Mizuki Hiruta Wins WBO super fly World Title in Tokyo and More News
By Yuriko Miyata
It is already a natural part of the Japanese boxing scene to see a show that promotes only women boxers. The third version was just held at famous Korakuen Hall in Tokyo last Thursday, as undefeated Mizuki Hiruta (4-0) joined Japan’s world champion club to win the vacant WBO super flyweight title via a unanimous decision over Kanako Taniyama (5-2-1, 1KO) in the main event.
Fast rising Hiruta got this shot for the world title, vacated by Tamao Ozawa who recently announced retirement, in her fourth professional fight after a debut in October 2021 following a substantial amateur career. The upright southpaw established her distance from the first round against Taniyama, who has a long experience and some titles in full-contact Karate and kick boxing, and also is a licensed nurse.
Hiruta’s right jabs kept Taniyama outside and connected solid lefts at good times. While Taniyama was struggling to find a chance to let her right hand go, Hiruta got into her rhythm and overwhelmed the opponent round by round.
It was in the middle of seventh round when Hiruta got momentum to drop Taniyama into the floor with a quick left straight and right hook combination. Taniyama got up on the spot and the fight continued, but Hiruta tried not let her clinch and kept her at bay until the judges scores cumulated to 99-90, 99-90, and 100-89 to wrap her with WBO belt.
“Thank you for all the support to me. It cannot come true without it. This is just beginning. I keep working hard to fight at bigger stage.”, said the Japanese newest world champion who made it as record quick as Kasumi Saeki who won the WBO minimumweight title in 2019.
Hiruta could have stopped the one-sided game with more volume on offence, but the 26-year-old athlete is credible to be a worldwide figure as she is a good package of skills and character. Though she has not fought abroad professionally yet, she traveled to Kazakhstan to win a silver medal at an international tournament in 2018 and represented Japan for World Amateur Championship in Ireland in 2019. And it might get her hungrier for fame that Sena Irie, who she lost to at the featherweight final elimination for 2020 Olympics, won the first ever gold medal for Japanese female boxing in Tokyo Games last year. She is willing to invest her money to develop her strength and showy appearance. One glance must be enough to remember her with loud pink hair and fluffy ring costume like a decoration cake. “I will be a spar star.”, she boasts. The pink colored WBO belt that she took this time is to be a ticket for her dream.
Miyao Celebrated and Oyuntsetseg Wins
The historic fight venue saw another “real deal” that night when Yesugen Oyuntsetseg (2-0) beat hometown favorite Akane Fujiwara (5-2-1, 2KOs) via 8 round majority decision for the vacant WBO Asian Pacific super bantamweight title. Though judges scored it 76-76, 79-73, 80-72, it was the Mongolian’s fight clearly. Oyuntsetseg showed her quality as a fighter controlling Fujiwara with the heavy and well-controlled jabs, a balanced stance, and total fluent moves. Her style fits professional fighting, though she keeps fighting in amateur ground at the same time. She proceeded to quarter final in World Amateur championship in May and won bronze medal in Asian championship in November this year. It’s still hard to find footage of Asian fighters, but she is one of the hidden gems, for sure.
Two-time atomweight world titlist Ayaka Miyao had her retirement ceremony in the ring where most of her 37 fights were there. The former champion decided to close such a long career started in 2004 much earlier than JBC acceptance of women’s pro boxing in 2008. Miyao was one of the most popular female boxers with a very bouncy boxing style and pretty looks. She won WBA title from Mari Ando in September 2012 then had a long prime time including five title defenses. Even though she lost the title in the unification bout against WBC queen Momo Koseki in 2015, the fight was one of the most memorable battles in Japanese female boxing history. It took a long time for her to return to the world’s throne suffering injuries and defeats until she won the vacant IBF title by overcoming a tall southpaw Eri Matsuda showcasing her experiences and skills in February 2022. Seven months later, she gave it up to a former WBO version champ Mika Iwakawa and went to hang up the gloves, but her 18 years long, 25-10-2 with 6KOs career is to be admired forever.
(Photo by Shutterstock)