TOKYO: LEAVE THE JUDGES OUT OF IT !!

Two Filipinos. Two world titles. One night in Japan.

And now we know who's holding the clipboard.

The IBF has named the officials for Miel Fajardo's shot at Masamichi Yabuki on 26 November at the Ebara Wave Arena in Tokyo.

The referee ? Koji Tanaka — regarded as Japan's top ring official.

The judges ? One from Japan, one from Australia, one from the Philippines.

The supervisor ? The secretary general of the Japan Boxing Commission.

In Japan. Against a Japanese champion.

We're not saying a word. Just saying.

But here's the thing — Fajardo might not need anyone's help.

14-3-2. 12 KOs. SEVEN of them in the first round.

He earned this mandatory shot by taking out Argentina's Tobias Reyes in 65 seconds back in April.

Yabuki is no pushover — 20-4 with 18 KOs, making the third defence of his IBF flyweight belt, and the solid betting favourite.

On paper, it's the champion. But one-punch power is the great equaliser.

And that's only half the night.

In the co-feature, unbeaten Zyvyr Medecilo (9-0, 5 KOs) challenges WBA minimumweight champion Takeshi Ishii (12-1, 9 KOs).

Medecilo is the bigger underdog. The fight came together in a matter of days, while he was in Japan on a sparring contract.

Win, and he becomes the fastest Filipino ever to win a world title — in his 10th fight, beating Malcolm Tunacao's mark of 11.

Right now the Philippines has ONE reigning world champion — Pedro Taduran.

By the night of 26 November it could be three.

Hungry dogs fight harder.

And the message for both of them is simple — leave the judges out of it !!

🇵🇭 MIEL FAJARDO (14-3-2, 12 KOs) vs MASAMICHI YABUKI (20-4, 18 KOs) 🇯🇵
🥊 IBF Flyweight World Championship

🇵🇭 ZYVYR MEDECILO (9-0, 5 KOs) vs TAKESHI ISHII (12-1, 9 KOs) 🇯🇵
🥊 WBA Minimumweight World Championship

📅 Thursday 26 November 2026
📍 Ebara Wave Arena, Ota City, Tokyo

Stay tuned !

Sources:
Daily Tribune (12 Nov 2026) — https://tribune.net.ph/2026/11/11/ibf-taps-japanese-ref-for-fajardo-title-shot
Daily Tribune (11 Nov 2026) — https://tribune.net.ph/2026/11/10/fajardo-medecillo-step-on-brakes
Daily Tribune (13 Oct 2026) — https://tribune.net.ph/2026/10/13/tokyo-hosts-double-phl-vs-japan-world-title-fights
Philstar (19 Oct 2026) — https://www.philstar.com/campus/sports/2026/10/19/2564329/double-trouble-fajardo-medecilo-head-japan-rare-world-title-shots