ANAHEIM, Calif. – Even at 5ft, 9in, Gabriela Fundora already feels maxed out in her current weight division.
The unbeaten and undisputed flyweight queen has strongly considered the rare move of moving down in weight, rather than up the scale, in search of her next big career opportunity. That desire didn’t go away even after her one-sided, sixth round stoppage of Viviana Ruiz to retain her crown Saturday evening at the Honda Center in Anaheim, California.
“I already walk around at 113,” Fundora told – in fact, reminded - BoxingScene. “I physically cannot move up in weight. I can make 108 a lot easier than I can get to 115. I’m already eating the day of the weigh-in just to weigh as much as I do now.”
Fundora, 18-0 (10 KOs), was 110.8lbs during Friday’s official pre-fight weigh-in. She was a full pound lighter than Ruiz, 10-3 (5 KOs), ahead of their WBA title consolidation bout.
Despite the physical disadvantage at the scales, Fundora – a 23-year-old southpaw from Coachella, California - remains the far more physically imposing figure every time she steps in the ring. Six of her seven championship fights have ended inside the distance, including her last four contests.
Two more WBO flyweight defenses will bring her to five, which means a commemorative championship ring from the sanctioning body. So, there remains motivation to remain at flyweight at least long enough to add more bling to her collection.
The question is, who is the challenger worthy enough to keep one of the sport’s pound-for-pound best at the weight?
The name that consistently pops up the most is Mizuki “MiMi” Hiruta. The lineal, RING and WBO 115lbs queen is also the 2025 Ring Magazine Women’s Fighter of the Year, an honor Fundora claimed one year prior when she fully unified the flyweight division.
Hiruta is from Japan but trains and fights out of Southern California. Such a clash would be a perfect fit for the region – but would also have to be a perfect physical fit for Fundora to consider.
“Becoming a multi-division champ is a goal of mine, but for where my body is at, it would have to come at 108,” Fundora said of the only weight direction currently under consideration. “So, if [Hiruta] wanted to try to become a two-division champ, she can meet me at flyweight. I’m down for that [scenario] and hope that we could really bring out all of L.A.”
Hiruta went 4-0 during her award-winning 2025 campaign, all in WBO title defenses and also establishing championship lineage at 115lbs. The Japanese southpaw has yet to fight in 2026 and, thus far, does not appear to be in the immediate plans for Zuffa Boxing, for whom her promoter Tom Loeffler currently serves an integral role.
With that in mind, Fundora – who has the backing of Golden Boy Promotions and Sampson Boxing – would have some leverage in that scenario.
That said, a shot at the undisputed 108lbs championship could come within one or two more fights, depending on how she and her team go about the situation.
“Honestly, it depends on what my team says is best for me,” insisted Fundora. “So, if that’s going after the WBC (Lourdes Juarez), or going for Evelin Bermudez (WBA, IBF and WBO champ) – whatever opportunity presents itself at the time we’re ready to look at 108.
“All of it sounds good – whatever my promoters bring to the table. Every time I fight, I promise to steal the show as long as you’re willing to put me in the spotlight. That’s what I’m here for, to put on a big show for the fans.”
