Miyo Yoshida Fights For Third Division Title Sunday

What to Know

• Two-division world champion Miyo Yoshida of Japan fights for her third world title on Sunday’s MVPW07 card in Arlington, Texas on ESPN.
• Yoshida challenges WBC World Super Bantamweight champion Skye Nicolson of Australia.
• The card includes four world title fights featuring Elif Nur Turhan and Alycia Baumgarder in the main event. Prelims start at 5:15 p.m.. ET/2:15 p.m. PT on ESPN Plus, with the main card at 7 p.m. ET/4 p.m. PT.

Japan is home to many of the world’s top boxing champions, including pound-for-pound number one Naoya Inoue. Increasingly, Japan’s women pros are also making names for themselves. Two women currently hold world titles, IBF World Minimumweight Champion Sumire Yamanaka, and WBO World Super Flyweight champion Mizuki Hiruta. Miyo Yoshida intends to join them.

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Only WBC World Super Bantamweight Champion Skye Nicolson of Australia (16-1, 3 KOs) stands in the way of three-time, two-division world champion Yoshida of Kagoshima, Japan (19-5, 1 KO) and based in New York in her quest to capture yet another world title in a third weight division.

Nicholson vs. Yoshida will be one of five world title fights this Sunday, November 8th in a ten-round title fight on the MVPW07 card airing live on ESPN from Arlington, Texas.

Yoshida: ‘I Want To Impose My Boxing’

“Skye is an Olympian and a very skilled southpaw,” said Yoshida of the champion Nicolson. “She has very good distance control, footwork, and timing, as well as being very good at scoring points while using her movement.

“Skye is naturally bigger than me. I respect her abilities, but our styles are different, and that’s why I think this will be a very interesting fight.”

Yoshida said she isn’t planning to adapt to the Australian’s style or game plan. “I want to impose my boxing on her. I don’t intend to spend the entire fight at the distance where she is most comfortable.”

Miyo Yoshida sharpened her skills with training earlier this month at the Wild Card Gym in Hollywood, California. Photo: Miyo Yoshida

Yoshida trains from coast to coast, sparring near home at Gleason’s Gym in Brooklyn. She also made the trip to Hollywood, California for sparring opportunities at the Wild Card Gym thanks to an invitation by trainer Freddie Roach.

“My team and I have been preparing specifically to prevent her from fighting the way she wants to fight. Skye is a great champion, so I don’t expect it to be an easy fight

“But I’m not going to Texas just to have a good fight with her. I’m going there to win the world title! I’m going to leave everything I have in the ring and bring that belt home.”

Yoshida Encouraged By Growth of Women’s Boxing

Yoshida, age 38, is encouraged by the advancement of women’s boxing through the support and the growing roster of talent under Most Valuable Promotions, creating opportunities for women to fight the best opponents in front of a worldwide audience on ESPN.

“Compared to when I first started boxing, the environment surrounding women’s boxing has changed tremendously,” explained Yoshida. “We now have more opportunities to compete in major arenas, receive major media exposure, and have our fights watched by people around the world.

“I think it’s very important to have women’s boxing featured on major stages like this event. And this didn’t happen overnight; it is the result of many female fighters from generations before us gradually creating opportunities and opening doors.

Now, I believe it’s our responsibility to make that path even wider for the next generation. I hope we reach a point where young girls watch boxing and naturally think, ‘I want to become a world champion too.’”

Miyo Yoshida Takes a Risk For Her Legacy

Miyo Yoshida’s last title fight win was in 2023 in an upset oveer Ebanie Bridges. Photo: Ed Mulholland, DAZN Boxing

“Miyo has never backed down from a challenge, and this fight against Skye Nicolson is another example of her willingness to take on the very best in the world,” said Keith Sullivan, President of Sullivan Management, who represents Yoshida. “Miyo has already proven that she belongs among the elite fighters in women’s boxing.

“We are putting her IBF number-one mandatory position on the line to pursue this opportunity at the WBC World Championship because we believe in her ability to win. She’s a true warrior who has overcome adversity throughout her career, and I wouldn’t bet against her.

“Miyo and Skye are among the two nicest, classiest fighters in the sport today; but in the ring this will be a war. We’re not traveling to Texas just to compete – we’re coming to bring another world championship home.”

Miyo Yoshida Hopes To Repeat Her Best Performance

Yoshida, known as the “Fighting Single Mother” in Japan, is the recipient of Ring Magazine’s 2023 Most Inspirational Female Fighter award for her upset win over Ebonie Bridges for the IBF World Bantamweight title, a fight she took on short notice only 32 days after her previous fight.

“Without a doubt, this match was my greatest career achievement. I want to get stronger than I am now and continue to be a great champion,” said Yoshido.

Yoshido is among just 23 female world champions from Japan and only the sixth to hold world titles in multiple divisions.

Yoshida is sure to have her supporters in Japan watching, where boxing is second only to baseball in popularity. She posted a message to them on her Facebook page (translated).

“The more support I receive from so many amazing people, the more I honestly feel the pressure.
But I want to embrace all the love, encouragement, and genuine wishes for me to succeed, not as pressure, but as strength.

Thanks to all of you, I’ve been able to have the best possible preparation.
I am truly grateful to everyone who has been part of this journey. Thank you from the bottom of my heart.”

MVPW07 Lineup Includes Four Title Fights

Nicholson vs Yoshida joins the lineup in Arlington, Texas, led by the IBF World Lightweight title fight between Elif Nur Turhan and Alycia Baumgardner in the main event; Ramla Ali vs Mikiah Kreps for the vacant IBF and WBO World Super Bantamweight titles; and Irma Garcia vs Nataly Delgado for Garcia’s IBF World Super Flyweight title.

Fight Week activities begin on Thursday, November 5 and all are free and open to the public. They are also livestreamed on the Most Valuable Promotions YouTube channel.

Thursday, November 5, 6 p.m. Central 7 p.m. ET/4 p.m. PT
Open Workout on MVP Instagram Live
Texas LIVE!, Arlington, Texas

Friday, November 6, 6 p.m. Central 7 p.m. ET/4 p.m. PT
Final News Conference with all fighters on MVP YouTube Channel
Texas LIVE!, Arlington, Texas

Saturday, November 6, 6 p.m. Central 7 p.m. ET/4 p.m. PT
Public Weigh-In on MVP YouTube Channel
Texas LIVE!, Arlington, Texas

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