South Africa’s Moruti Mthalane (C) and Japan’s Akira Yaegashi (R) fight during their IBF flyweight title boxing match at Yokohama Arena in Yokohama, Kanagawa prefecture on December 23, 2019. (Photo by Kazuhiro NOGI / AFP)

Flyweight Champion Mthalane Sends Third Consecutive Japanese Contender To Cleaners

By Robert Brizel, Head Real Combat Media Boxing Correspondent




International Boxing Federation World Flyweight champion Moruti ‘Baby Face’ Mthulane, in retaining his world title, has set a new professional record for world champions, by defeating his third consecutive Japanese challenger on December 23, 2019, with a ninth-round stoppage of Akira Yaegashi at Arena in Yokohama, Japan. The bout also set the CompuBox record for punches thrown by two flyweights in a world title bout. Mthulane threw 669 punches, Yaegashi threw 531 punches, for a record total of 1200 punches thrown in a world flyweight championship bout. The Chris Arreola-Adam Kownacki 2019 heavyweight bout remains the all-time punch count CompuBox record.




Mthulane, age 37, 39-2, 26 knockouts, Kwa-Zulu-Natal, South Africa, got outworked by three-division champion Yaegashi, age 36, 28-7 with 16 knockouts, Yokohama, Japan, fighting in his hometown. Mthulane took control in the middle rounds, landing jabs and combinations and coming forward with his hands held high and putting on the pressure. Yaegashi fought back with flurries to the head and body, but began to fade in the eighth round. In the ninth round, a right hand to the Yaegashi’s head had Mthulane looking to close the show, forcing the referee to call a halt to the action. Mthulane defeated Masahiro Sakamoto and Masayuki Kuroda in his previous two bouts, making it three consecutive Japanese scalps. Mthulane went into Yokohama knowing he would never get the decision in Japan, but was somehow still ahead on two scorecards at the time the bout was stopped.




Result: Morati Mthulane TKO 9 Akiro Yaegashi, Flyweights (2:54)
Mthulane retains International Boxing Federation World Flyweight title
Referee: Mario Gonzalez. Mthulane’s third consecutive title victory over Japanese boxers.
1200 punches thrown in a world flyweight title bout sets CompuBox flyweight title record.

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Robert Brizel - Head Boxing Correspondent
Robert Brizel - Head Boxing Correspondent
Robert is the Head Boxing Correspondent for Real Combat Media Boxing since 2013. Robert is also a photographer and ringside reporter for the RCM Tri State region which includes NJ, NY and PA. Robert conducts exclusive interviews, provides historical boxing articles and provides editorial ringside coverage of major boxing events. You can contact or follow Robert on Facebook and by email at [email protected].