Japanese finisher Masamichi Yabuki is now a two-time mild flyweight champion after stopping IBF titlist Sivenathi Nontshinga this morning in Aichi, Japan.
Regardless of their respective observe information, Yabuki (17-4, 16 KO) and Nontshinga (13-2, 10 KO) spent the majority of this battle fencing with their jabs. Yabuki greater than held his personal regardless of a attain drawback and appeared to land a lot of the significant energy photographs, racking up a sizeable lead on the scorecards.
Late within the eighth spherical, Yabuki cracked Nontshinga with an extended proper cross and adopted up with a vicious flurry that compelled the champion to show his again and drop to his knees. Nontshinga beat the depend and began the ninth forcing Yabuki again with energy photographs, however ran right into a left hook that short-circuited him and as soon as once more hit the deck beneath fireplace. Once more he beat the depend and once more Yabuki chased him down with broadsides till a 3rd knockdown despatched referee Mark Calo-oy into motion.
It’s a hell of a win for Yabuki, who’d lately spent over a yr on the sidelines with a ruptured Achilles final yr. He’s at the moment the only real champion at 108, however unification may very well be on the desk if countryman and fellow heavy hitter Shokichi Iwata claims WBO gold in about 24 hours.
Additionally, right this moment I realized that Yabuki and tremendous featherweight contender Masanori Rikiishi are brothers who took their ring names from the basic anime Ashita no Joe. Hopefully Yabuki’s profession could have a extra constructive ending than his namesake’s.
As for Nontshinga, his gradual begins and defensive points got here again to chew him as soon as once more. He can cross the attention take a look at like few others when he’s on, however this technique of bailing himself out down the stretch isn’t sustainable.
The excellent news is that he’s nonetheless younger sufficient to form up and appeared lots lucid on the finish, slamming his glove in frustration when the referee justifiably known as a halt. We’ll see him once more.
