Masamichi Yabuki and Felix Alvarado repeated yesterday's trend at the scale by coming in well under the maximum limit.
Both champion and challenger were within the 10lbs allowance during the IBF second-day weigh-in held Saturday, hours before their scheduled 12-round flyweight title fight. Yabuki added 9lbs, 4oz to his frame as he weighed 121lbs on Saturday morning - one full pound under the 122lbs maximum allowable limit for the session. Nicaragua's Alvarado was at a light and fit 118.6lbs, having added just 7lbs, 3oz from yesterday.
Their bout headlines an ABEMA-TV pay-per-view headliner Saturday from Aichi Sky Expo in Tokoname, Japan.
Yabuki, 18-4 (17KOs) attempts the first defense of the IBF 112lbs belt he claimed in a 12th round knockout of unbeaten titlist Angel Ayala on March 29 at this very venue. He entered the fight as the IBF 108lbs titleholder but came in right at the flyweight limit – matching his career heaviest - for his successful challenge of Ayala.
The 33-year-old, three-time titleholder over two divisions hails from nearby Nagoya, roughly 40 minutes from fight headquarters this weekend.
Alvarado, 42-4 (35 KOs) has not fought since his win over Tobias Reyes last December 27 in his hometown of Managua, Nicaragua, for which he came in right at the 112lbs limit. The bout was a sanctioned IBF title eliminator, which provided Alvarado with a path to a second shot at the title on the line this weekend.
Both boxers previously held the IBF 108lbs belt, one of three title winning efforts by Yabuki who also served as WBC 108lbs titlist from September 2021-March 2022. That reign began with a knockout win over then-unbeaten Kenshiro Teraji and ended with a stoppage loss to his countryman in their rematch just six months later.
Yabuki's IBF 108lbs title reign also ended without a successful defense, though by his own choosing. He defeated Sivenathi Nontshinga via knockout last October, but opted to remain at flyweight after his abovementioned victory over Ayala. The decision forced him to relinquish the title at the lower weight.
Alvarado held the IBF junior flyweight title from October 2018 through March 2022, when he vacated in the absence of securing unification bouts. He three successful defenses of the title, his reign slowed by the Covid pandemic and also a late cancellation during fight week near the end of his stay.
