Yoshida to defend her IBF Bantamweight World title Oct. 23 vs. Shurretta Metcalf on ProBoxTV live from The Theater at Madison Square Garden
KOTA NEW YORK (Bulan Oktober 14, 2024)– Three-time, two-division World Champion Miyo Yoshida (17-4, 0 Biaya) will out her developing boxing legacy in Japan on the line October 23rd, when she makes the first defense of her International Boxing Federation (IBF) bantamweight crown against No. 1 contender Shurretta “Chiccn” Metcalf (13-4-1, 2 Biaya), at The Theater at Madison Square Garden in New York City.
Yoshida vs. Metcalf will headline the “Heroes on the Hudson 2” card, presented by DiBella Entertainment and broadcast live on ProBoxTV, in the 10-round (2-minutes each) main event to celebrate and support heroic veterans of the United States Armed Forces in advance of Veterans Day in the latest addition of the popularBroadway Tinju seri.
One of only 23 female world champions from Japan, The 35-year-old Yoshida is only the sixth from her country to capture world titles in two or more divisions. She captured the World Boxing Organization (WBO) Super Flyweight crown twice in 2019 dan 2021.
Japan is a powerbase in men’s professional boxing with contemporary superstars such as Undisputed Junior Featherweight World Champion Naoya “The Monster” Inoue (28-0, 25 Biaya) dan Dewan Tinju Dunia (WBC) Bantamweight World Champion Junto Nakatani (29-0, 22 Biaya). Namun Begitu, in women’s boxing today, Yoshida is arguably the best from Japan, as well as one of the greatest female prizefighters of all-time from the Land of the Rising Son, behind only retired Japanese fighters Naoko Fujioka (19-3-1, 7 Biaya), Japan’s only five-weight class female world champion, and possibly Emiko Raika (24-8-1, 10 Biaya).
A single mother of daughter Mina, Miyo is known as the “Fighting Single Mother” in Japan, where she is a revered role model. Yoshida received the 2023 Most Inspirational Female Fighter award from The Ring magazine.
“I hope to further shape the way that was created by our predecessors into a better one for the next generation,” Yoshida said.
To cement her legacy, Yoshida must first get past Metcalf in their rematch, avenging Miyo’s loss by way of 10-round decision a year ago, and advance in the Great 8 Tournament to determine the undisputed women’s bantamweight world champion. Untung Saja, all of the world bantamweight champions – WBC/WBO & The Ring Champion Dina Thorslund (22-0, 9 Biaya) of Denmark, IBF Ellie Scotney (9-0, 0 Biaya) from the United Kingdom, and the Yoshida vs. Metcalf winner (their fight technically launches the tournament) – will compete in the Great 8 along with some of the leading contenders such as Cherneka Johnson (16-2, 6 Biaya), Yulihan “La Cobritas” Luna Avila (27-4-1, 4 Biaya), and Segolene “Majestic” Lefebure (18-1, 1 KO).
“Right now,” Yoshida noted, “I’m only thinking of defending my title belt. I had been hoping for unification fights since I was able to become world champion again. I was impatient with this interval between matches because it is the last chapter due to my age. If I couldn’t compete in boxing, I thought about returning to kickboxing or MMA. I didn’t want to be in between fights, and I thought it would be better for me and for women’s boxing if I became well known.”
“Japan’s boxing scene carries a rich history with a strong cultural connection to its people,” Miyo’s manager Keith Sullivan commented. “Japanese boxers honor a tradition of competitive excellence and outstanding sportsmanship. Miyo embodies these qualities as she fights for the pride of Japan. She is an exemplary champion for her native country.”
Sullivan is a former Deputy Commissioner for the New York State Athletic Commission, who manages IBF and WBA #6 rated welterweight Paddy “The Real Deal” Donovan (14-0, heavyweight prospect Pryce Taylor (4-0, 2 Biaya), dan WBC #9 rated super middleweight Nisa Rodriguez (2-0, 0 Biaya), amongst several other professional fighters.
IBF Bantamweight World Champion Miyo Yoshida to have 4-time World Champion Jorge Linares in her corner
Oktober. 23 vs. Shurretta Metcalf Theater at Madison Square Garden
(L-R) – Miyo Yoshida & Jorge Linares KOTA NEW YORK (Bulan Oktober 7, 2024)– Three-time, two-division World Champion Reigning Miyo Yoshida (17-4, 0 Biaya) will add a special addition to her corner on October 23rd, when she makes the initial defense of her International Boxing Federation (IBF) bantamweight title against No. 1 contender Shurretta “Chiccn” Metcalf (13-4-1, 2 Biaya), at The Theater at Madison Square Garden in New York City.
Yoshida vs. Metcalf will headline in a 10-round (2-minutes each) main event on the “Heroes on the Hudson 2” card, disajikan oleh DiBella Hiburan, which will celebrate and support heroic veterans of the United States Armed Forces in advance of Veterans Day in the latest addition of the popularBroadway Tinju seri.
Future Hall of Famer Jorge “El Nino de Oro Golden Boy” Linares (47-9, 29 Biaya), the four-time, three-division world champion from his native Venezuela, will be making the trip from his home in Tokyo to the Big Apple, where he fought twice during his 21-year pro boxing career. “My senior, Jorge Linares, will be joining me as my second this time,” through a translator Yoshida explained the difference between her first fight with her Oct. 23rd penantang. “It is reassuring to have someone who can give me instructions in Japanese for spur-of-the-moment decisions during this fight. The members of Team Sosa (Jimmy Sosa is her head trainer) are also learning Japanese. The team is united.
“Although I am struggling with the English language, I am very happy to have come to New York City. I am grateful to Lou DiBella (her promoter, DiBella Hiburan) for giving me the opportunity. The condition from him was for me and my daughter to immigrate here. I am very thankful to my manager, Keith Sullivan, for handling the business side and guiding me. Even though I don’t speak English, I have met many friends who saw what I was doing and supported me.”
Linares moved to Japan at the age of 17 because he wanted to turn pro and would have had to wait until he was 18 if he had remained in Venezuela. Dia 10-4 dalam perkelahian gelar juara dunia, defeating six world champions: Hugo Rafael Soto, Oscar Larios, Gamaliel Diaz, Jesus Chavez and Anthony Crolla (dua kali).
Yoshida, 35, captured the World Boxing Organization (WBO) Super Flyweight crowns twice in 2019 dan 2021. She is one of 23 female world champions from Japan, only the sixth to capture world titles in two or more divisions.
In her last fight, Metcalf defeated Yoshida by way of a 10-round unanimous decision for the International Boxing Federation (IBF), ironisnya, on the original “Heroes of the Hudson” last November 7 also at The Theater at Madison Square Garden.
Last December in her most recent fight, Yoshida put on a boxing clinic in San Francisco, replacing injured Avril Mathie on less than two weeks’ notice to defeat defending IBF bantamweight title-holder Ebanie Bridges (9-1) by way of a dominant 10-round unanimous decision (99-91, 99-91, 97-93).
A single mother of daughter her, Mina, Miyo is known as the “Fighting Single Mother” in Japan, where she is a revered role model back, and for that reason as well as her success in the ring, Yoshida received the 2023 Most Inspirational Female Fighter award from The Ring magazine.
Yoshida vs. Metcalf launches the beginning of the Great 8 Tournament to determine the undisputed women’s bantamweight world champion “Miyo is a 3-time World Champion, she has proven she knows what it takes to win. Outside the ring she is an amazing single mother raising her beautiful daughter in a foreign country. Few have made the sacrifices to create opportunities for her and her daughter the way Miyo has. It is an honor to be working with such a dynamic and exciting world champion”, said Miyo’s manager New York City-based lawyer Keith Sullivan.
Sullivan is a former Deputy Commissioner for the New York State Athletic Commission, who manages IBF and WBA #6 rated welterweight Paddy “The Real Deal” Donovan (14-0, heavyweight prospect Pryce Taylor (4-0, 2 Biaya), dan WBC #9 rated super middleweight Nisa Rodriguez (2-0, 0 Biaya), amongst several other professional fighters.
