Masamichi Yabuki

Last updated
Masamichi Yabuki
佐藤政道
Born (1992-07-09) July 9, 1992 (age 32)
Suzuka, Mie, Japan
Statistics
Weight(s) Light flyweight
Height5 ft 5+1⁄2 in (166 cm)
Reach64+1⁄2 in (164 cm)
Stance Orthodox
Boxing record
Total fights21
Wins17
Wins by KO16
Losses4

Masamichi Yabuki (born July 9, 1992) is a Japanese professional boxer who is a two time world champion, having held the IBF light flyweight title since October 2024, and previously he held the WBC light flyweight title from 2021 to 2022.

Contents

Professional career

Early career

Yabuki made his professional debut against Shohei Horii on March 27, 2016. He won the fight by a first-round technical knockout. He would go on to amass a 7–3 record over the next two years, most notably losing a close unanimous decision against Junto Nakatani on December 23, 2016, [1] and a split decision to Daniel Matellon on September 28, 2018. [2]

Yabuki won his next three fights, achieving stoppage victories against Bae Min-Chul, Ryuto Oho and Rikito Shiba, before he was scheduled to face Tsuyoshi Sato for the vacant Japanese light flyweight title on July 26, 2020. Yabuki stopped Sato with a left hook, near the end of the first round. [3] He was scheduled to make his first title defense against Toshimasa Ouchi on December 26, 2020. [4] He won the fight by unanimous decision. [5]

WBC light flyweight champion

Yabuki vs. Shiro

Yabuki, at the time the #1 ranked WBC light flyweight contender, was scheduled to challenge the reigning WBC light flyweight champion Kenshiro Teraji, in Shiro's ninth title defense, on September 10, 2021, at the City Gym in Kyoto, Japan. [6] The bout was later postponed for September 22, 2021, as both Shiro and his coach tested positive for COVID-19. [7] The fight was rescheduled for September 22, 2021. [8] Yabuki won the fight by a tenth-round technical knockout. He appeared to be ahead on the scorecards heading into the tenth round, which prompted Shiro to increase his pace and volume. Although Shiro seemed close to finishing him, Yabuki managed to take over the round near its end and unload with volume which forced the referee to stop the fight. [9]

Yabuki vs. Shiro II

On November 15, 2021, representatives of Kenshiro Teraji and Masamichi Yabuki held a press conference to announce that they’d agreed to a rematch, which would be held sometime in spring of 2022. [10] The rematch for the WBC title was officially announced on January 24, 2022. [11] It took place at the City Gym in Kyoto, Japan, on March 19, 2022. [12] Yabuki lost the fight by a third-round knockout. [13]

Post title reign

Yabuki faced the undefeated Thanongsak Simsri on September 10, 2022 in what was promoted as a world title prelude. He won the fight by a seventh-round technical knockout. Yabuki knocked his opponent down twice prior to the stoppage, in the second and sixth rounds. During the in-ring post-fight speech, Yabuki revealed that he had injured his pelvis in the third round. He also announced that he was considering moving up to fight for a title at flyweight [14] The fight was held at a catchweight of 50 kilograms. [15]

Yabuki faced Ronald Chacon on January 28, 2023. He won the fight by an eleventh-round technical knockout. [16]

Professional boxing record

21 fights17 wins4 losses
By knockout162
By decision12
No.ResultRecordOpponentTypeRound, timeDateLocationNotes
21Win17–4 Sivenathi Nontshinga TKO9 (12), 1:50Oct 12, 2024Aichi Sky Expo, Tokoname, JapanWon IBF light-flyweight title
20Win16–4Kevin VivasTKO4 (10), 2:41Mar 16, 2024 Port Messe Nagoya, Nagoya, Japan
19Win15–4Ronald ChaconTKO11 (12), 2:35Jan 28, 2023 International Conference Hall, Nagoya, Japan
18Win14–4Thanongsak SimsriTKO7 (10), 1:19Sep 10, 2022City Gymnasium, Yokkaichi, Mie, Japan
17Loss13–4 Kenshiro Teraji KO3 (12), 1:11Mar 19, 2022City Gym, Kyoto, JapanLost WBC light-flyweight title
16Win13–3 Kenshiro Teraji TKO10 (12), 2:59Sep 22, 2021City Gym, Kyoto, JapanWon WBC light-flyweight title
15Win12–3Toshimasa OuchiUD10Dec 26, 2020Aioi Hall, Kariya, JapanRetained Japanese light-flyweight title
14Win11–3Tsuyoshi SatoKO1 (10), 2:55Jul 26, 2020Aioi Hall, Kariya, JapanWon vacant Japanese light-flyweight title
13Win10–3Rikito ShibaTKO4 (8), 1:53Dec 15, 2019Aioi Hall, Kariya, Japan
12Win9–3Ryuto OhoTKO6 (8), 1:20May 1, 2019Korakuen Hall, Tokyo, Japan
11Win8–3Bae Min-ChulTKO5 (8), 2:20Jan 27, 2019Wolbae Sports Center, Daegu, South Korea
10Loss7–3 Daniel Matellon SD8Sep 29, 2018Korakuen Hall, Tokyo, Japan
9Win7–2Gilberto PedrozaKO2 (8), 1:44Jun 17, 2018Aioi Hall, Kariya, Japan
8Loss6–2 Seigo Yuri Akui TKO1 (8), 1:32Apr 8, 2018Suntopia, Sōja, Japan
7Win6–1Masashi TadaTKO1 (6), 2:27Nov 26, 2017Aioi Hall, Kariya, Japan
6Win5–1Masaki HiraiTKO2 (6), 0:59Jul 16, 2017Aioi Hall, Kariya, Japan
5Win4–1Kim Kwang-MinTKO1 (4), 0:58Mar 26, 2017Aioi Hall, Kariya, Japan
4Loss3–1 Junto Nakatani UD4Dec 23, 2016 Korakuen Hall, Tokyo, Japan
3Win3–0Ryosuke NasuKO1 (4), 1:04Nov 6, 2016 EDION Arena, Osaka, Japan
2Win2–0Kiyoshi NakamuraTKO1 (4), 2:12Aug 7, 2016Aioi Hall, Kariya, Japan
1Win1–0Shohei HoriiTKO1 (4), 2:29Mar 27, 2016Aioi Hall, Kariya, Japan

See also

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References

  1. ↑ "全日本新人王決定戦、Mvp吉開右京、技能は福永亮次". 23 December 2016.
  2. ↑ González, Joel Isaac (30 September 2018). "Cubano Daniel Matellón se impuso en Japón". critica.com.pa. Retrieved 22 September 2021.
  3. ↑ "Yabuki ices Sato in one, wins Japanese 108lb belt". fightnews.com. 27 July 2020. Retrieved 22 September 2021.
  4. ↑ "Masamichi Yabuki to defend Japanese title against Toshimasa Ouchi". asianboxing.info. Retrieved 22 September 2021.
  5. ↑ "Masamichi Yabuki Defeats Toshimasa Ouchi & Boxing Results From Aichi in Japan". boxen247.com. 27 December 2020. Retrieved 22 September 2021.
  6. ↑ Wainwright, Anson (6 July 2021). "WBC junior flyweight titlist Kenshiro Teraji will put belt up vs. Masamichi Yabuki". ringtv.com. Retrieved 9 August 2021.
  7. ↑ "【ボクシング】寺地拳四朗の陽性反応によりV9戦が延期＝9.10京都". efight.jp. 26 August 2021. Retrieved 26 August 2021.
  8. ↑ Stumberg, Patrick L. (7 September 2021). "Kenshiro Teraji vs. Masamichi Yabuki rescheduled for September 22nd". badlefthook.com. Retrieved 8 September 2021.
  9. ↑ Donovan, Jake (22 September 2021). "Masamichi Yabuki Stops Kenshiro Teraji In 10th Round, Lifts WBC Title In Stunner". boxingscene.com. Retrieved 22 September 2021.
  10. ↑ Stumberg, Patrick L. (15 November 2021). "Masamichi Yabuki and Kenshiro Teraji agree to spring rematch". badlefthook.com. Retrieved 20 December 2021.
  11. ↑ Wainwright, Anson (24 January 2022). "Masamichi Yabuki-Kenshiro Teraji rematch set for March 19 in Japan". ringtv.com. Retrieved 24 January 2022.
  12. ↑ Rold, Cliff (17 March 2022). "Masamichi Yabuki-Kenshiro Teraji II: Buckle Up". boxingscene.com. Retrieved 19 March 2022.
  13. ↑ "寺地拳四朗が圧巻のリベンジ WBC･L･フライ級王座返り咲き 攻撃的スタイルで矢吹正道を3回KO". boxingnews.jp. Retrieved 19 March 2022.
  14. ↑ "Yabuki stops Simsri in 7 rounds". asianboxing.info. Retrieved 10 September 2022.
  15. ↑ "Masamichi to face unbeaten world ranked Thai in ring return!".
  16. ↑ "前WBC･L･フライ級王者の矢吹正道 チャコンに11回TKO勝ちで世界王座返り咲きに前進". boxingnews.jp. Retrieved 28 January 2023.
Sporting positions
Regional boxing titles
Vacant
Title last held by
Yuto Takahashi 		Japanese light-flyweight champion
July 26, 2020 – September 22, 2021
Won world title		Vacant
Title next held by
Shokichi Iwata
World boxing titles
Preceded by WBC light-flyweight champion
September 22, 2021 – March 19, 2022		Succeeded by
Kenshiro Teraji
Preceded by IBF light-flyweight champion
October 12, 2024 – present		Incumbent
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