Fajardo Faces Yabuki for IBF Flyweight Title
Miel Fajardo is scheduled to challenge IBF flyweight titleholder Masamichi Yabuki in Japan on November 26.
Updated on Nov. 5, 2026 in Boxing
Filipino boxer Miel Fajardo is set to fight IBF flyweight champion Masamichi Yabuki at the Ebara Wave Arena in Japan on November 26. Fajardo is currently weighing 120 pounds, eight pounds above the 112-pound fight limit.
Why it matters
The bout offers Fajardo a shot at a world title and extends the flyweight division's championship picture. The weight gap he must close before the fight makes making the limit a central concern in the lead-up.
Fajardo weighed 120 pounds as of Thursday, eight pounds above the 112-pound flyweight limit for the bout. The fight is 21 days away, and his camp's ability to make weight remains unconfirmed.
The players
Miel Fajardo
Filipino flyweight boxer challenging for the IBF flyweight title in Japan.
Masamichi Yabuki
Japanese boxer who holds the IBF flyweight title and defends it against Fajardo.
The details
Fajardo's team leaves Manila for Tokyo on November 20, and his training is being monitored at the Elorde Sports Center by matchmaker Anthony Arieta. The fight takes place at the Ebara Wave Arena, with Zyvyr Medecilo facing reigning WBA minimumweight titlist Takeshi Ishii in the main supporting bout.
Timeline
November 20, 2026: Fajardo's team departs Manila for Tokyo.
November 26, 2026: Fajardo fights Masamichi Yabuki at the Ebara Wave Arena.
Season Trajectory
The IBF flyweight title has passed through a series of champions, and Fajardo's challenge positions him as the No. 1 contender in that lineage. A win would shift the division's leadership picture heading into the next round of bouts.
The fight's outcome will determine whether Fajardo claims the IBF flyweight title, which would change the division's championship picture for fans tracking flyweight rankings. Fantasy and betting-line followers should note the eight-pound weight gap as a factor leading up to fight week.
The takeaway
Fajardo's ability to make the 112-pound limit in the days before the bout is the key variable to watch before November 26.
What happens next
Fajardo's team departs for Tokyo on November 20, followed by the title fight at the Ebara Wave Arena on November 26.
Further reading
For more on title fights and weight-class news, see our Boxing section.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Daily Tribune.
