Last Saturday, Masamichi Yabuki became a two-time junior flyweight titleholder.
The tough Japanese fighter scored three knockouts en route to an impressive ninth-round stoppage over Sivenathi Nontshinga to wrest the IBF title from the defending champion at the Aichi Sky Expo, Tokoname, Japan.
“I feel very relieved to have won against such a strong opponent,” Yabuki (17-4, 16 knockouts) told The Ring via Chisa Yamane.
The 32-year-old, who was a 31/20 (+155) betting underdog, meaning he was given a 40 per cent chance of winning, took his latest title triumph in stride.
“I didn’t do anything special to celebrate,” he said. “I just went to see my sponsors and relax at the hotel.”
Congratulations to Masamichi Yabuki who stops Sivenathi Nontshinga in the 9th round to win the IBF World Light Flyweight Title! pic.twitter.com/yzTgfRT0t8
— Matchroom Boxing (@MatchroomBoxing) October 12, 2024
Yabuki is now rated No. 1 by The Ring at junior flyweight. Despite the exalted position, however, he does not get ahead of himself.
“Of the fighters I know, I think Carlos Cañizales (who will fight for the vacant WBC title against Panya Pradabsri) is strong,” he said. “I’m sure there are other strong fighters that I just don’t know about. I’m not too confident in myself.”
Yabuki was on top of the world when he stunned WBC 108-pound titleholder Kenshiro Teraji (TKO 10) in September 2021 before his career unraveled.
“When I lost (the title back to Teraji in 2022) and ruptured my Achilles tendon (in 2023), I thought about retiring,” he admitted. “But with the support of many people I was able to continue and become world champion.”
The following night, Shokichi Iwata stopped Jairo Noriega (TKO 3) to win the vacant WBO title and spoke of his compatriot in a union.
However, Yabuki isn’t sure if that’s what’s next or even on the agenda.
“I’ve only seen (some of) his matches,” he said. “I think he’s a good fighter, but I don’t think it’s worth doing a unification match between two Japanese fighters. He also has to fight a mandatory fight, so it doesn’t seem real yet.”
That’s not to say that Yabuki isn’t looking for the biggest and best opportunities he can.
“I would like to move up to flyweight, but the flyweight division is very competitive,” he said. “I don’t know yet if I will get a chance. I want to increase my own value, and I want to fight strong fighters that will increase my value.”
Interestingly, two Japanese fighters (Yabuki and WBO titlist Shokichi Iwata) is at no. 1 and no. 2 rated by The Ringmeaning that in the event that they did meet in a union, they would also compete for the vacant Ring Championship.
His promoter, Koki Kameda, who previously won junior flyweight and flyweight world titles and now runs 3150 Fight Promotions, hopes to move his fighter boldly forward.
“I am very happy that three world champions were born from my promotion, Ginjiro Shigeoka and Yudai Shigeoka, now Masamichi Yabuki has become junior flyweight world champion against highly regarded junior flyweight champion,” he said proudly. “I am very excited and looking forward to his path forward as we are looking at various options, whether to continue to the unification or move up to flyweight.”
Questions and/or comments can be sent to Anson at (email protected).
