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.

Late in the eighth round, Yabuki cracked Nontshinga with a long right cross and followed up with a vicious flurry that forced the champion to turn his back and drop to his knees. Nontshinga beat the count and started the ninth forcing Yabuki back with power shots, but ran into a left hook that short-circuited him and once again hit the deck under fire. Again he beat the count and again Yabuki chased him down with broadsides until a third knockdown sent referee Mark Calo-oy into action.

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.