By:  | June 15, 2023 1:03 pm

Summer is coming to Tokyo and it looks like Itsuki Hirata has got her self a new bikini. The Japanese atomweight took to Instagram to show off her latest purchase along with a caption in Japanese that translates as,

Getting ready for summer.

Hirata has spent a lot of time training in New York recently. She was looking to turn her career around after coming in for a barrage of criticism for missing weight ahead of a fight with Seo Hee Ham.

A rematch was eventually put together and this time Hirata did pass her weight and hydration tests. But she could not overcome the experienced Korean atomweight and was beaten by unanimous decision in their title eliminator.

Thick and fast

Judging from the comments, which are coming thick and fast, fans are just as interested in seeing Hirata sunbathing as they are in watching her fights. She currently has 270,ooo followers on Instagram making her one of the most popular fighters in the division.

Reigning champion Angela Lee is slightly ahead of Hirata with 297,00 followers while Stamp Fairtex leads the way with 557,ooo. But whereas these two have enjoyed sustained success inside the ring the Japanese fighter’s form has been more mixed.

Her reputation was dented by numerous failures to make weight, which culminated in Seo Hee Ham refusing to fight her at ONE 163. She did make weight for the rescheduled bout but was totally outclassed by the Korean.

Respectable record

Hirata has lost two out of her last three fights. Her 6-2 record is respectable but the 23 year old’s critics will point out that she came in overweight ahead of two of those victories.

Her last fight was a title eliminator, despite being unranked Hirata was just one win away from challenging for the interim belt. But it is Seo Hee Ham who will face Stamp Fairtex in a fight that is penciled in for August.

Having successfully made weight ahead of her last fight Hirata did at least save her ONE Championship career. She is bound to get another opportunity sooner or later, and in the meantime fans will be looking forwards to discovering what else she might be wearing this summer.