Mizuki Hiruta WBO Title Defense in L.A. and More News and Notes
(Photo by Al Applerose)
By David A. Avila
Japan’s fiery pink-haired Mizuki “Mimi” Hiruta defends the WBO super flyweight world title for the second time in the Los Angeles area this weekend.
The powerful southpaw recently signed a four-year promotion contract with 360 Boxing Promotions and will be a fixture for several years.
Now, it’s back to business.
Hiruta (7-0, 2 Kos) leads an impressive boxing card this May 17, Saturday when she meets Argentina’s Carla Merino (16-2, 4 Kos) at Commerce Casino in Commerce Calif. The 360 Promotions card will be streamed on UFC Fight Pass.
“Fighting for the first time in Los Angeles this past January was a dream come true. The Japanese boxing fans were very enthusiastic for me and I will make them proud again in my title defense,” said Hiruta who is making her fifth world title defense.
When it comes to women’s boxing, there are no easy fights. They literally do not have time to waste, especially with two-minute rounds.
Hiruta recently visited Dodger Stadium and hopes to meet Japanese super star Shohei Ohtani. She recently received an Ohtani Dodgers jersey as a gift for signing with 360 Boxing Promotions.
Facing the champion is a talented fighter Merino from Cordoba, Argentina who has proved to be one of the top fighters at her weight class from South America. She has defeated Micaela Milagros, Leiryn Flores and Debora Rengifo.
The last time Merino tasted defeat was four years ago.
It could be Hiruta’s toughest test. She has been training vigorously with Manny Robles who has become one of the top mentors in women’s boxing. He also trains Guadalupe Medina.
Medina (9-0, 2 Kos) also has a tough foe in Maria Santizo (12-5, 6 Kos) of Guatemala who has world title challenge experience. This might be her toughest foe.
The minimumweight contest pits two boxer-punchers against each other with similar skills. Though Medina has not faced world champions, she does spar with the likes of Hiruta, Adelaida Ruiz and many other top female fighters.
Medina will need that experience against Santizo.
The fighter from Guatemala City has faced Seniesa Estrada, Yokasta Valle and Gabriela Fundora. Though all of those fights ended in defeat, the experience in fighting foes of that caliber can only add to her defensive technique. Santizo does also have stopping power.
A third female match pits Coachella’s light flyweight Jocelyn Camarillo (3-0) against Qianyue Zhao (0-1) also known as “Vicious Vickie,” a talented fighter from the San Francisco Bay area.
All three female fights are part of a very strong 360 Promotions boxing card this Saturday in Commerce, a small city that borders East L.A. UFC Fight Pass will stream the boxing card.
Nina Meinke Wins
Germany’s Nina Meinke (20-3, 4 Kos) defeated Argentina’s Daniela Bermudez (32-6-3, 12 Kos) again last Saturday in Rostock, Germany.
Last September, Meinke won by majority decision. This time all three judges favored her in their bloody 10-round battle for the IBF featherweight world title.
Meinke, 32, now holds one of the featherweight titles while America’s Tiara Brown holds the WBC version. Serrano had been the undisputed featherweight world champion but moved up to super lightweight to face Katie Taylor the undisputed super lightweight world champion.
MVP
Most Valuable Promotions announced the signing of two more highly ranked Pound for Pound fighters this week.
Chantelle Cameron the former super lightweight champion and Savannah Marshall the former super middleweight champion both from United Kingdom are now with MVP.
“I’m very excited about this move. MVP has been nothing but encouraging in talks regarding myself and female boxing,” said Cameron. “This is a fantastic opportunity for the next stage of my career and an unbelievable platform to showcase my boxing ability. I’d like to thank Nakisa Bidarian, Jake Paul, and the whole MVP team for making this whole transition very easy for me.”
Marshall, was equally pleased.
It’s an exciting time to join their team alongside so many other accomplished female fighters,” said Marshall. “As a two-weight world champion and previously achieving undisputed, it only feels natural to be here, and I cannot wait to begin fighting under their banner.”
More Fight News
Argentina
Carolina Ferrari (4-6-3) beat Lucia De Los Angeles (4-9) by decision after six rounds on Sunday May 11. The super fly fight took place in Buenos Aires.
Florencia Escalante (2-0) knocked out Brisa Visgarra (0-7) in the second round on Saturday May 10. The super feather match took place in Buenos Aires. Also, flyweight Nazarena Sierra (2-2) beat Claudia Landaida (0-3-1) in four.
On Friday May 16, bantams Maria Mazzarello (6-2) and Eliana Orecchia (5-15-3) meet eight rounds at Canuelas.
On Saturday May 17, lightweights Maria Diaz (0-0) and Veronica Garcia (0-1) meet four rounds at Benito Juarez.
On Saturday May 17, featherweights Veronica Nunez (1-3) and Lucrecia Belen (7-7) meet six rounds at Concordia.
Australia
On Wednesday May 14, super flyweights Jasmine Parr (6-1) and Jittamat Phomta (9-9) meet five rounds at Sydney.
On Saturday May 17, Jessica Clancy (0-2) and Milli Saul (1-0) meet four rounds at South Brisbane.
Colombia
Carmen Gulliksen (3-0) knocked out Daylin Mata (0-5) in the first round on Sunday May 11. The super welter fight was held in Cali. Also, bantamweight Nathalia Arango (3-4) knocked out Ana Mancilla (0-1) in the third round.
Bethy Franco (11-12-2) defeated Angeli Fuentes (1-4) by decision after six rounds on Saturday May 10. The featherweight match took place in Valle de Cauca.
Democratic Republic of Congo
On Friday May 16, welters Sarah Enduwa (2-0) and Dorcas Endzonzo (0-0) meet six rounds at Kinshasa. Also, feathers Safi Lukongo (0-0) and Niati Misama (0-1) meet four; and Keren Phoba (1-0) and Lina Mputi (0-0) meet four.
France
Margaux Revois (1-0) knocked out Gemma Petzing (0-3) in the first round on Saturday May 10. The super lightweight match was held in Ergue.
Narymane Benioucif (5-1) knocked out Dragana Golic (0-22) in the third round on Saturday May 10.
Mariam Sidibe (3-0-1) won by decision after six rounds versus Francesca Taylor (0-6) on Saturday May 10. The welterweight fight took place in Martinique.
Germany
On Saturday May 17, super welterweights Sarah Graden (1-0) and Betina Krumholz (1-9) meet four rounds at Bassenheim.
Guatemala
Bantamweights Dulce Diaz (1-0) and Dulce Garcia (0-0) meet four rounds at Guatemala City; also Susseth Requena (0-0) and Angie Castillo (0-0) meet four; and minimumweights Jennifer Yool (0-0) and Yhannely Juarez (0-1) meet four.
India
On Sunday May 18, super bantams Kamla Roka (2-2) and Mehakpreet Mehakpreet (1-3) meet four rounds at Bangalore. Also, welters Aleksandra Sitnikova (2-0) and Rani Devi (2-1-1) meet four.
Italy
Federico Zanellato (1-0) beat Antonina Cuti (2-14-1) by decision after six rounds on Sunday May 11. The bantamweight fight took place in Lazio. Also, flyweight Aurora De Persio (7-1) beat Sara Del Vecchio (0-1).
Gloria Peritore (6-0-1) defeated Nathalia Francesca (7-5) by decision after 10 rounds on Saturday May 10. The EBU bantamweight title fight took place in Carbonia.
Japan
Riho Yoshida (6-2-1) knocked out Ayumi Shuzui (3-1) in the sixth round on Tuesday May 6. The atomweight match was held in Kobe. Also, minimumweight Shiori Yotsumoto (1-0) knocked out Kullathida Kueasanor (8-5) in the first round.
Malta
On Friday May 16, lightweights Gail Diacono (1-0) and Callie Helens (0-0) meet four rounds at Hamrun.
Mexico
Brenda Salazar (5-1-2) beat Paola Ayala (1-4) after six rounds on Thursday May 8. The minimumweight match took place in Nuevo Leon.
New Zealand
Sheilla Yama (3-0) beat Mezmorize Anderson (0-1) b y decision after four rounds on Saturday May 10. The match took place in Hamilton.
Spain
Patricia Martin (3-2) defeated Katherine Quintana (0-34-1) by decision after four rounds on Saturday May 11. The welterweight match was held in Candelaria.
On Saturday May 17, super feathers Teresa Makinen (2-0) and Victoria Lomax (0-2) meet six rounds at Sagunto.
Tanzania
On Friday May 16, super welters Happy Daudi (17-15-1) and Suzana Mahenge (0-4-1) meet eight rounds at Kyela.
United Kingdom
Jessica Wolfenden (1-0) beat Kira Carter (0-16-1) in four rounds on Saturday May 10. The super bantam fight took place in Farnworth.
Tori-Ellis Willetts (7-1) beat Gemma Ruegg (8-14-1) in eight rounds on Saturday May 10. The super feather match took place Birmingham.
Charan Dhesi (1-0) won by knockout in the fourth round over Amy Greatorex (1-12) on Saturday May 10. The super lightweight match was held in Hull.
On Saturday May 17, super bantams Johanna Wonyou (11-0) and Mayerlin Rivas (17-6-3) meet 10 rounds in London.
On Saturday May 17, flyweights Frances Heath (0-0) and Naila Peloso (0-9-1) meet four rounds at Glasgow, Scotland.
USA
Perla Bazaldua (2-0) defeated Mona Ward (0-2) by unanimous decision after four rounds on Saturday May 10. The super flyweight bout took place in San Diego.
Mayeli Flores (13-1-1) defeated Nazarena Romero (14-1-2) by split decision after 10 rounds on Saturday May 10. The WBA super bantam title fight took place in Kissimmee, Florida.
On Saturday May 17, super flyweights Mizuki Hiruta (7-0) and Carla Merino (16-2) meet 10 rounds for the WBO world title at Commerce, Calif. Also, minimumweights Lupe Medina (9-0) and Maria Santizo (12-5) meet eight rounds; and light flyweights Jocelyn Camarillo (3-0) and Qianyue Zhao (0-1) meet four.
On Saturday May 17, super lightweights Stephanie Simon (2-0) and Tanishia Lopez (1-0) meet six rounds at Long Beach, Calif. Also, super feathers Brittany Thompson (0-0) and Maria Limon (0-3-1) meet four; and lightweights Carson Crawford (0-0) and Archana Sharma (3-3) meet four.
On Saturday May 17, super welters Cris Cyborg (4-0) and Precious Harris-McCray (4-1) meet six rounds at San Jose, Calif.
On Saturday May 17, bantams Cristina Fuentes (9-12-7) and Indeya Rodriguez (6-8-2) meet four rounds at Laredo, Texas.