Japan’s Miyo Yoshida is the new IBF World Bantamweight title holder after an upset win over Australian Ebanie Bridges.
As part of the Devin Haney vs Regis Prograis undercard in San Francisco, Bridges came up against Yoshida in a battle defending her IBF bantamweight world title.
Fighting on the Regis Prograis-Devin Haney undercard, Yoshida won by unanimous decision in San Francisco – 99-91, 99-91, 97-93.
The Aussie – dubbed the ‘Blonde Bomber’ – was originally slated to fight compatriot Avril Mathie, who withdrew at the last minute due to injury. Yoshida – who is mostly an MMA fighter – stepped in at the last minute and stunned the boxing world after a staggering performance against Bridges.
Yoshida was a 7/1 underdog going into the bout, but somehow she upset these odds.
Having lost just one month earlier against Shurreta Metcalf, Yoshida did not seem like she would cause Bridges many issues, and yet this proved quite untrue in the ring.
Bridges hadn’t fought since December of 2022 – her only other title defence against Shannon O’Connell. In contrast, the 35-year-old Yoshida had fought as recently as November when she lost a 10-round unanimous decision to Shurretta Metcalf (13-4-1, 2 KOs).
