Masamichi Yabuki

Masamichi Yabuki (born July 9, 1992) is a Japanese professional boxer who held the WBC light flyweight title from 2021 until 2022. As of November 2022, he is ranked as the world's second best active light flyweight by BoxRec,[1] fourth by the Transnational Boxing Rankings Board,[2] and sixth by The Ring.[3]

Masamichi Yabuki
Statistics
Real name佐藤政道
Weight(s)Light flyweight
Height5 ft 5+1⁄2 in (166 cm)
Reach65+1⁄2 in (166 cm)
NationalityJapanese
Born (1992-07-09) July 9, 1992
Suzuka, Mie, Japan
StanceOrthodox
Boxing record
Total fights19
Wins15
Wins by KO14
Losses4

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,[4] and a split decision to Daniel Matellon on September 28, 2018.[5]

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.[6] He was scheduled to make his first title defense against Toshimasa Ouchi on December 26, 2020.[7] He won the fight by unanimous decision.[8]

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.[9] The bout was later postponed for September 22, 2021, as both Shiro and his coach tested positive for COVID-19.[10] The fight was rescheduled for September 22, 2021.[11] 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.[12]

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.[13] The rematch for the WBC title was officially announced on January 24, 2022.[14] It took place at the City Gym in Kyoto, Japan, on March 19, 2022.[15] Yabuki lost the fight by a third-round knockout.[16]

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[17] The fight was held at a catchweight of 50 kilograms.[18]

Yabuki faced Ronald Chacon on January 28, 2023. He won the fight by an eleventh-round technical knockout.[19]

Professional boxing record
19 fights 15 wins 4 losses
By knockout 14 2
By decision 1 2
No. Result Record Opponent Type Round, time Date Location Notes
20 Win 15–4 Ronald Chacon TKO 11 (12), 2:35 Jan 28, 2023 International Conference Hall, Nagoya, Japan
18 Win 14–4 Thanongsak Simsri TKO 7 (10), 1:19 Sep 10, 2022 City Gymnasium, Yokkaichi, Mie, Japan
17 Loss 13–4 Kenshiro Teraji KO 3 (12), 1:11 Mar 19, 2022 City Gym, Kyoto, Japan Lost WBC light-flyweight title
16 Win 13–3 Kenshiro Teraji TKO 10 (12), 2:59 Sep 22, 2021 City Gym, Kyoto, Japan Won WBC light-flyweight title
15 Win 12–3 Toshimasa Ouchi UD 10 Dec 26, 2020 Aioi Hall, Kariya, Japan Retained Japanese light-flyweight title
14 Win 11–3 Tsuyoshi Sato KO 1 (10), 2:55 Jul 26, 2020 Aioi Hall, Kariya, Japan Won vacant Japanese light-flyweight title
13 Win 10–3 Rikito Shiba TKO 4 (8), 1:53 Dec 15, 2019 Aioi Hall, Kariya, Japan
12 Win 9–3 Ryuto Oho TKO 6 (8), 1:20 May 1, 2019 Korakuen Hall, Tokyo, Japan
11 Win 8–3 Bae Min-Chul TKO 5 (8), 2:20 Jan 27, 2019 Wolbae Sports Center, Daegu, South Korea
10 Loss 7–3 Daniel Matellon SD 8 Sep 29, 2018 Korakuen Hall, Tokyo, Japan
9 Win 7–2 Gilberto Pedroza KO 2 (8), 1:44 Jun 17, 2018 Aioi Hall, Kariya, Japan
8 Loss 6–2 Seigo Yuri Akui TKO 1 (8), 1:32 Apr 8, 2018 Suntopia, Sōja, Japan
7 Win 6–1 Masashi Tada TKO 1 (6), 2:27 Nov 26, 2017 Aioi Hall, Kariya, Japan
6 Win 5–1 Masaki Hirai TKO 2 (6), 0:59 Jul 16, 2017 Aioi Hall, Kariya, Japan
5 Win 4–1 Kim Kwang-Min TKO 1 (4), 0:58 Mar 26, 2017 Aioi Hall, Kariya, Japan
4 Loss 3–1 Junto Nakatani UD 4 Dec 23, 2016 Korakuen Hall, Tokyo, Japan
3 Win 3–0 Ryosuke Nasu KO 1 (4), 1:04 Nov 6, 2016 EDION Arena, Osaka, Japan
2 Win 2–0 Kiyoshi Nakamura TKO 1 (4), 2:12 Aug 7, 2016 Aioi Hall, Kariya, Japan
1 Win 1–0 Shohei Horii TKO 1 (4), 2:29 Mar 27, 2016 Aioi Hall, Kariya, Japan

See also

References
  1. "BoxRec Light Flyweight Ratings". BoxRec. Retrieved 9 November 2022.
  2. "TBRB Rankings". Transnational Boxing Rankings Board. Retrieved 9 November 2022.
  3. "The Ring Junior Flyweight Ratings". The Ring. Retrieved 9 November 2022.
  4. "全日本新人王決定戦、Mvp吉開右京、技能は福永亮次". 23 December 2016.
  5. González, Joel Isaac (30 September 2018). "Cubano Daniel Matellón se impuso en Japón". critica.com.pa. Retrieved 22 September 2021.
  6. "Yabuki ices Sato in one, wins Japanese 108lb belt". fightnews.com. 27 July 2020. Retrieved 22 September 2021.
  7. "Masamichi Yabuki to defend Japanese title against Toshimasa Ouchi". asianboxing.info. Retrieved 22 September 2021.
  8. "Masamichi Yabuki Defeats Toshimasa Ouchi & Boxing Results From Aichi in Japan". boxen247.com. 27 December 2020. Retrieved 22 September 2021.
  9. Wainwright, Anson (6 July 2021). "WBC junior flyweight titlist Kenshiro Teraji will put belt up vs. Masamichi Yabuki". ringtv.com. Retrieved 9 August 2021.
  10. "【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. Retrieved 26 August 2021.
  11. Stumberg, Patrick L. (7 September 2021). "Kenshiro Teraji vs. Masamichi Yabuki rescheduled for September 22nd". badlefthook.com. Retrieved 8 September 2021.
  12. Donovan, Jake (22 September 2021). "Masamichi Yabuki Stops Kenshiro Teraji In 10th Round, Lifts WBC Title In Stunner". boxingscene.com. Retrieved 22 September 2021.
  13. Stumberg, Patrick L. (15 November 2021). "Masamichi Yabuki and Kenshiro Teraji agree to spring rematch". badlefthook.com. Retrieved 20 December 2021.
  14. Wainwright, Anson (24 January 2022). "Masamichi Yabuki-Kenshiro Teraji rematch set for March 19 in Japan". ringtv.com. Retrieved 24 January 2022.
  15. Rold, Cliff (17 March 2022). "Masamichi Yabuki-Kenshiro Teraji II: Buckle Up". boxingscene.com. Retrieved 19 March 2022.
  16. "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.
  17. "Yabuki stops Simsri in 7 rounds". asianboxing.info. Retrieved 10 September 2022.
  18. "Masamichi to face unbeaten world ranked Thai in ring return!".
  19. "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.
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