Mizuki Hiruta is already a world champion, one who defends her WBO junior bantamweight title against Naomy Cardenas on Friday night at Chumash Casino in Santa Ynez, California.

But she wants more.

“I have a lot of room to improve still, and I'm not satisfied yet, not at all,” said Hiruta through a translator. “I don't think I'm recognized very well, and then to have that, I have to unify titles and also move up the divisions, so that way I can be a superstar. I want to be a superstar.”

It’s ambitious, but that’s always been the M.O. for the 29-year-old from Tokyo, Japan, whose training home is now Los Angeles, where she works with Manny Robles. In fact, it was that ambition that brought her to the States in the first place.

“When I got the world title, I figured I have to go out into the world to see how I can improve my boxing skills and then also how I can find ways that are real,” said Hiruta. “In Japan, female boxing is not really recognized very well, and so I wanted to see how people admire female champions. Maybe the USA will be the place to go.”

So far, so good. In 2025, Hiruta (8-0, 2 KOs) broke a yearlong inactive streak with two fights and two wins on 360 Promotions cards in California. Those victories over Maribel Ramirez (TD 8) and Carla Merino (UD 10) not only introduced her to the local fanbase, but also made her a fan favorite thanks to her pleasing style, charismatic personality and colorful entrances and ring outfits.

May sound like a simple formula, but it works. At the same time, Hiruta has been acclimating to life far from Japan, in and out of the ring.

“I love L.A., and I totally love the culture here,” said Hiruta, who has found a go-to at the dinner table, too.

“Mexican food is my favorite,” she said. “I love tacos.”

When not hitting her local favorites, it’s a lot of work, and Hiruta admits that she’s never sparred as much as she does in L.A. That’s just fine with her, and it sounds like the adjustment is going very smoothly. About the only thing she’s missing are family and friends back home, but according to her, the boxing fans in Japan aren’t too concerned with her absence.

“Nobody wants me to come back to Japan,” she said. “It's true. I don’t think they appreciate what I’m doing.”

As for her inner circle, they’re happy with her success, but her parents are another story.

“Everybody around me are saying very nice things to me about what I do here, but only my father and mother want me to stop boxing as soon as possible,” said Hiruta.

They have come to her fights in Japan, though. Their reaction?

“They say, ‘I'm so tired, I don't want to see this anymore. It gets me very, very tired, exhausted.'”

Hiruta, quick with a smile, laughs again, and that personality is infectious. But don’t mistake that happy-go-lucky attitude for someone who isn’t taking the sport seriously. It’s quite the opposite, and the proof is in her willingness to travel across the Pacific Ocean to train, as well as the fact that she has been a world champion since her fourth pro fight.

That will build a certain level of toughness, being the one with a target on her back every night she defends that belt.

“My challengers are aiming for my titles, but I don't think I'm the best in the world, and I want to improve myself all the time,” said Hiruta. “So I am in the ring as a challenger. I always think like that.”

Tough, and humble. She’ll take the tough, but not the humble.

“I don't think I'm humble,” she said. “This is really what I think. And I look up to the superstars and I want to be like them.”

That requires more wins, more title defenses and more fans. Hiruta is here for all of it.

"In the future, I want to unify the title, so I want to fight anybody who has the titles and also anybody who gives me that chance,” she said. “I'll be happy with that. And also, whoever watches my fight, I want them to be happy with my fight or be encouraged by my fight.

"That's why I do my best in everything. Not only fighting, but also the costume and keeping my smile in the ring. Of course, I don’t smile during the fight, but everything else is the way I show my appreciation.”