Miyo Yoshida to Defend Her IBF Bantamweight World Title Against Shurretta Metcalf on October 23rd – Breaking Boxing News
Three-time, two-division World Champion Miyo Yoshida (17-4, 0 KOs) 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 KOs), 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 popular Broadway Boxing series.
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 and 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 KOs) and World Boxing Council (WBC) Bantamweight World Champion Junto Nakatani (29-0, 22 KOs). However, 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 KOs), Japan’s only five-weight class female world champion, and possibly Emiko Raika (24-8-1, 10 KOs).
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. Fortunately, all of the world bantamweight champions – WBC/WBO & The Ring Champion Dina Thorslund (22-0, 9 KOs) of Denmark, IBF Ellie Scotney (9-0, 0 KOs) 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 KOs), Yulihan “La Cobritas” Luna Avila (27-4-1, 4 KOs), 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 KOs), and WBC #9 rated super middleweight Nisa Rodriguez (2-0, 0 KOs), amongst several other professional fighters.
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