Japanese veteran Masamichi Yabuki grew to become a two-weight world champion with a ninth-round victory over South African star Sivenathi Nontshinga to assert the IBF junior flyweight title.
Yabuki, a 32-year-old from Nagoya, floored the now ex-champion 3 times on his approach to a memorable victory and Yabuki began aggressively, initially jabbing typically however thumping residence an early left hook and lashing away with a proper uppercut that simply missed its supposed goal.
However Yabuki, 17-4 (16 KOs), landed a few fast proper arms because the spherical progressed and his handspeed made an early distinction contained in the Aichi Sky Expo in Tokoname.
An extra proper hand brought about the South African to momentarily back-pedal early within the second, though the champion was defiantly on the lookout for gaps along with his jab.
Nontshinga (pictured) saved his respectful excessive guard within the third and he started to focus on the challenger’s physique however he was clearly cautious about what was coming again.
The champion was extra explorative and adventurous within the fifth, however paid for over-extending with a looping proper by transport a counter left hook. Nonetheless, he thumped the challenger with an enormous proper hand with 30 seconds remaining within the spherical.
Neither had been pulling their punches, though Nontshinga was holding his ft, seemingly cautious of Yabuki’s velocity and tempo and the South African’s nook was warning him he was taking too lengthy to shut the hole.
A Yabuki left hook to the physique within the seventh brought about Nontshinga to drop his proper elbow to guard the realm nevertheless it was a very good spherical, and Nontshinga had replied downstairs moments later.
Nontshinga tried to shake off a proper hand within the eighth, however the nonetheless aggressive Yabuki stormed forwards with each arms and Nontshinga turned his again and dropped to his knees.
The champion made it again to his ft, and the bell preserved his title for an additional minute.
Nontshinga’s crew, together with coach Colin Nathan, urged him to go within the entrance foot to stop Yakubi pouring forwards however the South African was dropped once more and reduce by his proper eye and though Nontshinga, 25 years outdated and now 13-2 (10 KOs), gamely fought on, he was despatched tumbling from an extended proper hand as soon as extra and the referee waved it off.
