MASAMICHI Yabuki is the new IBF light-flyweight world champion after knocking out Sivenathi Nontshinga in the ninth round in Japan. The ‘Special One’ was stopped at 1-50, having been dropped for the third and final time. He was well behind on all three of the judges’ scorecards at the time of the stoppage.
Nontshinga struggled with the range as Yabuki dictated the distance behind his long left jab and right hand. Nontshinga picked up the pace in round five, lashing hooks to the body, until Yabuki re-employed his long levers at the close of the round in the form of a thudding right hand. Opting to stand between rounds, Yabuki received some vocal encouragement from the local fans.
That same right hand cross returned with destructive force at the close of the eighth, leaving Nontshinga on his back, on his knees and shaking his head as referee Mark Calo-oy dished out a count. Replays showed that a flush chin shot had caught the champion by surprise, and he stumbled to the canvas of his own accord, trying to evade the lashing levers.
For all of his limitations, Yabuki can bang. Nontshinga was down again in the ninth and leaking blood from the right side of his face. Another right hand, following a chase along the ropes, left Nontshinga in a heap. The 32-year-old Japanese fighter became a two-weight world champion as he lifted the IBF light-flyweight title.
