Masamichi Yabuki continues to thrive in the twilight of his career.
His latest tough matchup on paper resulted in yet another knockout victory for the current IBF flyweight titlist, who turned away the challenge of Nicaragua’s Felix Alvarado. Yabuki scored two knockdowns, the latter which forced the stoppage at 1:59 of the 12th and final round of their ABEMA-TV pay-per-view main event Saturday at Aichi Sky Expo in Tokoname, Japan.
The venue continued to spark career-defining moments for the 33-year-old Yabuki, 19-4 (18 KOs) who hails from nearby Nagoya and headlined here for the third consecutive time. Alvarado, 42-5 (35 KOs) was well-credentialed as a challenger, a former IBF 108lbs titlist who’d only been down one time before and never stopped in 46 previous outings.
Yabuki handled him in the manner in which he’s dominated most of his competition as of late. The three-time major titlist – spanning two weight divisions – jumped out to a strong start, not at all interested in a feeling out session. He had a cooperative partner in Alvarado, 33, who also came to fight and found early success with straight right hands.
It was the sharper combination and counterpunching of Yabuki, however, that controlled the action through the early rounds. He dislodged Alvarado’s mouthpiece with a left hook upstairs in the 2nd round, shortly after landing a pair of body shots. Alvarado resumed action and proceeded to respond in kind, forcing a mid-ring slugfest.
Alvarado dug himself into an early hole before he came on in the 4th round. Yabuki continued to land the cleaner punches, and often in combination, but also began to slow a bit while Alvarado was refreshed and able to apply constant pressure.
The mid-rounds surge allowed Alvarado to mathematically work his way back into the fight. It carried over through the 5th round before Yabuki was able to recharge and take over the fight.
Yabuki came out firing to start the 6th round, landing left hooks to the chin of an onrushing Alvarado. The body attack of Yabuki also slowed down his challenger, as Alvarado fought off the back foot for the first time and suddenly began to run out of answers.
The trend carried into and throughout the back half of the fight. Yabuki worked his jab and also mixed in uppercuts for good measure. Alvarado was game but unable to keep the rejuvenated Yabuki at bay as he continued to absorb punishing body shots and left hooks.
Yabuki stuck with what worked best and continued to fire off hooks both to the body and upstairs. Alvarado managed to work his way inside past Yabuki’s jab but was met with a right hand for his troubles. Body shots landed for Alvarado while pinned along the ropes, but noticeably lacked the same steam from earlier in the fight.
The uppercut became the dominant weapon of choice down the stretch for Yabuki. Alvarado was virtually unable to defend against the shot, which often came after one-two combinations or counter right hands.
The first of two knockdowns on the night came late in the 11th round, courtesy of a left hook. Yabuki was well in control by this point and could have coasted to the finish line.
Then again, the same could have been said in each of his past six bouts, all which were competitive on paper but ultimately ended inside the distance.
Yabuki did the same here, as he came out determined to be the first to put away the otherwise iron-chinned Alvarado, who also had to deal with a cut outside his right eye. Yabuki went on the hunt in the 12th and final round, as Alvarado moved about the ring in hopes of hearing the final bell.
A left hook to the body set up the final sequence of the fight. It was followed up by a placeholding jab and a monster right hand to the chin, to force his challenger to all fours. Referee Katsuhiko Nakamura began his count but already made up his mind that Alvarado was done for the night.
Yabuki mounted the ropes in a corner to salute the crowd as he successfully retained the title. It came in eerily similar fashion to his 12th round knockout win over then-unbeaten Angel Ayala to win the belt nine months ago at this very location. In fact, Saturday’s offering lasted just five seconds longer, but produced the same dominant showing for the regional hero.
Alvarado snapped a three-fight win streak as he returns home empty-handed in his second attempt to become a two-division titlist. He dropped a unanimous decision to then-undefeated Sunny Edwards for this same title in their November 2022 clash in Sheffield, England.
Meanwhile, Yabuki continues his tear following his March 2022 knockout defeat to Kenshiro Teraji. The setback ended Yabuki’s brief stay as WBC 108lbs champ, an honor he claimed in a massive upset knockout win over Teraji in their September 2021 thriller.
He quickly rebounded with an underrated knockout victory over then-unbeaten Thai contender Thanongsak Simsri in September 2022, followed by two more stoppage wins to set up a shot at IBF 108lbs titlist Sivenathi Nontshinga last October 12 at this location. Yabuki dominated the fight before stopping the South African in the 9th round to win the title.
Yabuki held the belt through his knockout victory over Ayala but decided to remain at flyweight and committed to honoring the inherited overdue mandatory versus Alvarado.
The decision to proceed with this fight was key. Yabuki can now proceed with a voluntary title defense for his next fight. The same is the case for WBO titleholder Anthony Olascuaga, 11-1 (8 KOs) and unified WBA/WBC titlist Ricardo Sandoval, 27-2 (18 KOs), though whether they get in the ring next – or at all – with the resurgent Yabuki remains to be seen.
