Hiruta’s Footwork and Sharp Counters Shut Down Cárdenas
Mizuki Hiruta defeated Naomy Cárdenas Gomez by unanimous decision on August 15, 2025, at Chumash Casino in Santa Ynez, California. The ten-round contest ended with scores of 100–90, 100–90 and 98–92 as Hiruta retained her WBO junior bantamweight championship.
The jab kept the challenger chasing
Hiruta used her jab to manage distance and forced Cárdenas to keep moving forward in search of openings. Her footwork made her difficult to pin down, allowing her to strike and change position before the challenger could settle.
An uppercut in the second round illustrated Hiruta’s timing. Cárdenas kept trying to apply pressure, but her forward movement repeatedly gave the champion opportunities to land cleaner counters.
Overextended attacks created more openings
Training in Los Angeles with Manny Robles, Hiruta showed how effectively she could punish an opponent who reached too far. She timed Cárdenas coming forward and maintained control of the exchanges throughout the bout.
Cárdenas had also missed the championship weight limit, making her ineligible to win the belt. She nevertheless continued pursuing the upset, even as Hiruta’s accuracy and movement limited her success.
A fifth defense preserved the unbeaten record
The victory was Hiruta’s fifth successful WBO title defense and her third consecutive appearance in the United States. She improved to nine wins without defeat, while Cárdenas suffered her first professional loss.
Two judges awarded every round to Hiruta, with the remaining card also comfortably in her favor. The result rewarded sustained technical control rather than a single dramatic moment or a late change in momentum.
Sources
- BoxingScene: jab, footwork, counters, weight miss and scores
- WBO: August 15 title defense and championship history
- Big Fight Weekend: date, fifth defense and unbeaten record
