Masamichi Yabuki (born July 9, 1992) is a Japanese professional boxer. He is a three time world champion in two weight classes, having held the International Boxing Federation (IBF) flyweight title since March 2025. He previously held the World Boxing Council (WBC) light-flyweight title from 2021 to 2022 and the IBF light-flyweight title from 2024 to 2025.

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, and a split decision to Daniel Matellon on September 28, 2018.

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

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

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

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 The fight was held at a catchweight of 50 kilograms.

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

IBF light-flyweight champion Yabuki vs. Nontshinga Yabuki stopped IBF light-flyweight champion Sivenathi Nontshinga in the ninth round at Aichi Sky Expo in Tokoname, Japan, on 12 October 2024 to become a two-time world champion.

IBF Flyweight champion Yabuki vs. Ayala Yabuki challenged IBF flyweight champion Ángel Ayala at Aichi Sky Expo in Tokoname, Japan, on 29 March 2025. He became a two-weight world champion when he won the fight via technical knockout in the 12th round.

Yabuki vs. Alvarado Again at Aichi Sky Expo in Tokoname, Yabuki made a successful first defense of his title by knocking out Felix Alvarado in the 12th round on 27 December 2025.

Yabuki vs. Calixto Yabuki made the second defense of his IBF flyweight title against Rene Calixto at Aichi Sky Expo in Tokoname, Japan on 6 June 2026. He won by unanimous decision.

Professional boxing record

ResultRecordOpponentTypeRound, timeDateLocationNotes24Win20–4Rene CalixtoUD12Jun 6, 202623Win19–4Felix AlvaradoKO12 (12), Dec 27, 202522Win18–4Ángel AyalaTKO12 (12), Mar 29, 202521Win17–4Sivenathi NontshingaTKO9 (12), Oct 12, 202420Win16–4Kevin VivasTKO4 (10), Mar 16, 202419Win15–4Ronald ChaconTKO11 (12), Jan 28, 202318Win14–4Thanongsak SimsriTKO7 (10), Sep 10, 202217Loss13–4Kenshiro TerajiKO3 (12), Mar 19, 202216Win13–3Kenshiro TerajiTKO10 (12), Sep 22, 202115Win12–3Toshimasa OuchiUD10 Dec 26, 202014Win11–3Tsuyoshi SatoKO1 (10), Jul 26, 202013Win10–3Rikito ShibaTKO4 (8), Dec 15, 201912Win9–3Ryuto OhoTKO6 (8), May 1, 201911Win8–3Bae Min-Chul TKO5 (8), Jan 27, 201910Loss7–3Daniel Matellon8 Sep 29, 20189Win7–2Gilberto PedrozaKO2 (8), Jun 17, 20188Loss6–2Seigo Yuri AkuiTKO1 (8), Apr 8, 20187Win6–1Masashi TadaTKO1 (6), Nov 26, 20176Win5–1Masaki HiraiTKO2 (6), Jul 16, 20175Win4–1Kim Kwang-MinTKO1 (4), Mar 26, 20174Loss3–1Junto Nakatani4 Dec 23, 20163Win3–0Ryosuke Nasu1 (4), Nov 6, 20162Win2–0Kiyoshi NakamuraTKO1 (4), Aug 7, 20161Win1–0Shohei Horii1 (4), Mar 27, 2016

Titles in boxing Major world boxing titles WBC light-flyweight champion (108 lbs) IBF light-flyweight champion (108 lbs) IBF flyweight champion (112 lbs) Regional/International titles Japanese light-flyweight champion (108 lbs)

See also List of male boxers Boxing in Japan List of Japanese boxing world champions List of world light-flyweight boxing champions List of world flyweight boxing champions

References

External links

Masamichi Yabuki - Profile, News Archive & Current Rankings at Box.Live