Cat Zingano To Face Takayo Hashi In May 14 Title FightUnbeaten Colorado prospect Cat “Alpha” Zingano will put one of her many championship titles on the line against Japanese veteran Takayo Hashi at Fight To Win: “Outlaws” on May 14th in Denver, Colorado. Hashi enters the bout on one week’s notice after Angela Samaro withdrew due to injury.

MMARising.com confirmed the updated fight with sources on Friday. While Zingano’s 130-pound Fight To Win title will be on the line, the fight will take place at a catchweight of 128 pounds using three five-minute rounds. Hashi is coming off of title fight losses to Sarah Kaufman and Tara LaRosa.

Zingano (5-0-0) has put together an impressive string of wins since turning pro in June of 2008. She has held titles in three different weight classes for the Colorado-based Ring of Fire promotion and captured the Fight To Win 130-Pound Women’s Championship by defeating Barb “Little Warrior” Honchak in a Fight of the Year candidate in January 2010. Zingano has gradually taken steps up in competition and is coming off of her biggest win to date; a second-round TKO stoppage of Carina “Beauty But The Beast” Damm in December.

Hashi (13-3-0) is no stranger to title gold, as she once held the Smackgirl Middleweight Championship in Japan and challenged for a pair of belts last year. In February, Hashi faced former Strikeforce champ Sarah Kaufman, but dropped a one-sided Unanimous Decision after five rounds. She was much more competitive in a DaMMAge Fight League title tilt with Tara LaRosa in November, but again fell short when the fight went to the judges.

Despite the losing skid, Hashi will now enter her third straight title fight. She does so on just one week’s notice after Zingano’s original opponent, former rival Angela Samaro, was forced to withdraw from the fight due to injury. Hashi will hold an edge in experience, but she will face a much larger and stronger opponent in Zingano.

Fight To Win: “Outlaws” takes place on May 14th at the National Western Complex in Denver, Colorado.

 

  1. Hashi had been notified 2 months ago that she could be a replacement invade something happen to Cat’s opponent and has been preparing for the fight since.

  2. Yes, my understanding is that Takayo and her management were interested in the fight when it was first being put together weeks ago, but she does only have a week to get all of the travel and final fight preparations in order.

  3. Tough fight for Cat.
    Takayo has a great chance to get a victory.
    Too small for 135.