Is Japanese champ looking past Fajardo?

A stepping stone.

That’s how reigning International Boxing Federation (IBF) flyweight champion Masamichi Yabuki sees Filipino mandatory challenger Miel Fajardo as they both ramp up their respective buildups for their 26 November showdown at the Ebara Wave Arena in Ota Ward, Tokyo.

“I want to win in a way that will allow me to take the next big step. I want to win decisively and work hard so that I can take on the next big fight,’ said Yabuki, who enters the ring with a 20-4-0 win-loss-draw card with 18 knockouts.

A huge victory over Fajardo, according to Yabuki, should propel him to either a unification fight with one of the three champions in the 112-pound class or take a chance at going up in weight for another world title.

Ohashi Promotions, the outfit that represents pound-for-pound king Naoya “Monster” Inoue is putting up the Yabuki-Fajardo encounter at the 4,000-seater venue officially named Ota City General Gymnasium that also serves as the home arena of Japan B.League team Earthfriends Tokyo Z.

Fajardo, holding a 14-3-2 mark with 12 knockouts, is currently in Hong Kong where he has been training for over two weeks now as the weather over there is much better than that of Metro Manila this time of year.

But the Agusan del Sur native, who is 26 and younger by eight years than Yabuki, will be back in the country on 15 October for the final push.

His training camp in Hong Kong was arranged by his manager Lennon Tsoi, a former Manila resident who used to box professionally.

“Everything’s been great, the sparring, roadwork,” said Fajardo, who earned the right to challenge Yabuki last April when he knocked out Tobias Reyes in just one round in Argentina.

Yabuki’s clash with Fajardo will serve as his third title defense.

In winning the IBF champion, Yabuki crushed Angel Ayala of Mexico in the 12th round in March 2025 in Tokoname.

He has defended it twice, against Nicaraguan Felix Alvarado and Mexican Rene Calixto.