Masamichi Yabuki is now a two-division champion after beating down IBF flyweight titlist Angel Ayala this morning in Aichi, Japan.
Yabuki (18-4, 17 KO), eight years Ayala’s (18-1, 8 KO) senior, dropped Ayala in the first, second, and twelfth rounds before the referee intervened. All three judges had it a virtual shutout, giving Ayala only the fifth round en route to 109-98 cards at the time of the stoppage.
The whole bout is presently up on YouTube, though it’s unlikely to last long. I’ll preserve anonymity to maximize the uploads’ chances of survival.
Yabuki now stands at 11-1 (10 KO) since a 1-2 skid in 2018, a truly remarkable run that includes two stints as a light flyweight champion and knockouts over Kenshiro Teraji and Sivenathi Nontshinga. Unifications with Anthony Olascuaga and Teraji are tantalizing, but first he’ll have to deal with mandatory challenger Felix Alvarado. Not that I’m complaining; that one just oozes with violence potential.
