Masamichi Yabuki Stops Ángel Ayala to Become IBF Champion

On March 29 in Japan, a boxing event headlined by an IBF flyweight title bout (50.8 kg / 112 lbs) saw Masamichi Yabuki (18-4, 17 KOs) dethrone previously unbeaten champion Ángel Ayala (18-1, 8 KOs) via 12th-round TKO.

Yabuki floored Ayala three times throughout the fight — once in the first round, again in the second, and finally in the twelfth. After the last knockdown, the referee allowed the bout to continue, but Yabuki immediately pressed the attack, prompting the official to step in and stop the fight.

With this victory, Yabuki becomes the IBF flyweight world champion, adding to his existing title at junior flyweight (49 kg).

The defeat marks the first loss of Ayala’s career.

For Yabuki, this was his fifth consecutive win — all by stoppage — following his loss to Kenshiro Teraji in March 2022.