Naoko "Michinoku's Smasher Beauty Killer" Fujioka (藤岡奈穂子)

If asked to name something impressive about this lady, you'd be hard-pressed figuring out where to start.

• Turned pro at 34 and has more than carved out a name for herself.
• To date Japan's only five weight class world titlist, of any gender. (currently WBA flyweight champ, previously their super fly, WBC's straw, and WBO's light fly & bantam)
• Only blemishes have been close ten-round contests with fellow world titlists, including road losses to Susianna Levonovna Kentikian in Germany and Jessica Chávez Valencia in Mexico, plus a draw with countrywoman Manami Arima.
• Captured her fifth world title belt in a fifth division at the age of 41 and has now defended it thrice, most recently this past Friday, at 45.
• Sauntered up like an outlaw in an old west saloon to call out WBC titlist Marlen Esparza sitting at the commentary table in the aftermath of her victory, for a unification.
• Spends her free time volunteering to visit disabled children.
• Further cemented her golden human being status^ by returning to her native Miyagi prefecture to serve meals to displaced survivors after the giant earthquake in 2011.
• Won a Diamond Award "for social contribution" in Japan.
• Drove a truck as her "day" (and night) job early in her career.
• Went undefeated domestically in the amateurs, with a notable victory over future WBC interim & WBO flyweight titlist Nana "Original Fighting Beauty" Yoshikawa (55-22 amateur record, 8-2 pro) less than a year after first setting foot in a boxing gym. What?!
• Stayed in the amateurs for a year after the JBC lifted its ban on women competing professionally, even as most of her peers rushed to make their debuts, so that she could help strengthen the national team for tourneys internationally.
• Total amateur record of 20-3 (12 RSC's/kayos, that's a crazy high %, if you weren't aware...)
• Go-to meal is salt-grilled Pacific saury (think mackerel), head & all! Doesn't flinch at consuming everything between scale & bone, including eyeballs. She has several pounds of fish a month delivered from her local sponsor, Yamada Fisheries, and plugs them on her social media on a weekly basis.
• Mentored current Japanese female bantamweight national titlist Kanako Taniyama into the pros, and conducts both cooking and boxing classes for young women in her area in her free time (and sometimes on the road, including places as far as Vietnam).
• Is the second of just two people to stop Maria Isabel "La Estrella Catrina" Millán Espinoza in 38 pro bouts (after dominating her on the official scorecards; neither feat was matched by hyped British prospect and Olympic gold medalist Nicola "Lioness" Adams...)

Yep...she's a badass, alright. Glad she finally made a splash with American crowds, as she has apparently long been dreaming of doing.

Fujioka vs. Yokasta Galeth "La Yoka" Valle Álvarez:

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Fujioka vs. Irma "La Guerita" Sánchez Manzo:

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Fujioka vs. Manami "Tsenkai Tsunami" Arima:

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Fujioka vs. Sulem "La Mexicana" Urbina Ochoa:

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(4 hours and 30 minutes in)

 

@CST80 called her Beat Takeshi Kitano in drag and I now can't unsee that anytime I look at a pic or video of her.

 

Honestly, while they're on different career trajectories now (with Tsunami losing and her winning on Friday and seeking out big international legacy fights before her time runs up), it'd be great to see her and Tsunami run it back. Their fight was fun and could really have swung either way - and the result being a draw has to make a rematch feel like a chance at settling unfinished business for both.