Masamichi Yabuki

Masamichi Yabuki (born July 9, 1992, in Suzuka, Mie, Japan) is a Japanese professional boxer and a two-weight world champion. Known for his heavy hands and aggressive style, Yabuki has captured world titles at both light flyweight and flyweight. He currently holds the IBF flyweight title since March 2025 and previously reigned as the WBC light-flyweight champion (2021–2022) and the IBF light-flyweight champion (2024–2025).

Yabuki began his professional career on March 27, 2016, stopping Shohei Horii in the first round. His early years were marked by mixed results, including a close loss to future world champion Junto Nakatani and a split-decision setback against Daniel Matellon. However, Yabuki rebounded impressively, winning the Japanese light-flyweight title in July 2020 by knocking out Tsuyoshi Sato in the opening round, and successfully defending it later that year.

His biggest breakthrough came on September 22, 2021, when he shocked the boxing world by defeating long-reigning champion Kenshiro Teraji (Shiro) via 10th-round TKO to claim the WBC light-flyweight title. Though he lost the belt in an immediate rematch six months later by knockout, Yabuki remained a top contender in the division. He bounced back with notable wins, including stoppages over Thanongsak Simsri and Ronald Chacon, while also contemplating a move to flyweight.

That decision paid off in 2024, when Yabuki captured the IBF light-flyweight title, and later moved up to win the IBF flyweight championship in March 2025.