“Fighting Single Mother” Reveals the Struggles of a Japanese Boxer Facing Racism in the U.S.
Yoshida in action against Metcalfe.Appeal against the judges
IBF Women’s Bantamweight Champion Miyo Yoshida (36) was certain of her victory.
On October 23 (local time), at a packed Madison Square Garden in New York, Yoshida raised her hands in response to the cheers of fans after battling through 10 rounds. Her teammates from “TEAM MIYO” greeted her with high-fives, their faces filled with smiles.
In contrast, the challenger, Shuretta Metcalfe’s team, appeared tense, with no smiles to be seen. Yet, the referee’s announcement was a 3-0 decision, declaring a new champion. Yoshida’s first defense ended in disappointment, met with boos from the crowd.
Three weeks after the fight, Yoshida returned to Japan and reflected on the unexpected loss, despite landing several effective punches.
After gaining experience in mixed martial arts and other sports, she switched to boxing in 2014.In fact, the commentators of the U.S. TV broadcast that covered the fight repeatedly called Yoshida the winner. The cameras also followed Yoshida throughout the final round, making her victory seem unquestionable.
“Although it may not be clear from the footage, after the decision, there was a lot of booing, and the atmosphere in the venue became tense. In fact, I felt the same unnaturalness in the judgment of my previous match. This time, I filed a request with the New York State Athletic Commission (the organization responsible for managing combat sports like boxing) to ‘change the referee and judges and ensure a fair decision.’
However, I’m not a U.S. citizen. It’s hard to say that I wouldn’t be treated unfairly just because I’m Japanese. That’s why I made sure to prepare thoroughly for the fight. The result has shocked my entire team because we feel we were too optimistic.”
Suffering of Japanese Boxers in the U.S.
Compared to Japan, the American boxing world places more emphasis on attendance and entertainment elements. For Metcalf, a fight against Yoshida represented his biggest chance to reach the top of the world.
Metcalf has stated to local media that he would be open to a rematch with Yoshida but that Yoshida is unlikely to accept because Metcalf would demand a large sum as fight money.
Yoshida, a single mother, moved to New York with her young daughter about two years ago.
“After searching for promoters, I met Lou DiBella. Through him, I was able to sign a contract and move to the U.S. on an athlete visa.”
Lou DiBella is a renowned promoter who has produced many world champions. DiBella saw Yoshida’s potential and offered her certain conditions.
“One of the conditions was that I should move to the U.S. with my daughter. He said it wouldn’t work for me to keep going back and forth between Japan and the U.S. and that I couldn’t be half-hearted about it. He told me that if I was committed to settling in New York with my daughter, he would provide the visa. Another condition was that I had to leave the JBC (Japan Boxing Commission).”
At the time, Yoshida was with the Misako Gym in Nerima, Tokyo. She ended her contract with the gym and left the JBC, cutting off her retreat and making a full commitment to the challenge. The title she lost in this match was one she had won after moving to the U.S. in December last year.
“Life is full of contradictions, isn’t it? There are good things and bad things. I can’t say that there’s no racial discrimination against Asians. In the U.S., being a Japanese boxer isn’t just about effort. It’s not enough just to try hard. That’s why I don’t just work hard; I speak out when something seems wrong.”
She hopes to build an environment where Japanese fighters can be properly evaluated when they compete abroad. Though she is 36 and feels the time limit on her boxing career, she intends to aim for her fourth world championship in 2025.
After her defeat, Yoshida has risen again and is moving forward.
Interview, text, and photos： Kei Kato
