Yoshida Looking To Unify After Backing Herself To Succeed

Miyo Yoshida uprooted her whole life looking for change and last December she got it when she won her third world title in the most unlikely of ways.

Yoshida claimed the IBF bantamweight title when she won a 10-round unanimous decision over Ebanie Bridges as the pay-per-view opener on the Devin Haney-Regis Prograis card. 

Yoshida (17-4), a single mother who relocated to New York in 2023, was not the original opponent for Bridges; Avril Mathie was. Yoshida was coming off a unanimous decision loss to Shurretta Metcalf that happened a little less than a month prior. A fight that Yoshida took on three weeks’ notice as well. The victory made Yoshida not just a three-time world champion, but a two-division world champion. She previously held the WBO junior bantamweight title on two different occasions. 

“I was told about 17 days before the scheduled fight that I might be a potential opponent,” said the 36-year-old fighter via a translator. “I was officially confirmed for the fight less than two weeks beforehand. I don’t recall exactly what I was doing, but I remember at that time being very excited for the opportunity, but also nervous because I was in the middle of making a change to my training team.”

Yoshida trained with Aureliano Sosa, a boxing coach in New York City, who has trained Chris Colbert amongst other top amateurs in the country. She even admitted she hadn’t gotten settled fully before the title shot came. Neither had her daughter, Mina, who traveled with her and served as inspiration.

“My motivation was largely driven by my drive to make my daughter and supporters happy,” said Yoshida. “Seeing my daughter adjust to life in a new country was daily motivation. I had to succeed. Coach Sosa, and his brother, Jimmy, worked with me for just two weeks. They were so enthusiastic.”

This was not the first time she had taken such a dramatic step. She moved to Hawaii to learn kickboxing 10 years earlier. Still, New York City is very different to Hawaii.

“I came to the United States to become world champion for the third time,” stated Yoshida. “Many people in Japan said it would be impossible for me to repeat as world champion, especially in the United States.

“I didn’t have anything, but I believed in my potential. I am so happy to have achieved the world title after just one year in the U.S. It is because of the support of those around me.”

In March, Yoshida signed with manager Keith Sullivan, a New York lawyer who manages Nisa Rodriguez and Paddy Donovan.

So what is next? Yoshida wants to consolidate the titles.

“My next goal is a unification of the belts,” she continued.

 A glance at her division; Dina Thorslund holds the WBO and WBC titles, and Nina Hughes holds the WBA title. Hughes is also fighting Cherneka Johnson this weekend in Australia. That fight will take place on the Vasiliy Lomachenko-George Kambosos Jr. undercard.  Hughes and Yoshida share the same promoter, DiBella Entertainment. Yoshida might have a watchful eye on the events of this weekend as one would think that is a makeable fight.

As for Metcalf, Yoshida has no plans to rematch soon with one exception unless she picks up a world title. 

“I am so focused on unification that a rematch with Metcalf is not my priority,” emphasized Yoshida. “If she secures a title, then I’ll have the chance to seek revenge during my path to unification.”