Naoko Fujioka Elected to the International Boxing Hall of Fame

Naoko Fujioka, Japan's first professional boxer to win world titles in fight weight classes, has been elected to the International Boxing Hall of Fame.

The IBHOF announced its Class of 2026 inductees in a news release on Thursday, December 4.

Hall of Fame weekend is scheduled for June 11-14, 2026, in Canastota, New York.

"We're thrilled about the Class of 2026 and are very much looking forward to honoring the newest class of inductees to earn boxing's highest honor," said Edward Brophy, the executive director of the IBHOF.

Fujioka said she was excited to receive the news.

"It's an honor to be elected into the International Boxing Hall of Fame," she said, according to the news release. "I never expected that what I did in my boxing career would be appreciated like this. So this news is totally stunning."

Fujioka added, "It's such an honor that I am the first female from Japan to be elected into the Hall of Fame."

In addition to the Miyagi Prefecture native, the 2026 IBHOF's star-studded list of 2026 inductees includes Kazakh great Gennadiy "GGG" Golovkin, American Antonio Tarver and Britain's Nigel Benn in the men's modern category.

Mexico's Jackie Nava joins Fujioka in the women's category.

Naoko Fujioka Excelled in Five Weight Classes

Making her pro debut in September 2009, Naoko Fujioka demonstrated her punching power from the get-go. She won her first three bouts via second-round technical knockouts. All three fights took place at Tokyo's Korakuen Hall.

In fact, that venue was where Fujioka established herself as a title contender. Her first eight fights were held there.

During a pro career that lasted until she was 46 years old, Fujioka claimed world titles in the minimumweight, light flyweight, flyweight, super flyweight and bantamweight divisions.

In April 2022, WBA flyweight champion Fujioka faced American WBC titleholder Marlen Esparza in a title unification bout in San Antonio, Texas. Esparza was the unanimous winner on the three judges' scorecards (100-90 on two cards and 97-93 on the other).

It was Fujioka's final pro fight.

She retired with a record of 19 wins (seven knockouts), three losses and one draw.

Honoring the Past and the Present

Other 2026 International Boxing Hall of Fame inductees include Russ Anber (trainer/cut man), referee Frank Cappuccino and Jimmy Glenn (trainer/cut man), both of whom will be honored posthumously, and Dr Edwin "Flip" Homansky. The quartet will be inducted in the non-participant category.

In the observer category, journalists Kevin Iole and broadcaster Alex Wallau (posthumous inductee) will be recognized.

Jimmy Clabby is this year's lone inductee in the old timer's category. Known as the "Indiana Wasp," He retired in 1923 after compiling a pro record of 86-21-23 (46 KOs). Clabby died in 1934.