Japan’s Mizuki Hiruta Faces Mexico’s Naomy Cardenas at Chumash Casino on Friday 

 

By David A. Avila

They call her Mimi.

Mizuki Hiruta, the Japanese fighter with the pink hair who also answers to the name Mimi, returns to Southern California defend the WBO super flyweight world title for the third time this year.

After signing a contract with 360 Boxing Promotions the fighter from Okayama has been busier than a termite in a forest full of trees.

This Friday, Hiruta (8-0, 2 Kos) defends the WBO world title against Mexico’s Naomy Cardenas (9-0, 2 Kos) at the Chumash Casino in Santa Ynez, Calif. UFC Fight Pass will stream the 360 Boxing Promotions card.

It’s her third fight in eight months.

Ever since Hiruta hit American shores she has captured fans attention with her blend of athleticism, flare and magnetism. And ever since teaming up with trainer Manny Robles the obvious athleticism possessed by the Japanese fighter has been coated with more tools and strategies that can keep a fighter ahead of the game.

Hiruta continues to add more weapons to her arsenal with every fight.

“I’m learning more with each camp and look forward to putting on another great show and defending my world title,” said Hiruta who is making her fifth world title defense.

All Japanese fighters have a warrior spirit bred in them. Often, it’s more than enough to capture a world title but keeping a world title is more difficult. Strategies are devised by opponents who look for weaknesses and exploit them.

Robles, who has become one of the more sought after trainers in boxing, has added more dimensions to the pretty Japanese fighter including defensive tactics that allow her to pick and choose moments to attack or retreat.

No longer are her fights two minutes of fire and fury, but more moments of picking apart a foe’s weaknesses and unraveling their ability to counterattack. In her last defense against Argentina’s Carla Merino, it was Hiruta who chose when to exchange and when to explode. After 10 rounds it was crystal clear she had won the fight by unanimous decision.

Because Hiruta has a limited visa, she returns to Japan after her fights and doesn’t get to spend the idle months under the tutelage of Robles and his team. She gets about a month’s work before each fight and hopes the lessons stick. So far, it seems she absorbs the incoming information with ease.

Hiruta will be joined on the boxing card with her stablemate and fast-rising star Lupe Medina,

Medina (10-0, 2 Kos) jumped ahead of the class in her last fight with a rousing victory over former world title challenger Maria Santizo. Next up is Mexico’s Rubi Gutierrez (5-2-1) in a minimumweight fight set for eight rounds on Friday.

Raised in Maywood, Calif. the petite fighter Medina also trains with Manny Robles and made a major stride with her victory over Santizo in her last fight. The win placed her in the top 10 in her weight class.

Could a world title fight be on the horizon?

Most experts say Medina has yet to show all her talent in the boxing ring.

 

Pomona fights

Lightweight contender Chelsey Anderson (8-0, 3 Kos) remained undefeated with a unanimous decision win over Mexico’s Claudia Herrera (4-4) on Friday Aug. 8, at Pomona.

Anderson, 34, lives in Yorba Linda, Calif. and has mainly fought in California in her six years as a professional. She has height, power and other intangibles that cannot be taught.

 

More Fight News

Argentina

Agustina Romero (3-0) defeated Mora Amado (0-1) by decision after four rounds on Saturday Aug. 9. The flyweight fight took place in Merlo.

Florencia Escalante (3-0) knocked out Rocio Bellido (1-1-2) in the third round on Saturday Aug. 9. The super feather fight was held in Villa Madero.

Nazarena Serra (3-2) beat Celeste Gonzalez (0-1) by majority decision after four rounds on Saturday Aug. 9. The flyweight fight was held in Buenos Aires.

 

Australia

Hayley Finlayson (2-1) won by split decision after eight rounds versus Nicilia Costello (5-6-1) on Saturday Aug. 9. The Australian bantamweight title fight took place in Mansfield.

 

Canada

On Wed, Aug. 13, lightweights Bonnie Hunter (6-4) and Karla Zamora (11-10-2) meet eight rounds at Calgary.

 

China

Xidi Wang (2-0) knocked out Kaini He (0-1) in the second round on Saturday Aug. 9. The flyweight fight took place in Shenyang.

 

Congo

On Tuesday Aug. 12, super welters Mwamba Lulua (2-0) and Lydia Bongwa (0-0) meet four rounds at Ouesso.

 

Nigeria

On Thursday Aug. 14, super middles Aminat Yekini (1-3) and Latifat Salami (2-1) meet six rounds at Lagos.

 

South Africa

Simamkele Tuntsheni (8-0) defeated Caleigh Swart (5-1) by decision after 10 rounds on Saturday Aug. 9. The super bantamweight fight was held in Kempton.

 

Spain

On Friday Aug. 15, bantamweights Mary Romero (11-9( and Klaudia Ferenczi (20-123-10) meet eight rounds in Aguilas.

 

Thailand

Amanda Chan (11-0) knocked out Nantachat Wanpeng (5-7) in the third round on Sunday Aug. 10. The lightweight fight was held in Pathum Thani. Also, super feather Pattarawee Nareeruk (1-1) beat Kunlanat Noppawang (0-1) in four; light fly Apek Buddee (2-0) beat Supansa Thompad (0-1) in four; and atomweight Aliya Soomro (3-0) beat Kiratra Hakrasang (1-2) in four.

 

USA

Chelsey Anderson (8-0) defeated Claudia Ferrara (4-4-1) by unanimous decision after six rounds on Saturday Aug. 9. The lightweight match took place in Pomona, Calif.

Natasha Spence (9-8-2) won by unanimous decision after six rounds versus Maricela Cornejo (19-8) on Friday Aug. 8. The middleweight fight took place in Toppenish, Washington.

On Friday Aug. 15, super flyweights Mizuki Hiruta (8-0) and Naomy Cardenas (9-0) meet 10 rounds for the WBO world title at Santa Ynez, Calif. Also, minimumweights Lupe Medina (10-0) and Rubi Gutierrez (5-2-1) meet eight rounds. UFC Fight Pass will stream the 360 Boxing Promotions card.