WBO and Ring super flyweight champion Mizuki Hiruta is taking her title run global.
Set to defend her belts on the undercard of “Glory in Giza” in Giza, Egypt, on May 23, Hiruta is chasing recognition, and doing it her way.
The memes weren’t lying. The Hello Kitty girlies are dangerous.
Hiruta, who has leaned into her love for Sanrio and Sailor Moon as part of her identity, said she wants to reach the kind of worldwide visibility that mirrors her favorite character.
“I want to be like Hello Kitty,” Hiruta told Boxing Social. “Hello Kitty is very famous, very popular in the world.”
The upcoming event marks another step outside of her comfort zone. After building her career in Japan and gaining experience on local club shows in Los Angeles, the move to a global stage in Egypt represents both risk and opportunity.
“I can’t believe it, and I’m so happy,” Hiruta said of fighting in Giza.
Her opponent, Egyptian-born Australian Mai Soliman (10-1, 6 KOs), presents a legitimate test. While Soliman has one loss on her record, it came via split decision in just her second professional bout. She enters the fight on a run of four consecutive knockouts, holding a clear edge in power over Hiruta (10-0, 2 KOs).
Hiruta acknowledged the danger.
“Of course, a little nervous and a little scary,” she said. “But no pasa nada. No pasa nada. Vamos, vamos.”
That mindset has been shaped in part by her environment at Knockouts Boxing Facility, where she trains under Manny Robles alongside a predominantly Latin American stable.
Surrounded by fighters from Mexico, Argentina and beyond, Hiruta has embraced the culture fully, picking up Spanish and adopting the gym’s energy.
“Every day, everybody is happy,” she said. “Happy, dancing and singing. I feel happy.”
The connection goes both ways. Robles, who has trained Hiruta since 2023, has leaned into her personality as well, recently surprising her with a custom pink heavy bag decorated in her signature kawaii style and stamped with the phrase she now lives by: “No pasa nada.”
That balance between lighthearted personality and serious intent has defined Hiruta’s rise. Standing at 5-foot-4, often seen in Hello Kitty slides with a matching gym bag, she carries an animated presence outside the ring. Inside, she’s methodical, composed and focused.
Still, despite being named The Ring’s 2025 Female Fighter of the Year, Hiruta admits she hasn’t yet reached the level of recognition of peers like Katie Taylor, Mikaela Mayer and Ellie Scotney.
Her recent trip to New York only reinforced both the excitement and the pressure that comes with growing visibility.
“It was awesome. A dream come true,” she said. “I was super panicked.”
That mix of nerves and ambition shows up everywhere, from media appearances to fight night. But it hasn’t slowed her trajectory.
As she prepares for her seventh title defense, Hiruta remains clear on the goal: expand her reach, unify titles and continue building a global presence that matches her in-ring accomplishments.
“I do my best,” she said. “Si se puede. No pasa nada.”
In other words, the same energy she brings into the gym every day is the same one she’s taking to Egypt.
The rest of the “Glory in Giza” card brings a mix of global names and unbeaten matchups, headlined by unified heavyweight champion Oleksandr Usyk taking on former kickboxing champion Rico Verhoeven in a crossover main event.
Undefeated contenders Hamzah Sheeraz and Alem Begic meet for the vacant WBO super middleweight title, while Jack Catterall faces Shakhram Giyasov for the WBA regular welterweight belt.
In the heavyweight mix, Frank Sancheztakes on Olympic silver medalist Richard Torrez Jr., adding another high-stakes clash to a card that blends world title fights, rising prospects and local Egyptian talent.
