Masamichi Yabuki has done it again.
A local hero became a two-time junior flyweight champion after an upset victory over outgoing 108-pound titleholder Sivenathi Nontshinga. Yabuki scored three knockdowns to force a stoppage at 1:50 of the ninth round.
With the victory, Yabuki – a former WBC champion – lifted the IBF crown on Saturday at the Sky Expo in Tokoname in Aichi, Japan.
Nontshinga was on the road once again, making the first defense of his second title tour. The visiting South African boxer regained the belt earlier following a tenth-round knockout of Adrian Curiel, who knocked out Nontshinga in the first round last November.
Yabuki was prepared for the occasion and delivered an even more disciplined performance than he did in his upset knockout victory over Kenshiro Teraji in September 2021. Aichi, the fighting pride of Nagoya, used a powerful jab to keep Nontshinga at bay for most of the fight. He also mixed in left hooks for good measure.
Nontshinga tried to make up ground in the second round and had moderate success compared to his deliberate start in the opening round. The momentum didn’t last long. He was often wild and low with his overhand right hand, while Yabuki landed cleaner and sharper punches.
Things seemed to change for Nontshinga in the fifth round. Ring’s No. 2 flyweight often took down Yabuki and forced action. However, at the end of the round he went for a right hand to ruin this luck.
The beginning of the end came at the end of the eighth period. Nontshinga tried in vain to keep up and fire a powerful shot to turn the tide. Instead, it was Yabuki who scored with a pair of game-changing right hands upstairs. Notshinga was clearly hurt as he turned around. Yabuki landed a final left hook while Nontshinga took a knee before taking down the count and exiting the round.
Nontshinga wasn’t so lucky as the bell rang to start the ninth. He tried to close the gap by targeting Yabuki with a left hook to the body. Yabuki responded with a left hook upstairs before a right hand drove Nontshinga into the ropes. Another right hand caused the second knockdown of the fight.
Nontshinga once again beat the count, but referee Mark Calo-oy expressed concern about the fighter’s condition. The action resumed, but not for long. Yabuki landed a final right hand that caught Nontshinga in the temple and knocked him down for the third time. The fight was immediately stopped as the fallen former titleholder was immediately treated.
Yabuki (17-4, 16 knockout), ranked No. 6 at 108, scored his biggest victory since a devastating upset of Teraji (23-1, 14 KO) to capture the WBC title. This reign was short-lived as he lost the belt to Teraji via third-round knockout in their March 2022 rematch.
Four victories – all by knockout – came to Yabuki, who is currently the only vigorous champion of the division. Teraji and Jonathan “Bomba” Gonzalez have moved up to the flyweight division and will fight for the flyweight titles this weekend. With their departure, places in the WBC, WBA and WBO belts became vacant.
On Sunday in Tokyo, the fight for the WBO belt between Shokichi Iwata (10-1, 7 KO) and Jairo Noriega (14-0, 3 KO) will be at stake.
Nontshinga (13-2, 10 KO) has suffered two defeats by knockout in his last three fights.
The clash with Yabuki was his fourth away fight in five fights. He won the IBF title in a thrilling twelve-round split decision over Hector Flores in September 2022 in Hermosillo, Mexico. The returning headliner had the opportunity to defend himself for the first time – in July last year after a twelve-round victory over Regie Suganob.
Then on November 4 in Monte Carlo, Nontshinga suffered a stunning first-round knockout defeat to Curiel. The IBF title returned home following a tenth-round knockout of Curiel in a rematch on February 16 in Oaxaca, Mexico.
His reign ended in the worst possible way as it is questionable whether Nontshinga will be able to safely return to the junior flyweight division. A move to 112 was considered for some time, although previously he had hoped to remain there long enough to reunite. Negotiations with Teraji and Gonzalez that began earlier this year unfortunately failed to reach an agreement as both ultimately left the division.
Nontshinga was seeking fights with both fighters after being ordered to face mandatory challenger Christian Araneta. Yabuki will inherit that obligation when Araneta is ready to return to the ring following an injury that delayed his first title shot.
Araneta previously lost a narrow decision to Nontshinga in a title qualifier in April 2021. Since then, he has won five in a row and moved up to the top spot in the competition.
Saturday’s fight was broadcast live on ABEMA-TV in Japan and on the Matchroom Boxing YouTube channel in the rest of the world.
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