Sivenathi Nontshinga of South Africa lost his IBF junior flyweight title in Japan to motivated veteran Masamichi Yabuki, proving that his gamble was a bust.
With an impressive ninth-round stoppage victory, Yabuki became the world champion at two weights, and despite Nontshinga’s valiant efforts to retain his title, the challenger’s strength ultimately proved too much for him.
Yabuki, 32, of Nagoya, won a thrilling match by flooring the former champion three times. He launched himself into the fight, jabbing frequently at first, but also hammering in an early left hook and lunging hard with a right uppercut that narrowly missed its mark.
However, Yabuki, 17-4 (16 KOs), had an early impact inside the Aichi Sky Expo in Tokoname thanks to a few well-placed right hands as the round went on.
Early in the second, the South African briefly backpedaled after receiving another right hand, but the champion was defiantly searching for openings with his jab.
In the third, Nontshinga maintained his courteous high guard and started focusing on the challenger’s body, although it was obvious that he was apprehensive about what would be returned.
In the fifth, the 25-year-old showed greater exploration and adventure, but he paid for it by shipping a counterleft hook after looping right. Still, with thirty seconds left in the round, he sent the challenger a massive right hand thud.
Nontshinga was holding his feet, obviously wary of Yabuki’s speed and pace, while the South African’s corner was alerting him that he was taking too long to close the distance, but neither player was pulling any punches.
Nontshinga dropped his right elbow to shield himself from a left hook that Yakubi delivered to the body in the seventh round, but it was a nice round, and Nontshinga had responded downstairs a short while later.
In the eighth, Nontshinga attempted to fend off a right hand, but Yabuki, who was still very active, charged forward with both hands, causing Nontshinga to whirl around and fall to his knees.
The winner stood back up, and the bell kept him in the lead for an additional minute.
In an attempt to stop Yakubi from charging forward, Nontshinga’s group, led by his trainer Colin Nathan, pushed him to take the initiative, but the South African was dumped once more, cutting his right eye. Nontshinga, who is now 13-2 (10 KOs), valiantly continued to fight despite being knocked down once more by a long right hand, but referee Mark Calo-oy waived it away.
