WBO Champ Mizuki Hiruta and Super Flyweights Plus More News

 

By David A. Avila

Japan’s Mizuki Hiruta convincingly defended the WBO super fly world title against Mexico’s Naomy Cardenas. It was her fifth defense since capturing the belt in December 2022.

Since signing with 360 Boxing Promotions, the attractive Japanese fighter with pink hair has fought three times in 2025 and is expected to return this November or sooner. Aside from the busy schedule, under the tutelage of Manny Robles the fighter who goes by the name “Mimi” continues to add weaponry and defense to her war chest.

Because she lives in Japan, she usually arrives in Los Angeles one month ahead of her scheduled bouts to train with the famed trainer. But in that month, she soaks up all his knowledge and also has top talent to spar in the Los Angeles area.

Hiruta is not the first Japanese female fighter to train in the U.S. but she has followed in the footsteps of the great Naoko Fujioka who also spent months training and soaking up added skills in Los Angeles. Fujioka managed to win five weight division world titles. Only Amanda Serrano has more with seven division world titles. Fujioka retired last year.

Recently the super flyweight division has amped up with an abundance of talent. Other super flyweight champions include Mexico’s Irma Garcia with the IBF title and Asley Gonzalez with the WBC, and America’s Jasmine Artiga with the WBA who is scheduled to defend the title this Saturday against Linn Sandstrom in Orlando, Florida.

The super flyweight division is loaded with talent and also has a long list of possible challengers such as Adelaida Ruiz, Marlen Esparza, LeAnna Cruz, Ginny Fuchs and Tsunami Tenkai. You also have the dangerous undisputed flyweight champion Gabriela Fundora lurking. With nothing to prove at flyweight she could easily move up and challenge any of the super flyweights. It’s a loaded division.

After winning by unanimous decision last Friday, Hiruta was asked who she wants to fight.

“Anyone, anybody. Come on baby,” said Hiruta.

The super flies are heating up.

 

MVP full force

After signing multiple female fighters in the past six months Most Valuable Promotions opens up with a show featuring two world title fights that include Stephanie Han and Jasmine Artiga defending their respective world titles on Saturday Aug. 24. DAZN will stream the MVP fight card.

It started with MVP signing Amanda Serrano and now the company that began with Jake Paul and Nakisa Bidarian has compiled a lengthy roster of more than a dozen top female prizefighters.

Han, one of the more recent signees, defends against Paulina Angel (7-1-2) in 10 rounds for the WBA world title at Orlando, Florida. Also, super flies Artiga (13-0-1) and Linn Sandstrom (10-3-3) meet 10 rounds for WBA super fly world title.

They wont be the only females on the card.

Natalie Dove (5-0-1) fights Randee Lynn Morales (5-5) in a six round match; and light flies Jocelyn Camarillo (4-0) and Agustina Vazquez (4-4-2) meet four rounds.

 

Skye at Super Bantam

Former featherweight world titlist Skye Nicolson is dropping down to super bantamweight for this fight.

The Aussie southpaw Nicolson (13-1) will be returning home to Australia to face Urvashi Singh (12-3) for a regional title at Fortitude Valley on Saturday Aug. 23. DAZN will stream the match.

Nicolson has fought once before at this weight and won by knockout a month ago versus Carla Campos in Manchester. Earlier, in March, Nicolson was beaten by Tiara Brown for the WBC featherweight title.

 

More Fight News

Argentina

Tamara Fernandez (4-0-2) defeated Gisela Quintanilla (5-5-1) by split decision after six rounds on Saturday Aug. 16. The flyweight fight was held in Buenos Aires.

 

Australia

On Wednesday Aug. 20, super flies Jasmine Parr (7-1) and Efasha Kamarudin (8-0-1) meet five rounds at Sydney. Also, super middleweights Ashleigh Heal (0-0) and Shannon Rose (0-1) meet four.

On Saturday Aug. 23, feathers Skye Falzone (10-2) and Usanakorn Thawilsuhannawang (21-9) meet 10 rounds at Batemans Bay.

On Saturday Aug. 23, super welters Chloe Chaos (6-2-1) and Macca Jean (1-3) meet eight rounds at Condell Park. Also, flyweights Jemma Peart (6-1) and Sarah Linton (2-5) meet eight; and super flies Mai Soliman (8-1) and Khwunchit Khunya (6-19-1) meet six.

On Saturday Aug. 23, super bantams Skye Nicolson (13-1) and Urvashi Singh (12-3) meet 10 rounds for a regional title at Fortitude Valley. Also, bantams Leah Ruben (2-2-1) and Jittamat Phomta (9-11) meet six.

 

Canada

Karla Zamora (12-10-2) defeated Bonnie Hunter (6-5) by unanimous decision after eight rounds on Wednesday Aug. 13. The lightweight fight took place in Calgary.

 

Democratic Rep. of Congo

On Saturday Aug. 23, feathers Niati Misama (1-1) and Ruth Yanfu (0-1) meet four rounds at Kinsasha. Also, Isabel Dala (0-1) and Cornelly Molita (0-0) meet four.

 

Finland

On Saturday Aug. 23, super feathers Jonna Hakkarainen (3-0) and Dajana Rakovic (2-4) meet four rounds at Kotka.

 

Ghana

On Sunday Aug. 24, feathers Lydia Nettey (0-5) and Sandra Boateng (4-0) meet six rounds at Accra.

 

India

On Friday Aug. 22, light flies Amruta Kale (3-0) and Aparna Prasi (0-1) meet four rounds at Hyderabad. Also, feathers Dilsha Shyju (1-0) and Bhavani Bhavani (0-0) meet four.

On Sunday Aug. 24, feathers Anshu Rambir (1-1) and Mehakpreet Sidhu (1-6) meet four rounds at New Delhi. Also, bantams Mamta Singh (7-2-1) and Kavita Varma (0-3) meet four.

 

New Zealand

Hannah Walker (5-0) won by unanimous decision after five rounds versus Natalie Mackey (0-1) on Saturday Aug. 16. The lightweight match was held in Auckland.

 

Spain

Mary Romero (12-9) defeated Klaudia Ferenczi (20-124-10) by decision after eight rounds on Friday Aug. 15. The bantamweight fight took place in Aguilas.

 

Tanzania

On Thursday Aug. 21, middleweights Kemmy Charles (1-2) and Sesilia Mohamed (0-4) meet six rounds at Bagamoyo.

On Saturday Aug. 23, super flies Sophia Hamisi (0-3-1) and Neema Kalala (0-2) meet six rounds at Tabora.

 

Thailand

Akram Abbaszadeh (1-0) knocked out Yotsawadee Praphchop (0-2) in the second round on Sunday Aug. 17. The lightweight fight was held in Kathu.

Kanyaphat Baonok (3-0) knocked out Manatsanan Srithongkham (0-3) in the second round on Saturday Aug. 16. The light fly fight took place in Bangkok.

On Sunday Aug. 24, super bantams Yanyu Li (4-4-1) and Terumi Nuki (15-7) meet eight rounds at Bangkok.

 

USA

Chantel Navarro (6-0) defeated Nancy Franco (19-24-2) by unanimous decision after six rounds on Saturday Aug. 16. The featherweight fight took place in Santa Monica, Calif.

Jennifer Perella (3-1) beat Sarah Click (2-11-1) by decision after four rounds on Saturday Aug. 16. The super bantam match took place in Revere, Mass.

Mizuki Hiruta (9-0) won by unanimous decision after 10 rounds versus Naomy Cardenas (9-1) on Friday Aug. 15. The WBO super flyweight world title fight took place at Santa Ynez, Calif. Also, minimumweight Lupe Medina (11-0) won by split decision after eight rounds versus Rubi Gutierrez (5-3-1).

On Friday Aug. 22, middleweights Samantha Marinelli (1-0) and Breona Vaughn (0-0) meet four rounds at Detroit, Mich.

On Saturday Aug. 23, lightweights Stephanie Han (10-0) and Paulina Angel (7-1-2) meet 10 rounds for the WBA world title at Orlando, Florida. Also, super flies Jasmine Artiga (13-0-1) and Linn Sandstrom (10-3-3) meet 10 rounds for WBA world title; super flies Natalie Dove (5-0-1) and Randee Lynn Morales (5-5) meet six; and light flies Jocelyn Camarillo (4-0) and Agustina Vazquez (4-4-2) meet four.

On Saturday Aug. 23, feathers Chiara Dituri (11-2) and Colleen Davis (4-3-1) meet eight rounds at Riverhead, New York.

 

Photo by Lina Baker/360 Promotions