Philippines, 19 May 2026
  Home >> News

 


BOXERS

CURRENT CHAMPIONS 

FORMER CHAMPIONS   

RATINGS                       

NEWS           

FORUM        

FIGHT GALLERIES        

RING CARD GIRLS        


 
 
News  


3-Time, 2-Division World Champion & IBF No. 1, Mandatory Bantamweight World Title Challenger Miyo Yoshida long overdue for her 8th World title fight

PhilBoxing.com




NEW YORK CITY – Three-time, two-division World Champion Miyo Yoshida (18-5, 0 KOs) is long overdue for her 8th world title fight as the International Boxing Federation’s (IBF) No. 1 rated, mandatory challenger.

Now, Team Yoshida is demanding the IBF order reigning, undisputed World Bantamweight Champion Cherneka Johnson (19-2, 8 KOs) to fight Miyo next.

“I am ready to challenge Johnson,” Yoshida said. “She is a respected champion, but I will emerge as the undisputed bantamweight champion of the world when our fight is finished.”

Yoshida, 37, won the WBO Super Flyweight titles in 2019 and 2021. On December 23, 2024, she stepped in as a late replacement in San Francisco and upset IBF Bantamweight World champion Ebanie Bridges (9-1) by a 10-round unanimous decision (99-91, 99-91, 97-93).

Yoshida, 37, won the WBO Super Flyweight titles in 2019 and 2021. On December 23, 2024, she stepped in as a late replacement in San Francisco and upset IBF Bantamweight World champion Ebanie Bridges (9-1) by a 10-round unanimous decision (99-91, 99-91, 97-93).

On October 23, 2024, Yoshida relinquished her IBF title in a 10-round rematch against Shurretta Metcalf (13-5-1, 2 KOs), with the judges awarding disputed scores of 99-91, 96-94, and 96-93. Yoshida’s manager, Attorney Keith Sullivan, submitted an appeal to the IBF, asserting that Yoshida’s performance—highlighted by accurate jabs and a superior punch connection rate—warranted a different outcome. The appeal was substantiated by COMPUBOX statistics. Furthermore, Yoshida employed defensive strategies that limited Metcalf's effectiveness, resulting in 91% of Metcalf’s punches not landing. In total, Yoshida connected with 50% more punches (96-64) than Metcalf and had a significantly higher accuracy rate of 22% compared to Metcalf’s 9%.

The IBF ruled this past January to install Yoshida as its No. 1, mandatory challenger, ordering Metcalf to defend her crown against Yoshida by October 2025.

Metcalf, though, requested and was granted a voluntary defense by the IBF for a unification fight with Johnson, the WBA World Champion (18-2, 8 KOs), who with an 9th-round knockout of Metcalf also captured the vacant World Boxing Council (WBC) and World Boxing Organization (WBO) world titles.

Yoshida, who took a risky fight this past February 1 to stay relatively active, defeating Beata Dudek by way of a 10-round unanimous decision (99-91, 97-93, 96-94), remains the IBF’s No. 1, mandatory challenger for Johnson, who last Saturday in Miami defeated challenger Amanda Galle (12-1-1, 1 KO) by way of a unanimous decision in her first undisputed world titles defense on the Jake Paul-Anthony Joshua card.

“Johnson versus Yoshida is the best fight in the bantamweight division,” Sullivan stated, “champion against the most dangerous contender. This is the fight fans deserve to see. Miyo Yoshida never lost her standing in this division; she lost her title on paper. She’s the IBF mandatory challenger for a reason, and a fight with Johnson is the rightful next chapter.”

Yoshida, known as the "Fighting Single Mother" in Japan, is a respected role model and recipient of Ring Magazine's 2023 Most Inspirational Female Fighter award. She is among just 23 female world champions from Japan and only the sixth to hold world titles in multiple divisions.

Sullivan, a former New York State Athletic Commission Deputy Commissioner, also manages undefeated Brooklyn heavyweight prospect Pryce Taylor (10-0, 6 KOs), Bronx NYPD officer Nisa Rodriguez (3-1, 1 KO), and junior featherweight/influencer Brooklyn “The Big Deal” Barwick (4-0, 4 KOs). Sullivan also co-manages IBF Welterweight World title challenger Paddy “The Real Deal” Donovan (14-2, 11 KOs) and his cousin, middleweight Jim Donovan (2-0, 1 KO), alongside head trainer and former world champion Andy Lee.

INFORMATION
X : @MiyoBledog
Instagram : @miyo_yoshida_ @sullivan_galleshaw
Facebook : #miyoyoshida #sullivangalleshaw




Recent PhilBoxing.com In-House articles:

  • Rematch option for Melvin
    By Joaquin Henson, , Tue, 19 May 2026
  • World-class stablemates John ‘Scrappy’ Ramirez & Darius ‘DFG’ Fulghum fighting on same card Friday night in San Jose
    , Tue, 19 May 2026
  • Ignacio Defeats Malayan to Claim Title and USD 10,000 Prize
    By Marlon Bernardino, , Tue, 19 May 2026
  • USA Boxing Elite High Performance Squad Dominates Day One of 2026 Copa America with 11-0 Record
    , Tue, 19 May 2026
  • Reina Tellez Returns to the Ring Following World Title Challenge Against Amanda Serrano
    , Mon, 18 May 2026
  • Mombay, Garras top Helubong 50km Uphill Ultra Challenge
    By Lito delos Reyes, , Mon, 18 May 2026
  • Arijan Goricki Knocks Out Hassan Ndonga in Nairobi
    , Mon, 18 May 2026
  • USA Boxing's High Performance Squad Sets Sights on Gold at 2026 Copa America
    , Mon, 18 May 2026
  • Team Sugar Rush wins Sir Jessie Villasin Chess Team 2X2 Tournament
    By Marlon Bernardino, , Mon, 18 May 2026
  • Paolo Gallito, 6 others in the last 16 in Malaysia
    By Marlon Bernardino, , Sun, 17 May 2026
  • Keyshawn Davis Returns Home With Decision Win Over Nahir Albright
    , Sun, 17 May 2026
  • Heartbreak in Johannesburg: Jerusalem Dethroned by Kuse in Bloody Rematch
    By Dong Secuya, , Sun, 17 May 2026
  • Roy Jones Jr. Blasts Dana White and Zuffa’s Push to Reshape Boxing During Explosive “Boxing Primetime Show” Interview
    , Sat, 16 May 2026
  • Weigh-In Results: Keyshawn Davis vs. Nahir Albright II
    , Sat, 16 May 2026
  • Jerusalem vs. Kuse II: High-Stakes Rematch in Johannesburg
    By Dong Secuya, , Sat, 16 May 2026
  • Hometown Hero Edward Vazquez Returns to ProBoxTV on Friday, June 5, to Face Mexico’s Daniel Lugo in the 10-round Main Event of ‘The Contender Series’ at University of Texas in Arlington
    , Sat, 16 May 2026
  • AQ Prime to host 2 big tournaments
    By Marlon Bernardino, , Sat, 16 May 2026
  • June 6 announcement: Padley-Fiaz to Main Event in Sheffield after Galal Yafai setback
    , Fri, 15 May 2026
  • Press Conference Notes: Keyshawn Davis Ready to Settle Unfinished Business in Saturday’s Hometown Rematch against Nahir Albright LIVE on DAZN
    , Fri, 15 May 2026
  • Eros Correa vs. Anthony Garnica, Set to Clash for WBC Continental Americas Title.
    , Fri, 15 May 2026
  • Eman-Perez rematch now title-match
    By Lito delos Reyes, , Fri, 15 May 2026
  • Montreal Experience greatly benefited Undefeated Kansas boxing prospect Marco Romero for this Saturday’s fight
    , Fri, 15 May 2026
  • ”MERCILESS” RAY MERCER TO ATTEND 2026 HALL OF FAME WEEKEND
    , Fri, 15 May 2026
  • IIEE Metro Central dominates the IIEE National Midyear Convention sportsfest
    By Marlon Bernardino, , Fri, 15 May 2026
  • Ancajas Boxing team to join Koronadal slugfest
    By Lito delos Reyes, , Fri, 15 May 2026




  •  



     
    PhilBoxing.com has been created to support every aspiring
    Filipino boxer and the Philippine boxing scene in general.
    Please send comments to feedback@philboxing.com


    PRIVATE POLICY | LEGAL DISCLAIMER
    developed and maintained by dong secuya
    © 2026 philboxing.com.