The fight will take place over 12 rounds in the Jr Flyweight division, which means the weight limit will be 108 pounds (7.7 stone or 49 kg).
This contest is for the IBF Jr flyweight championship of the world.
Sivenathi Nontshinga steps into the ring with a record of 13 wins, 1 loss, and 0 draws, 10 of those wins coming by way of knockout.
Masamichi Yabuki will make his way to the ring with a record of 16 wins, 4 losses and 0 draws, with 15 of those wins by knockout.
The stats suggest Yabuki has an advantage in power over Nontshinga, with a 94% knockout percentage compared to Nontshinga’s 77%.
Sivenathi Nontshinga is the younger man by 7 years, at 25 years old.
Nontshinga has a 2-inch reach advantage.
Both Sivenathi Nontshinga and Masamichi Yabuki fight out of an orthodox stance.
Nontshinga is arguably the less experienced fighter, having had 6 fewer fights, and made his debut in 2017, 1 year and 4 months later than Yabuki, whose first professional fight was in 2016. He has fought 9 more professional rounds, totaling 92 compared to Yabuki’s 83.
Sivenathi Nontshinga goes into the fight ranked number 2 by The Ring at jr flyweight.
Masamichi Yabuki is currently ranked number 2 by the IBF, and 6 by The Ring in the 108lb division.
Nontshinga has beaten 4 of his last 5 opponents, stopping 1 of them, going the distance 3 times.
In his last fight, he won against Adrian Curiel on February 16, 2024, by technical knockout in the 10th round in their IBF World Junior Flyweight championship fight at Auditorio Guelaguetza, Oaxaca, Mexico.
Prior to that, he had been beaten by Adrian Curiel on November 4, 2023, by knockout in the 2nd round in their IBF World Junior Flyweight championship fight at Casino de Monte Carlo Salle Medecin, Monte Carlo, Monaco.
Going into that contest, he had won against Regie Suganob on July 2, 2023, by unanimous decision in their IBF World Junior Flyweight championship fight at ICC, East London, South Africa.
Before that, he had beaten Hector Gabriel Flores on September 3, 2022, by split decision in their IBF World Junior Flyweight championship fight at Hermosillo, Sonora, Mexico.
He had defeated Christian Araneta on April 29, 2021, by unanimous decision in their 12 round contest at Boardwalk Casino, Gqeberha, South Africa.
Yabuki has beaten 4 of his last 5 opponents, stopping 3 of them, going the distance once.
In his last fight, he lost to Kenshiro Teraji on March 19, 2022, by technical knockout in the 3rd round in their WBC World Light Flyweight championship fight at City Gym, Kyoto, Japan.
Prior to that, he had won against Kenshiro Teraji on September 22, 2021, by technical knockout in the 10th round in their WBC World Light Flyweight championship fight at City Gym, Kyoto.
Going into that contest, he had defeated Toshimasa Ouchi on December 26, 2020, by unanimous decision in their 10 round contest at Aioi Hall, Aichi.
Before that, he had beaten Tsuyoshi Sato on July 26, 2020, by knockout in the 1st round at Aioi Hall, Aichi.
He had won against Rikito Shiba on December 15, 2019, by technical knockout in the 4th round at Aioi Hall, Aichi.
In terms of recent activity, Sivenathi Nontshinga has been fighting more than Masamichi Yabuki.
Sivenathi Nontshinga last fought 7 months and 26 days ago, while Masamichi Yabuki’s last outing was 2 years, 6 months and 23 days ago.
Nontshinga’s last 5 fights have come over a period of 3 years, 5 months and 13 days, which means he has been fighting approximately every 8 months and 9 days. In those fights, he fought a total of 48 rounds, meaning that they have lasted 9.6 rounds on average. Yabuki’s last 5 fights have come over a period of 4 years, 9 months and 27 days, meaning he has been fighting on average every 11 months and 18 days. In those fights, he fought a total of 28 rounds, meaning that they have lasted 5.6 rounds on average.
