The first defense of IBF light flyweight champion Sivenathi Nontshinga’s second title reign will be a road game, as “The Special One” confirmed that he’ll meet former titlist Masamichi Yabuki in the latter’s native Japan. Tris Dixon reports that the bout will land on October 12th in Nagoya, six days before Yabuki rival Kenshiro Teraji’s planned flyweight title bout against Cristofer Rosales.
South Africa’s Nontshinga (13-1, 10 KO) dueled his way past Hector Flores to claim the belt in 2022 and managed one successful defense before suffering a shock knockout loss to Adrian Curiel. He got the chance to avenge that defeat just three months later, battling back from a large deficit to smash “Gatito” on enemy soil.
This figures to be anything but a victory lap. Yabuki (16-4, 15 KO) famously knocked Teraji out in 2021, and though he fell in the rematch, he’s 3-0 with three knockouts since and notably stopped world-ranked knockout artist Thanongsak Simsri along the way. Nontshinga will have to be on point all evening in what figures to be a terrific scrap.
We’ll let you know when and if Teiken or Matchroom makes an official announcement.