The fact that Mizuki Hiruta aspires to be boxing’s Shohei Ohtani speaks to the lofty goals set out for herself.
Her ambition was sent into overdrive in recent weeks – in fact, with a series of events spanning just a few days.
The unbeaten lineal and WBO 115lbs champion was one of many boxers honored during the WBO’s annual convention last month in Bogota, Colombia. The event took place while her beloved Los Angeles Dodgers – led by Ohtani and Yoshinobu Yamamoto - were battling for their second consecutive World Series championship, which they achieved earlier this month.
Hiruta returned to Los Angeles – where she trains under the guidance of Manny Robles – just in time to watch Yamamoto pitch his way to wins in games 6 and 7 on back-to-back nights to allow the Dodgers to repeat as champions.
Yamamoto – the 2025 World Series MVP - and Hiruta are both from Japan’s Okayama Prefecture.
“I was almost too happy,” Hiruta – affectionately known as “MiMi” - joked with BoxingScene. “Meeting [two-division and reigning 140lbs champion] Katie Taylor at the WBO convention was a dream come true for me. Then to see the Dodgers come back and win - all the scenes that I have witnessed these past few weeks have left me with a great deal of admiration.
“When I saw Yamamoto do what he did in the World Series, it was a reminder of how much more I want and need to accomplish.”
Hiruta, 9-0 (2 KOs) has the chance to cap a career-best year with a win this weekend. The undefeated junior bantamweight queen risks her crown for the sixth time when she faces Mexico’s Gloria Gallardo. Their scheduled 10-round bout tops 360 Promotions’ Hollywood Fight Nights November 22 show from Thunder Studios in Long Beach, California.
While her ring attire was ordered well in advance of the Dodgers’ repeat feat, she made a point to rock Dodgers blue for Friday’s weigh-in.
Meanwhile, Saturday’s headliner will mark the fourth fight of the year for Hiruta, who opened 2025 with her U.S. debut in January.
She has since emerged as one of boxing’s most talented fighters and bubbling personalities.
By May, the 29-year-old southpaw became the recognized lineal champion following a lopsided points win over Carla Merino at Commerce Casino in Commerce, California. Miruta has since added a 10-round, virtual shutout over then-unbeaten challenger Nancy Cardenas on August 15, also in Commerce.
Saturday will leave her as the sport’s most active reigning champion for the year, regardless of gender. It will be matched next month, when countryman and reigning 122lbs champion Naoya Inoue enters his fourth championship contest on December 27 in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
“It’s an honor that Inoue and I both get to achieve this level of excellence, in the same year,” noted Hiruta. “From where I came from, a place where women’s boxing isn’t embraced, I never imagined I would be this active and as a world champion.”
Her success comes during what has been a golden era for Japanese, though – unlike most of her compatriots – Hiruta’s level of excellence is taking place in the U.S. Fittingly, it’s taking place mere miles from the Dodgers’ home stadium and at a time when Yamamoto and Ohtani have already emerged as high among Major League Baseball’s best active players.
“I know I am a long way from being mentioned with any of them,” admitted Hiruta. “Inoue, Junto Nakatani, Yamamoto, Ohtani – Japanese athletes are so good these days. It makes it harder to stand out when compared to those greats.
“So, all I keep telling myself is, ‘Not yet.’ I’m not there – yet. But I know with every win, I take a step closer to reaching that goal for myself.”
A reflection of her excellence was on display during the Japanese Boxing Commission’s annual awards ceremony earlier this year. Hiruta was a double honoree, both for Women’s Fighter of the Year and her 6th round knockout of Ji Hyun Park recognized as the nation’s best women’s fight.
The feats mirrored that of Inoue, the Male Fighter of the Year and whose off-the-canvas, knockout win over Luis Nery was named the best men’s fight of 2024.
A win on Saturday will put Hiruta in a larger conversation – one for 2025 Fighter of the Year, for the sport as a whole. She is in the conversation through activity alone; most of the other candidates will have fought just once or twice on the year.
Mikaela Mayer is the frontrunner to win, having become a three-division champion this year in the latter of her two wins.
However that race shakes out, Hiruta can only control her own destiny. That means taking care of business on Saturday and delivering the type of performance to send a reminder that she is the fighter to beat in her division.
“I know how important it is to be at my best,” Hiruta stated. “I can’t just win – I have to entertain the crowd to honor my fans who continue to support me. And while I won’t look for this outcome, I really want to win by knockout. It’s been almost two years since I’ve won that way.”
Gallardo, 16-3-3 (7 KOs) is a significant underdog, but also presents a challenge in terms of Hiruta striving for an early night. The former title challenger has never been stopped through 23 pro fights, including a No-Contest which – ironically - began as a questionable 1st round knockout defeat that was overturned.
“She’s very tough, very good fighter,” Hiruta acknowledged. “She has been in there with world champions, and I don’t believe she’s even been [knocked] down. I understand the challenge ahead of me, she is going to try to win and when she can’t, I know she will try to go 10 rounds.
“But as I’ve told myself ever since I began fighting, nothing is impossible. The legendary fighters I met at the WBO [convention], they all overcame obstacles to get where they are. The Dodgers came back to win when everyone said they couldn’t. Now it’s my turn to accomplish what I’m not expected to achieve.”
