Masamichi Yabuki Knocks Down Sive Nontshinga Three Times, Stops Him In 9th Round To Win IBF Title
Masamichi Yabuki has done it again.
This local hero became a two-time junior flyweight after defeating 108-pound champion Sivenathi Nontshinga. Yabuki scored three knockdowns to force a stoppage 1:50 into the ninth round.
With the win, Yabuki—a former WBC champion—lifted the IBF title on Saturday at the Sky Expo in Tokoname, Aichi, Japan.
Nontshinga hit the road again when he tried to defend his second title for the first time. The visiting South African boxer returned with his belt at the start of the fight to knock out Adrian Curiel, who knocked out Nontshinga in the first round last November.
Yabuki had prepared for the event and gave a much more polished performance than in his September 2021 upset win over Kenshiro Teraji. The pride of Nagoya, Aichi used a strong jab to stop Nontshinga from much of the contest. He also mixed in some left hooks for good measure.
Nontshinga tried to close the gap in the second round and enjoyed little success, compared to his deliberate start in the opening round. The momentum didn’t last long. He was often dirty and short with his right hand while Yabuki cleaned clean, cool fists.
Things seemed to change for Nontshinga in the fifth round. Ring’s No. 2-rated junior flyweight often beat Yabuki until he was forced to do something. However, he landed a right hand towards the end of the round to spoil that luck.
The beginning of the end came late in the eighth. Nontshinga tried to stop the speed but in vain to turn the fight. Instead, it was Yabuki who scored with game-changing right hands. Noshinga could be seen to be injured as he turned his back. Yabuki landed the last left hook for good measure as Nontshinga took a knee before hitting the count to exit the round.
Nontshinga was not 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 an uppercut left hook before a right hand drove Nontshinga into the ropes. Another right hand produced the second knockdown of the fight.
Nontshinga scored again but referee Mark Calo-oy expressed concern for the well-being of this runner. The action resumed but not for long. Yabuki dropped the last right hand that caught Nontshinga at the temple and took him down for the third time. The battle was immediately turned around as immediate care was given to the dead in the ranks of the hostages.
Yabuki (17-4, 16 knockouts), No. 6 for 108, picked up his biggest win since a tough loss to Teraji (23-1, 14 KOs) to lift the WBC title. That reign was short-lived, as he lost the belt to Teraji by knockout in the third round in March 2022.
Four victories—all by knockout—followed Yabuki, who is currently the only active title holder. Teraji and Jonathan ‘Bomba’ Gonzalez both moved up to flyweight, and rightly challenge for titles at that weight this weekend. With their departure, there were vacancies for the WBC, WBA and WBO belts.
The WBO belt is at stake on Sunday in Tokyo, between Shokichi Iwata (10-1, 7 KOs) and Jairo Noriega (14-0, 3 KOs).
Nontshinga (13-2, 10 KOs) has lost twice by knockout in his last three fights.
The clash against Yabuki was his fourth on the road in a span of five rounds. He won the IBF title in a thrilling twelve round split decision over Hector Flores in September 2022 in Hermosillo, Mexico. The homecoming champion was handed his first defense, a twelve-round decision victory over Regie Suganob last July.
Nontshinga then lost surprisingly in the first round to Curiel last November 4 in Monte Carlo. The IBF title came home following a tenth round knockout of Curiel in their rematch on February 16 in Oaxaca, Mexico.
His reign ended in a very bad way as it is doubtful that Nontshinga can safely return to junior flyweight. A move to 112 was considered for a while, though he had previously hoped to stick around long enough to meet. Negotiations with Teraji and Gonzalez at the beginning of this year failed to reach an agreement, as both ended up leaving this section.
Nontshinga wanted both fights after being ordered to face Christian Araneta which is mandatory. Yabuki will inherit that mandate once Araneta is ready to return to the ring following an injury that delayed his first shot.
Araneta previously lost a narrow decision to Nontshinga in his title fight in April 2021. Since then he has won five in a row to advance to the player of the match category.
Saturday’s fight was broadcast live on ABEMA-TV in Japan and on Matchroom Boxing’s YouTube channel worldwide.
Jake Donovan is the senior writer for The Ring.
