Masamichi Yabuki has done it again.
The local hero became a two-time junior flyweight titlist after an upset win over exciting 108-pound titleholder Sivenathi Nontshinga. Yabuki scored three knockouts to force the stoppage at 1:50 of round nine.
With the victory, Yabuki – a former WBC titlist – lifted the IBF crown on Saturday at Sky Expo in Tokoname, Aichi, Japan.
Nontshinga hit the road again as he attempted the first defense of his second title tour. The visiting South African boxer earlier regained his belt in 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 in his September 2021 upset knockout victory over Kenshiro Teraji. Brawling from Nagoya, Aichi used a tight jab to keep Nontshinga at bay for much of the contest. He also mixed in left hooks for good measure.
Nontshinga tried to close the gap in round two and had mild success compared to his deliberate start in the opening round. The momentum did not last long. He was often wild and short with his overhand right while Yabuki landed the cleaner, crisper punches.
Things seemed to shift in Nontshinga’s direction in the fifth round. The Ring’s no. 2-rated junior flyweight Yabuki often punched and forced the action. However, he walked into a right hand near the end of the round to squander that luck.
The beginning of the end came late in the eighth. Nontshinga tried in vain to keep up and land a power shot to turn the fight around. Instead, it was Yabuki who scored with some game-changing right hands over the top. Notshinga was visibly injured as he turned away. Yabuki landed a final left hook for good measure as Nontshinga took a knee before beating the count to get out of the round.
Nontshinga was not as lucky as the bell rang to start the ninth. He tried to close the gap as he targeted Yabuki with his left hook to the body. Yabuki responded with a left hook up top before a right hand drove Nontshinga into the ropes. Another right hand caused the second knockdown of the fight.
Nontshinga beat the count again, but referee Mark Calo-oy expressed concern about the fighter’s well-being. Action resumed, but not for much longer. Yabuki landed a final right hand that caught Nontshinga on the temple and sent him down for a third time. The fight was immediately called off as immediate care was provided to the fallen ex-title roster.
Yabuki (17-4, 16 knockouts), No. 6 out of 108scored his biggest win since his monstrous upset of Teraji (23-1, 14 KOs) to lift the WBC title. That reign was short-lived as he lost the belt to Teraji via third round knockout in their March 2022 rematch.
Four wins – all by knockout – followed for Yabuki, who is currently the division’s only active titleholder. Teraji and Jonathan ‘Bomba’ Gonzalez both moved up to flyweight, fittingly challenging for titles at that weight this weekend. With their departure came vacancies at the WBC, WBA and WBO belts.
The WBO belt is on the line in Tokyo on Sunday between Shokichi Iwata (10-1, 7 KOs) and Jairo Noriega (14-0, 3 KOs).
Nontshinga (13-2, 10 KOs) has now suffered two knockout losses in his last three fights.
The clash against Yabuki was his fourth on the road in a five-fight span. He won the IBF title in a thrilling twelve-round split decision over Hector Flores in September 2022 in Hermosillo, Mexico. A homecoming main shot earned his first defense, a twelve-round win over Regie Suganob last July.
Nontshinga then suffered a stunning first-round knockout defeat to Curiel last November 4 in Monte Carlo. The IBF title returned home after a tenth-round knockout of Curiel in their February 16 rematch in Oaxaca, Mexico.
His reign ended in the worst possible way as it is doubtful whether Nontshinga can safely return to junior flyweight. A move to 112 was mooted for a while, though he had previously hoped to stick around long enough to unify. Negotiations with Teraji and Gonzalez earlier this year unfortunately failed to reach an agreement as both ended up leaving the division.
Nontshinga sought fights with both after he was ordered to face mandatory challenger Christian Araneta. Yabuki will mandatorily inherit it once Araneta is ready to return to the ring following an injury that delayed his first title shot.
Araneta previously lost a close decision to Nontshinga in their April 2021 title eliminator. He has since won five in a row to advance to the top challenger slot.
Saturday’s bout was broadcast live on ABEMA-TV in Japan and on Matchroom Boxing’s YouTube channel in the rest of the world.
Jake Donovan is a senior writer for The Ring.
