Japan’s Mizuki Hiruta Wins Fighter of the Year Award and Other Notes and News in Women’s Boxing
By David A. Avila
Another big fight in women’s boxing looms in a few weeks when Claressa Shields meets Franchon Crews-Dezurn in their rematch.
Women’s prizefighting is hitting its stride but turmoil remains because of the unknown status of many boxing promotions companies and media outlets.
With ESPN shedding its affiliation with combat sports, and other networks like HBO, Showtime and USA network no longer involved, boxing has hit a crossroads and exposure for men and women’s boxing has shrunk.
What to do?
DAZN remains involved in boxing and Paramount recently signed a deal with Zuffa, but Netflix seems only interested in surefire blockbusters. So far, they have worked with Most Valuable Promotions but are not fully committed.
So where does this all leave women’s boxing?
The only companies fully committed to women’s boxing are Most Valuable Promotions which has more than two dozen female fighters and Matchroom Boxing and its smaller but strong roster of women that includes Katie Taylor.
Boxing has always been the maverick sport. Maybe it always will be.
If you look back at news clippings during the 1880s you can find critics and experts proclaiming the demise of boxing. The sport has always been condemned and crucified by people of all strati. Yet, it persists.
It was a mere 20 years ago that Dana White of UFC kept telling whoever would listen that boxing was dead. That MMA was bigger and here we are in 2026 and wouldn’t you know it, White is involved in boxing with his company Zuffa. They just staged their second show this past Sunday.
I’ve heard many call boxing the cockroach of sports and maybe that’s a suitable analogy. The sport of boxing is the oldest sport in the history of man and women. Where it goes from here is a mystery, but it will survive.
People like to see fights.
For decades people said nobody wants to see women fight. I’ve had many journalists, boxing coaches, promoters and some fans tell me over the last 33 years to quit writing about female fights. They insisted it was a waste of my time. But here we are and women’s boxing keeps growing bigger and more popular thanks to all the female fighters who burned a path over the decades to get to this point.
Back in 1999 and 2000, few journalists covered women’s boxing. You could count them on your fingers. Today hundreds are involved internationally as women’s boxing seems to be seen in every country.
Thanks to social media sites like YouTube.com you can look up almost anyone and find a clip or two of fighters of the past.
Here are some of my favorites of the past:
Christy Martin – they made a movie about her. Enough said.
Lucia Rijker – she appeared in movies like Million Dollar Baby.
Jane Couch – a United Kingdom fighter when the sport was illegal over there.
Laila Ali – daughter of a legend and a legend herself. She had a;; the tools.
Ann Wolfe – legendary puncher who could box too. She also appeared in movies.
Elena “Baby Doll” Reid – brought oomph to the sport and improved every year.
Melinda Cooper – was ahead of the game when she erupted on pro women’s boxing.
Celina Salazar – quiet but deadly she upset a few fighters with her quiet fury.
Kaliesha West – could have been among the greats. Still, accomplished a lot.
Mia St. John – was a very under-rated fighter due to her looks. But she was fearless.
Layla McCarter – perhaps one of the greatest female fighters of all time. Skilled.
Chevelle Hallback – a fantastic athlete who was fearless and skilled.
Elizabeth Quevedo – had she continued as a pro could have been the greatest.
Wendy Rodriguez – the mini-flyweight was fast, skilled and eye-catching.
Regina Halmich – Germany’s champion proved women could sell in Europe.
Daisy Lang – was Germany’s other blonde and was very popular.
Cecilia Braekhus – Norway’s queen continued European dominance in boxing.
Anne Sophie Mathis – a big puncher from France famous for belting out Holly Holm.
Naoko Fujioka – the Japanese star won titles in five weight divisions.
Laura Serrano – the Mexican fighter was w whirlwind and fought anyone willing.
Cindy Serrano – the sister of Amanda Serrano was a fierce competitor.
Vaia Zaganas – the minimumweight fighter was very technical for her time.
Ring Magazine and Mizuki Hiruta
Following our lead, Ring Magazine voted Japan’s Mizuki Hiruta the Female Fighter of the Year. The pink-haired super flyweight champion was crowned the Fighter of the Year for women by Ring Magazine this past weekend in New York City.
Congratulations to “Mimi” Hiruta who has taken over the West Coast with her charm and fighting style. She fought four times last year. Only male boxer Naoya Inoue matched her with four title fights last year. The Japanese fighters don’t play. They are always ready to perform.
Our publication named her the Fighter of the Year last month.
Face of Boxing?
Just because a fighter says she or he is the Face of Boxing does not make it so. It’s a term used by sports media but what it actually means is the fighter who sells the most tickets or pay-per-views and makes the most money is the actual “Face of Boxing.”
For women there are three serious candidates for category of Face of Boxing. The three top candidates are Katie Taylor, Amanda Serrano and Claressa Shields. Whenever they lace up the gloves for an event they sell tickets and pay-per-views. They also get paid the most.
For the men it was Saul “Canelo” Alvarez for quite a while. But now we shall see.
More Fight News
Argentina
Florencia Escalante (4-0) defeated Eliana Orecchia (5-18-4) after six rounds on Saturday Jan. 31. The lightweight match was held in Buenos Aires. Also, feather Monica Silva (5-0) beat Veronica Nunez (2-5) in four; and super welter Selene Olguin (1-0) knocked out Yoana Rodriguez (0-1) in two.
On Friday Feb. 6, super welters Jesica Diaz (0-0) and Daiana Lallana (0-0) meet four rounds at Rafaela.
Australia
On Friday Feb. 6, welters Louise Creaven (4-1) and Macca Jean (1-4) meet six rounds at Fortitude Valley.
Belgium
On Saturday Feb. 7, bantams Ines Es Salehy (1-0) and Klaudia Ferenczi (20-127-10) meet six rounds at Forest.
Denmark
Dina Thorslund (24-0) won by unanimous decision after 10 rounds versus Almudena Alvarez (7-4) on Saturday Jan. 31. The interim feather title match took place in Kolding. Also, super bantam Melissa Mortensen (9-0) beat Tori-Ellis Willetts (7-2) in eight.
El Salvador
Aylin Gamez (1-0) won by decision over Maylin Ezcano (0-2) after four rounds on Saturday Jan. 31. The flyweight fight took place in La Libertad.
France
On Saturday Feb. 7, light flies Romane Moulai (7-0) and Althea Shine Pores (6-0-1) meet 10 rounds at Marseille for the IBO title.
On Saturday Feb. 7, minimumweights Selma Reinier (8-0) and Amy Naert (12-6) meet eight rounds at Cazouls les Beziers.
On Saturday Feb. 7. Bantams Lauryne Brankaer (7-0-2) and Yazmin Martinez (3-2-2) meet eight rounds at Chateauroux for a youth title.
Germany
On Saturday Feb. 7, feathers Marleen Muench (1-0) and Sonja Pilipovic (0-15) meet four rounds at Mitte.
Ireland
On Saturday Feb. 7, lightweights Sarah Murphy (1-0) and Katherine Quintana (0-39-1) meet four rounds at Dublin.
Netherlands
On Saturday Feb. 7, welters Tessa Van Stenus (2-3) and Nana Dokadze (4-26) meet four rounds at Helmond.
Nigeria
On Wednesday Feb. 4, flies Olamiposi Kelinde (7-1-1) and Bello Omolola (2-3) meet six rounds at Lagos. Also, Kafilat Giwa (5-0) and Taiye Kodjo (1-11) meet four; and cruisers Chidimma Nmeregini (2-0) and Esther Adedunto (0-3) meet four.
On Saturday Feb. 7, super flies Jennifer Odhegba (3-0) and Ayorinde Ifeoluwa (0-3-1) meet six rounds at Lagos. Also, Idowu Misturah (0-0) and Shade Adeyandu (1-10) meet four; and welters Oluwatobi Samson (1-0) and Mopelola Bade (0-0) meet four.
Serbia
Jelena Bokan (1-6) defeated Nevena Markovic (0-15-1) by decision after four rounds on Saturday Jan. 31. The flyweight fight took place in Majdanpek.
Spain
On Friday Feb. 6, feathers Sarah Liegmann (12-0) and Basilia Mancilla (7-12-2) meet eight rounds at San Sebastian.
On Saturday Feb. 7, lightweights Maria Horche (3-0) and Maria Dragomir (0-1) meet six rounds at Arganda del Rey.
On Saturday Feb. 7, super feathers Sheila Martinez (9-3) and Gabriella Mezei (11-37-5) meet eight rounds at Sagunto. Also, lightweights Clara Lopez (2-2) and Stephanie Sangou (2-0) meet six.
South Africa
On Saturday Feb. 7, fies Okuhle Mthi (4-1-2) and Mikle Tuli (2-3) meet six rounds at Komani.
Tanzania
Hawa Stanford (4-1-1) won by split decision over Feriche Mashaury (12-10-1) after six rounds on Saturday Jan. 31. The lightweight fight took place in Dar es Salaam.
Thailand
Yotsawadee Praphchop (1-2) defeated Butsaya Bunprasob (0-2) by decision after four rounds on Saturday Jan. 31. The super fly fight was held in Phuket. Also, fly Aigel Khodova (7-0) beat Anchittha Yumuy (0-1) in four.
Maria Phoudom (1-3) beat Pannee Srisamai (0-1) in four rounds on Saturday Jan. 31. The super bantam match was held in Samut Sakhon.
Wisuta Sririttidet (11-8) beat Abida Batool (4-2-1) b y decision after eight rounds on Thursday Jan. 29. The atomweight fight was held in Bangkok. Also, feather Laura Akram (2-0) knocked out Somwang Sawinchai (6-19-2) in two.
On Friday Feb. 6, super bantams Quiyan Lu (4-0) and Saowaluk Nareepangsri (19-24) meet eight rounds at Bangkok.
On Sunday Feb. 8, feathers Leah Reuben (4-2-1) and Pimchanok Thepjanda (10-8) meet six rounds at Pathum Thani. Also, super feathers Mea Motu (23-1) and Siriphon Chanbuala (17-17-2) meet six; light flies Emma Nesbitt (10-1) and Rungnapha Kaewkrachang (18-22-1) meet six;
United Kingdom
Francesca Hennessey (8-0) won by majority decision after 10 rounds versus Ellie Bouttell (7-1-1) on Saturday Jan. 31. The regional bantam title fight took place in Hackney Wick.
Elif Nur Turhan (13-0) defeated Taylah Gentzen (8-2) by split decision after 10 rounds on Saturday Jan. 31. The IBF lightweight title fight took place in Newcastle, England.
USA
Leanna Martinez (5-5) knocked out Tarrethia Dixon (2-8) in the second round on Saturday Jan. 31. The flyweight fight was held in Ohkay Owingeh, New Mexico.
Nygeela Eleyae (1-0) beat Jasmine Adams (0-1) by majority decision after four rounds on Saturday Jan. 31. Th super lightweight fight was held in San Antonio, Texas.
Perla Bazuldua (4-0-1) knocked out Isis Sio (1-2) in the first round on Friday Jan. 30. The super fly fight was held in Long Beach, Calif. Also, super welter Brianda Cruz (4-0) beat Claudia Herrera (5-5-1).
Stephanie Calderon (1-1) knocked out Shaniqua Frazier (0-8) in the first round on Friday Jan. 30. The feather fight was held in Memphis, Tenn. Also, lightweight Stevie Morgan 19-2) knocked out Simona Aparecida (17-38) in four.
On Friday Feb. 6, super feathers Whitney Gomez (2-0) and Denise Moran (3-1) meet four rounds at Tacoma, Washington.