Yabuki stops Nontshinga, wins IBF light flyweight title
Masamichi Yabuki is now the sole champion at 108
Japanese finisher Masamichi Yabuki is now a two-time light flyweight champion after stopping IBF titlist Sivenathi Nontshinga this morning in Aichi, Japan.
Despite their respective track records, Yabuki (17-4, 16 KO) and Nontshinga (13-2, 10 KO) spent the bulk of this fight fencing with their jabs. Yabuki more than held his own despite a reach disadvantage and seemed to land most of the meaningful power shots, racking up a sizeable lead on the scorecards.
It’s a hell of a win for Yabuki, who’d recently spent over a year on the sidelines with a ruptured Achilles last year. He’s currently the sole champion at 108, but unification could be on the table if countryman and fellow heavy hitter Shokichi Iwata claims WBO gold in about 24 hours.
Also, today I learned that Yabuki and super featherweight contender Masanori Rikiishi are brothers who took their ring names from the classic anime Ashita no Joe. Hopefully Yabuki’s career will have a more positive ending than his namesake’s.
As for Nontshinga, his slow starts and defensive issues came back to bite him once again. He can pass the eye test like few others when he’s on, but this strategy of bailing himself out down the stretch isn’t sustainable.
The good news is that he’s still young enough to shape up and seemed plenty lucid at the end, slamming his glove in frustration when the referee justifiably called a halt. We’ll see him again.
Yabuki drops Sive at the end of the 8th! pic.twitter.com/V9hyzLpbTA
— Matchroom Boxing (@MatchroomBoxing) October 12, 2024
Congratulations 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