One of the lower weight classes’ under-the-radar standouts, IBF flyweight champion Masamichi Yabuki, will face mandatory challenger Miel Fajardo on November 26th in Tokyo.
Yabuki (20-4, 18 KO) smashed his way to six consecutive finishes after Kenshiro Teraji evened their series at 1-1, including knockouts of IBF light flyweight champ Sivenathi Nontshinga, then-unbeaten flyweight champ Angel Ayala Lardizabal, and never-before-stopped Felix Alvarado. He couldn’t keep the streak going against Rene Calixto
last June, but not for lack of trying, as he floored “El Indio” twice en route to a comfortable decision win.
Fajardo (14-3-2, 12 KO) doesn’t have the prettiest record, but earned his shot by blowing the doors off Tobias Reyes with four knockdowns in 65 seconds earlier this year. While the exponentially more credentialed Yabuki will be a rightful favorite, Fajardo clearly packs heat, making for a potentially explosive confrontation.
The evening’s other title fight pits WBA minimumweight champ Takeshi Ishii (12-1, 9 KO) against TBA, the latter of whom is attempting a hellacious weight cut after many forays at heavyweight. Yabuki’s brother, Masanori Rikiishi (17-2, 12 KO), also sees action against a significantly weaker Filipino counterpart in Melchor Roda (10-6, 6 KO), while recently deposed bantamweight titlist Yoshiki Takei (12-1, 9 KO) takes another get-well bout against countryman Kenshin Oshima (9-5-1, 5 KO).
