NEW YORK CITY — Three-time, two-division world champion Miyo Yoshida (18-5) is demanding her long-overdue shot on the Worldwide Boxing Federation (IBF) Bantamweight World Title after being named the No. 1 obligatory challenger earlier this yr.
Yoshida, a trailblazer in Japanese girls’s boxing and often known as the “Preventing Single Mom,” beforehand held the WBO Tremendous Flyweight World Title in each 2019 and 2021. On December 9, 2022, she stepped in on simply two weeks’ discover to face Ebanie Bridges in San Francisco and shocked the world with a dominant 10-round unanimous determination win (99-91, 99-91, 97-93), snatching the IBF bantamweight crown.
Nevertheless, her title reign was reduce quick final October in a controversial loss to Shurretta Metcalf by way of determination (99-91, 97-93, 96-94). The bout’s final result drew sharp criticism from followers and her staff, particularly after COMPUBOX stats revealed Yoshida out-landed Metcalf in 8 of 10 rounds, together with a dominant 49-17 jab differential and a 96-64 edge in whole connects. Yoshida’s protection additionally shone as Metcalf landed simply 9% of her whole punches.
Her supervisor, Lawyer Keith Sullivan, promptly filed an attraction with the IBF. That attraction was supported by detailed combat metrics and video evaluate. In January, the IBF dominated in Yoshida’s favor, naming her the No. 1 obligatory challenger and requiring the reigning champion to defend the title towards her no later than October 2025.
The scenario turned much more pressing final Friday night time, when Metcalf misplaced the IBF title to Cherneka Johnson (18-2, 7 KOs) on the undercard of Katie Taylor vs. Amanda Serrano III at Madison Sq. Backyard. Johnson, already the WBA Bantamweight Champion, unified the division by choosing up the vacant WBC and WBO titles in the identical bout, turning into the brand new undisputed champion.
“Miyo is a three-time world champ and a trailblazing image for Japanese girls as an athlete and single mother,” stated Lou DiBella, Yoshida’s promoter. “I applaud the IBF for recognizing that Yoshida deserves the chance to regain her belt. We’ll proceed to push for Miyo to get her title shot as quickly as potential, and I’m assured that we are able to work out a take care of MVP. They’re within the enterprise of constructing the most effective fights in girls’s boxing. Undisputed Champ Cherneka Johnson vs. Miyo is a terrific match.”
Yoshida returned to the win column on February 1, defeating Poland’s Beata Dudek by unanimous determination (99-91, 97-93, 96-94), proving she stays elite and prepared for championship-level opposition.
“Lou has carried out an amazing job holding Miyo lively and creating nice alternatives for her,” added Keith Sullivan, Yoshida’s supervisor. “The time is right here for Miyo’s title match to lastly get scheduled. Happily, Jake and Nakisa are serving to to alter the panorama for girls in boxing beneath their MVP banner. Congratulations to Cherneka, who fought an amazing combat and made historical past. The kinds of Miyo and Johnson will make for an thrilling fan-friendly combat. We now have two promoters who firmly help girls’s boxing, so I’m assured we’ll get that title combat scheduled as quickly as potential.”
Watching from ringside at Madison Sq. Backyard, Miyo made her intentions crystal clear:
“Johnson had the right combat plan. I respect her, however we’ll have a extra intense fistfight,” stated Yoshida. “So, let’s lastly get my obligatory title combat scheduled. We’ll see within the ring who deserves to lift the belt because the IBF bantamweight champion.”
Yoshida’s accolades and persistence have made her a revered icon in Japan. She is one in every of solely 23 feminine world champions from Japan and simply the sixth to win titles in a number of weight lessons. In 2023, Ring Journal honored her as its Most Inspirational Feminine Fighter.
Sullivan, a former New York State Athletic Fee Deputy Commissioner, additionally manages a roster of rising expertise, together with Pryce Taylor (8-0, 6 KOs), Nisa Rodriguez (3-1, 1 KO), and co-manages Irish standout Paddy “The Actual Deal” Donovan (14-1, 11 KOs) and Jim Donovan alongside coach and ex-world champion Andy Lee.
As negotiations loom, the boxing world now waits to see whether or not Yoshida will lastly get her shot at reclaiming IBF gold—and whether or not Cherneka Johnson will settle for the problem from the combating single mom of Japan.
Roberto Villa is the CEO, Founder, Govt Author, Senior Editor of FightBook MMA. Has a ardour for Fight Sports activities and in addition a podcast host for Sitting Ringside. He’s additionally a former MMA fighter and Kickboxer.
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