore; it is about Russell trying to prove that the version of Hitchins he dominated years ago is the only one that truly exists.
Russell speaks like a man who has already settled it in his own head. In this sport, that level of conviction can sharpen a fighter’s edge or blind him to what is standing in front of him.
Ken Woods has been a senior writer at Boxing News 24 since 2013, covering the sport from every angle. With years of ringside reporting, he delivers fight news, results, and analysis that cut through the noise. Ken’s work consistently spotlights champions, contenders, and rising prospects, giving fans a sharp, knowledgeable view of the global boxing scene.