An active champion is a dangerous one.

Mizuki Hiruta will make the sixth defense of her WBO world junior bantamweight title, and second as Ring champion next month when she faces No. 2-ranked contender Gloria Gallardo on November 22.

The pair will headline a Hollywood Fight Nights event at Thunder Studios in Long Beach, California, led by Tom Loeffler's 360 Promotions and broadcast worldwide on UFC Fight Pass.

Hiruta (9-0, 2 KOs) seeks to make history, joining pound-for-pound male star and Japanese compatriot Naoya Inoue as one of just two world champions with a four-fight schedule in 2025 — all of those being title defences.

She was officially presented with her championship belt by The Ring’s editor-in-chief Douglass Fischer in the gym alongside Loeffler and head coach Manny Robles, promising to work even harder after recent achievements.

Mexico's Gallardo (16-3-3, 7 KOs), meanwhile, returned to winning ways with a third-round stoppage win in March after a near shutout points loss by Irma Garcia when contesting for the IBF's world title in December.

Hiruta kicked off her year with an anticlimactic finish, eight rounds into her defense against Gallardo's compatriot Maribel Ramirez on January 17. After flooring the 39-year-old in Round 2, an accidental headbutt caused the challenger's cut to worsen and they ultimately went to the scorecards with a technical decision scored.

An impressive decision win over Argentina's Carla Merino in mid-May saw her scoop the vacant Ring title, a divisional first, which she defended against then-unbeaten contender Naomy Cardenas Gomez on August 15.

"She wants to stay very active, fight the best competition and Gloria Gallardo is one of Mexico's toughest female fighters," said Loeffler, as his charge will naturally seek unification matchups after this.

WBC beltholder Asley Gonzalez Macias (17-2, 7 KOs) hasn't fought this year, IBF champion Garcia's plans are unclear while Jasmine Artiga (14-0-1, 7 KOs) defended her WBA crown for the first time with a third-round finish of Linn Sandstrom in August.

Braced for her first stateside appearance, 11-year pro Gallardo is keen to make history and return home with new hardware to inspire others in Mexico.

In a press release, the 30-year-old said: "Mizuki has had her time but my time is now and I'm taking home the world title belt. I've worked hard and earned my opportunity for this fight, plan on taking full advantage to cement my name as one of the world's best female boxers, following in the growing legacy of Mexican champions."

Loeffler teased further information for an 'outstanding undercard', which already includes Roxy Verduzco (6-0, 1 KO) seeking a fifth victory of 2025 while Abel Sanchez-trained junior middleweight Sadriddin Akhmedov (15-0-1, 13 KOs) faces Mexico's power-punching Edgardo Velasquez (16-2, 16 KOs) in an intriguing 10-round contest.

Unbeaten prospect trio Abel Mejia at junior lightweight, strawweight Lupita Medina and junior featherweight Adan Palma are all slated to feature against opponents TBC.