Naoko Fujioka
When we talk about female boxing with fans of the sport there are two distinct camps. There are those who accept that some female fighters are incredibly talented women who have every right to box as the elite men. Unfortunately we also have fans who refuse to even accept women's boxing and seem to call for it's banning at every opportunity.
Thankfully Japan has arguably the most naturally gifted female fighter on the planet right now and the type of fighter who can prove that women can be just as impressive in the ring as men.
Despite being 39 years old Naoko Fujioka (13-1, 6) really has it all. Skills, power, speed, anticipation and the desire to show her talent. This isn't a woman happy to dominate her natural division but instead is a woman who is wanting to make a point, a woman wanting to prove she is elite and woman who doesn't seem to realise that at 39 she's meant to be on the slide. In fact like a fine wine Fujioka is probably getting better with age
Thankfully Japan has arguably the most naturally gifted female fighter on the planet right now and the type of fighter who can prove that women can be just as impressive in the ring as men.
Despite being 39 years old Naoko Fujioka (13-1, 6) really has it all. Skills, power, speed, anticipation and the desire to show her talent. This isn't a woman happy to dominate her natural division but instead is a woman who is wanting to make a point, a woman wanting to prove she is elite and woman who doesn't seem to realise that at 39 she's meant to be on the slide. In fact like a fine wine Fujioka is probably getting better with age
Fujioka first started making her name in boxing at the turn of the century when she took up amateur boxing. Although well into her 20's when she began fighting her natural talent was phenomenal and it took just a few years for her to establish herself as amongst the very best domestically. In fact so good was Fujioka as an amateur that she won 5 Japanese national titles between 2001 and 2009.
As well as the national amateur titles that Fujioka was racking up she also managed to amass an impressive 20-3 record in the unpaid ranks and claimed various international medals. Having not taken up the sport until she was in her 20's and having claimed her final amateur title in 2009 it's obvious that Fujioka was well into her 30's by the time she finally turned professional. For many that would have been a limiting factor in any success they would be able to get, for Fujioka however it really was no barrier to her skills. Fujioka would debut professionally in September 2009 aged 34. On debut she stopped Thailand's Lilly Kokietgym and just two months later she would stop veteran Kazumi Izaki. After just 4 rounds as a professional it was clear that Fujioka had serious potential, potential that was on show as she scored her third successive second round stoppage taking out Pornboonon Por Vongporramet to move to 3-0 (3). Rather than continue to defeat low level opponents Fujioka would step up significantly in her fourth professional contest as she took on the talented Kanittha Kokietgym for the vacant OPBF title. Kanittha, who had given both Shindo Go and Irma Sanchez tough contests, was no match for Fujioka who took a very clear decision in what was her first 10 round contest. Fujioka would defend her OPBF title just once, out pointing Naoko Shibata, before relinquishing that title and moving up to world level. In Fujioka's first world title fight she took on WBC Minimumweight champion Anabel Ortiz. Ortiz, by then, was known to Japanese fans due to a victory over Nanako Kikuchi in her first title defense. Unfortunately for the Mexican she was no match for Fujioka who became the first woman to stop Ortiz, who has since claimed the WBA Minimumweight title. Despite holding the WBC Minimumweight title Fujioka would defend her title just twice. In her first defense she stopped former rival Kanittha Kokietgym in the ninth round before taking a clear decision over Victoria Argueta in the second. Whilst the title defenses were rare Fujioka did fight in two non-title fights to keep active in 2012 and 2013. Unfortunately however Fujioka had effectively ran out of challengers at Minimumweight and was in need of bigger, tougher and stronger challenges. In her most recent bout to date Fujioka got just that challenge as she moved up to Super Flyweight and faced the big punching Naoko Yamaguchi for the WBA title. This was supposed to be a huge gamble for Fujioka who had effectively skipped 2 weight divisions, despite having fought low level opponents at Flyweight previously, though in the ring it seemed anything but a risk. Fujioka took charge of the bout early and beat down Yamaguchi over 10 relatively one-sided rounds to become a 2-weight world champion. With the WBA Super Flyweight title over he shoulder Fujioka made the first defence of her belt by taking a decision over Tomoko Kawanishi. Sadly Fujioka's unbeaten run came to an end in controversial fashion as she lost a very tight fight in Germany to WBA female Flyweight champion Susi Kentikian. The fight included both some scrappy moments and some great action though unfortunately saw Kentikian getting the win in Germany on the cards, to no ones surprise. Amazingly the Japanese great bounced back from that loss and over-came the brilliant Mariana Juarez in Mexico in a bout that looks to be one of the female FOTY contenders for 2015. One thing is for sure, Fujioka's career is a special one and one that all fans should do what they can to follow before she calls it a day. Video below, courtesy of Yoko Gushiken, shows Fujioka's victory over Yamaguchi. |
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