NEW YORK CITY (Juillet 15, 2025) - Trois fois, two-division World ChampionMiyo Yoshida (18-5) is tired of waiting for her mandated International Boxing Federation (IBF) Bantamweight world title shot as its No. 1-rated mandatory challenger.
Yoshida won the World Boxing Organization (WBO) Super Flyweight title in 2019 et 2021. En décembre 9, 2022, she fought in San Francisco as a late replacement on only two weeks’ avis, impressively defeating IBF Bantamweight World titleholderEbanie Bridges (9-1) by unanimous decision over 10 tours (99-91, 99-91, 97-93).
Octobre dernier, Yoshida lost her IBF title in a controversial 10-round decision toShurretta Metcalf (14-5-1, 2 KOs). Last Friday night, Metcalf lost the IBF belt toCherneka Johnson (18-2, 7 KOs), the WBA Bantamweight World Champion, surKatie Taylor-Amanda Serrano III undercard at Madison Square Garden. Avec la victoire, Johnson also scooped up the vacated World Boxing Council (WBC) et l'Organisation mondiale de boxe (WBO) titres mondiaux.
When Metcalf defeated Yoshida, it was with highly questionable tallies of 99-91, 97-93, et 96-94. Her manager, Attorney Keith Sullivan, appealed the result to the IBF, arguing that Yoshida’s accurate jabs and higher punch connection rate should have earned her the win. Sullivan’s appeal was strongly supported by COMPUBOX statistics: Yoshida out-landed Metcalf in eight of the 10 rounds by a margin of 96 à 64 au total se connecte, y compris un 49-17 edge in jabs and 30 à 16 in punches landed to the body. Yoshida’s defensive skills were also on display, with Metcalf landing just nine percent of her overall punches thrown.
The IBF ruled in January that Yoshida was its No. 1 challenger obligatoire, requiring the titleholder to defend against Miyo by this October.
Yoshida’s promoter, Lou DiBella, got her back into the win column against a tough opponent on February 1, when she defeatedBeata Dudek par l'intermédiaire de 10 rounds par décision unanime (99-91, 97-93, 96-94).
“Miyo is a three-time world champ and a trailblazing symbol for Japanese women as an athlete and single mom. I applaud the IBF for recognizing that Yoshida deserves the opportunity to regain her belt. We will continue to push for Miyo to get her title shot as soon as possible, and I am confident that we can work out a deal with MVP. They are in the business of making the best fights in women’s boxing. Undisputed Champ Cherneka Johnson vs. Miyo is a terrific match,» A déclaré Lou DiBella, President of DiBella Entertainment.
“Lou has done a great job keeping Miyo active and creating great opportunities for her. The time is here for Miyo’s title match to finally get scheduled. Heureusement, Jake and Nakisa are helping to change the landscape for women in boxing under their MVP banner,” stated Miyo’s manager, Keith Sullivan. “Congratulations to Cherneka, who fought a great fight and made history. The styles of Miyo and Johnson will make for an exciting, lutte fan-friendly. We have two promoters who firmly support women’s boxing, so I am confident we will get that title fight scheduled as soon as possible,” concluded Sullivan.
From ringside Friday night, Miyo said, “Johnson had the perfect fight plan. I respect her, but we’ll have a more intense fistfight. Si, let’s finally get my mandatory title fight scheduled. We’ll see in the ring who deserves to raise the belt as the IBF bantamweight champion.”
Miyo Yoshida, connu sous le nom “Fighting Single Mother” au Japon, is a respected role model and was the recipient ofRing Magazine‘s “Most Inspirational Female Fighter” award in 2023. She is among just 23 female world champions from Japan and only the sixth to hold world titles in multiple weight classes.
Sullivan, a former New York State Athletic Commission Deputy Commissioner, also manages undefeated Brooklyn heavyweightPryce Taylor (8-0, 6 KOs) and Bronx NYPD officerNisa Rodriguez (3-1, 1 KO). Sullivan co-manages IBF Welterweight World title challengerPaddy “The Real Deal” Donovan (14-1, 11 KOs) and his cousin, pro-debuting middleweightJim Donovan, alongside coach and ex-world championAndy Lee.
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