Ring Magazine Super Fly Champ Mizuki Hiruta Returns
By David A. Avila
Mizuki “Mimi” Hiruta defends the WBO super flyweight title for the fourth time this year and once again faces a Mexican challenger in Gloria Gallardo.
The pink-haired Hiruta (9-0, 2 KOs) meets Mexico’s Gallardo (16-3-3) on Saturday Nov. 22, at Thunder Studios in Long Beach, Calif. UFC Fight Pass will stream the 360 Boxing Promotions show.
“Gloria Gallardo has fought many solid fighters throughout her career and this is her first time fighting for a world title,” said Hiruta of her challenger.
Before signing with Tom Loeffler’s promotion company, Hiruta a gregarious fighter from Tokyo, Japan had fought one time in 12 months. But ever since pairing with 360 Promotions she is engaging in her fourth fight since January 17 when she defeated Mexico’s Maribel Ramirez.
“I like fighting four times,” said Hiruta while munching tacos at a Riverside eatery. “I like staying busy.”
Though she still lives in Tokyo, she flies out to Los Angeles one month before a scheduled fight to train with Manny Robles and crew in South Gate, Calif. The famed trainer also prepares Lupe Medina and Perla Bazuldua all top female fighters in the Southern California region.
Hiruta is the only female world champion and works out every day with her fellow stablemates. Running in the mountains, beaches and sparring are all part of the daily regimen she partakes in when she lands in Los Angeles.
She has quickly learned phrases in English and Spanish. Her favorite Spanish phrase is “No pasa nada.”
When Hiruta first arrived in California several years ago, she was looking for a promoter to believe in her talent. She had four pro wins in four fights and was about to fight for the world title. She was introduced to Manny Robles who was training several female fighters including Ramla Ali.
Hiruta sparred with several of Robles girls and was impressed with the Japanese fighter. She was invited to work with him whenever she returned to Los Angeles. He also pitched the fighter to Loeffler who has long promoted many top female fighters.
On June 2023, Hiruta met Casey Croft for her first defense of the WBO world title and ended the fight in the first round with a knockout win. Then she followed that with another title defense against Korean fighter Ji Hyun Park and got another knockout win.
The fighter who likes to go by the name “Mimi” returned to California and met with Loeffler and the Japanese fighter was signed to 360 Boxing Promotions. Since that signing Hiruta has fought three times and the fourth fight occurs this Saturday.
“I’m very grateful to Tom Loeffler, 360 Promotions and Coach Manny (Robles) for keeping me so active this year. That was our plan when we started working together last year and this is my fourth world title defense this year.”
She was recently recognized as the Ring Magazine super flyweight world champion.
“This is Mizuki’s fourth world title defense this year as she continues to validate her position as one of the best and most active pound-for-pound fighters in international women’s boxing,” said Loeffler the promoter.
Two other high caliber female bouts are scheduled.
Lupe “Baby Face Assassin” Medina, the undefeated light flyweight, meets Lilian Almaraz in an eight-round bout. This is a rematch of a fight last year that ended in a majority win for Medina. Almaraz wants another crack at her.
Also, Iyana Verduzco who is also known as “Right Hook Roxy” meets veteran Mexican fighter Maria Salinas in a super bantam fight set for eight rounds. It’s a tough test. Salinas has fought numerous world champions including Yesica Nery Plata, Kenia Enriquez and Naoko Shibata.
Doors open at 2:30 p.m.
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Argentina
Lucia Marrero (7-0) defeated Leonela Sanchez (3-1) by decision after 10 rounds on Saturday Nov. 15. The South American bantamweight title fight was held in Buenos Aires.
On Friday Nov. 21, super bantams Juliana Basualdo (13-7) and Lucrecia Belen (7-8) meet 10 rounds for the Argentine title at Villa Maria.
On Saturday Nov. 22, bantams Solange Belen (2-0-1) and Romina Nunez (2-8-1) meet four rounds at Buenos Aires. Also, flyweights Nazarena Serra (3-2) and Sheila Olivera (0-0) meet four; and lightweights Julia Celes (5-3-3) and Lilian Silva (4-19-2) meet four.
Australia
Jemma Peart (8-1) knocked out Apek Buddee (3-1) in the third round on Saturday Nov. 15. The flyweight fight was held in Bass Hill.
Czech Republic
On Friday Nov. 21, bantams Katarina Cavajdova (4-0) and Johana Zuniga (20-12-1) meet six rounds at Prague.
Democratic Republic of Congo
On Saturday Nov. 22, lightweights Estelle Mossely (11-0-1) and Ellen Simwaka (13-7-2) meet 10 rounds at Kinshasa. Also, super lights Merveille Mbalayi (1-0) and Isabel Dala (0-1) meet 10.
Denmark
Kem Ljungquist (21-1) knocked out Benoit Huber (10-6) in the 11th round on Friday Nov. 14. The heavyweight fight was held in Hvidovre.
Egyot
A super fly fight between Angelika Lukas (15-1) and Karen Lindenmuth (7-5) was ruled a No Contes after first being ruled a split decision win for Lindenmuth. No reason has been announced for the change in ruling. The match was held in Giza.
France
Segolene Lefebvre (20-1) defeated Almudena Alvarez (7-3) by decision after eight rounds on Saturday Nov. 15. The feather fight was held in Douai.
On Saturday Nov. 22, lightweights Adelaide Mary (3-2-1) and Erika Armans (3-0) meet eight rounds at Espernay.
On Saturday Nov. 22, super bantams Melina Ainaoui (2-2-1) and Anna Micard (0-3-1) meet four rounds a Loire-Atlantique.
On Saturday Nov. 22, bantams Sarah Kaddour (0-0) and Nino Janitdze (0-4) meet four rounds at Paris.
Germany
Annabell Honert (4-0) knocked out Bettina Krumholz (1-12) in the first round on Sunday Nov. 16. The heavyweight fight was held in Wiesbaden.
Naomi Mannes (8-3-1) won by decision over Patricia Martin (3-3) after eight rounds on Saturday Nov. 15. The super welter fight was held in Hamburg.
Anja Moskil (4-0) beat Ester Konecna (7-35-2) by decision after four rounds on Saturday Nov. 15. The middleweight fight was held in Cologne.
Indonesia
On Saturday Nov. 22, super flies Tsunami Tenkai (33-14-1) and Felmy Sumaehe (12-1) meet 10 rounds for a regional title at Jakarta.
Kenya
On Friday Nov. 21, super feathers Fatuma Zarika (34-14-2) and Halima Vunjabei (16-14-1) meet eight rounds at Nairobi.
New Zealand
Mea Motu (23-1) knocked out Manjot Rattu (7-3) in the first round on Friday Nov. 14. The super feather fight was held in Auckland. Also, flyweight Emma Nesbitt (10-1) beat Katilyn Marrow (0-1) in four.
On Saturday Nov. 22, feathers Waitohu Rapira-Ngarewa (2-0) and Tricia Mackenzie (2-3-1) meet eight rounds at New Plymouth.
Poland
Helene Connart (4-1) knocked out Adrianna Jedrzejczyk (4-1) in the fifth round on Saturday Nov. 15. The super light regional title fight was held in Warsaw.
Puerto Rico
On Saturday Nov. 22, welters Stephanie Piniero (9-0) and Anahi Sanchez (26-6) meet 10 rounds at Bayamon.
Romania
On Friday Nov. 21, lightweights Loredana Marin (0-0) and Dajana Rakovic (2-5) meet four rounds at Bucharest.
Singapore
On Thurs. Nov. 20, super lights Ichrak Chaib (2-0) and Rani Devi (4-1-1) meet eight rounds for a regional title at Singapore.
South Africa
Matchidiso Mokebisi (19-16-2) defeated Tarisai Mutsau (1-2) by decision after eight rounds on Sunday Nov. 16. The featherweight fight was held in Johannesburg.
Spain
On Friday Nov. 21, atomweights Isabel Rivero (11-3-1) and Silvia Torres (22-4-3) meet 10 rounds for a regional title at Valladolid. Also, feathers Sheila Martinez (8-3) and Debora Rengifo (19-16-1) meet eight.
On Saturday Nov. 22, flyweights Fara El Bousairi (11-6) and ana Acevedo (6-1) meet 10 rounds for the Spanish title at Palma de Mallorca.
Sweden
On Saturday Nov. 22, flyweights Linn Sandstrom (11-4-3) and Maribel Ramirez (15-12-4) meet 10 rounds at Kristianstad.
Thailand
Pornchita Seehaburan (11-8) knocked out Piyatida Aimthuam (1-8) in the first round on Sunday Nov. 16. The lightweight fight took place in Pathum Thani.
United Kingdom
Shauna Browne (7-1) knocked out Beccy Ferguson (6-16) in the fifth round on Friday Nov. 14. The super light fight was held in Stoke on Trent.
On Friday Nov. 21, super feathers Bianca Johnson (3-0) and Elaine Harrison (1-0) meet six rounds at Barnsley.
On Friday Nov. 21, feathers Samantha Lightfoot (0-0) and Kira Carter (0-23-1) meet four rounds at Doncaster.
On Saturday Nov. 22, super feathers Laylie Heath (0-0) and Kerry Orton (0-17) meet four rounds at Bolton.
On Saturday Nov. 22, lightweights Jade Pearce (2-0) and Kirsty Hill (7-2) meet six rounds at Newark. Also, welters Jade Grierson (5-1-1) and Toran Kelly (0-0) meet six rounds.
On Saturday Nov. 22, lightweights Hannah Robinson (5-0) and Edina Kiss (17-21) meet six rounds at Houghton le Spring.
Uruguay
On Saturday Nov. 22, bantams Gabriela Bouvier (21-14-1) and Mirna Sanchez (8-3-1) meet 10 rounds at Montivideo.
USA
Mona Ward (1-3) beat Mariah Maxie (0-2) by decision after four rounds on Sunday Nov. 16. The super feather fight was held in Saint Louis, Missouri.
Jennifer Perella (4-1) won by decision after four rounds versus Brittany Dukes (3-9-2) on Saturday Nov. 15. The super bantam fight was held in Everett, Mass.
Isis Sio (1-1) beat Katelyn Radtka (0-1) by decision after four on Saturday Nov. 15. The flyweight fight took place in St. Joseph, Missouri.
Chastity Roberts (1-0) beat Stephanie Calderon (0-1) by majority decision after four rounds on Friday Nov. 14. The featherweight fight was held in Clearwater, Florida.
On Saturday Nov. 22, super welters Suzie Montero (0-0) and Vana Medrano (0-1) meet four rounds at Miami. Also, super flies evelyn Romo (3-0) and Mayela Perez (20-30-4) meet four.
On Saturday Nov. 22, super flies Mizuki Hiruta (9-0) and Gloria Gallardo (16-3-3) meet 10 rounds for the WBO world title at Long Beach, Calif. Also, light flies Lupe Medina (11-0) and Lilian Almeraz (2-4) meet eight; and super bantams Iyana Verduzco (6-0) and Maria Salinas (27-13-6) meet eight. UFC Fight Pass will stream the 360 Promotions card.
Vietnam
Pei Yu Wu (5-1) defeated Pam McClelland (6-4-1) by decision after eight rounds on Saturday Nov. 15. The regional featherweight title fight took place in Vung Tau.
(Photo by 360 Boxing Promotions)