The IBF flyweight title fight between Masamichi Yabuki and his mandatory challenger Felix Alvarado will now take place at the Aichi Sky Expo, Tokoname, Japan, on December 27.

Back in September, MP Promotions won the purse bid to secure the fight with the sole bid of $30,000, split 65-35 in favor of the defending champion.

Initially it appeared as though the fight would take place in Mexico. How plans to put the fight there on November 22 failed to materialize and instead the fight will now take place on a Kameda Promotions show in Japan.

Yabuki (18-4, 17 KOs), The Ring's No. 4-rated rated flyweight, lost an early four-round decision to future three-weight titlist Junto Nakatani, was stopped in a round by future WBA flyweight titleholder Seigo Yuri Akui and Cuba's Daniel Matellon (SD 8). The power-puncher upset Teraji (TKO 10) but was decisively dispatched in three rounds during their rematch.

He scored an impressive win over Thanongsak Simsri (TKO 7) and returned after rupturing his Achilles tendon to claim the IBF 108-pound title, stopping Sivenathi Nontshinga (TKO 9) before heading to flyweight, where he beat up Angel Ayala (TKO 12) to win the IBF belt.

Alvarado (42-4, 35 KOs), The Ring's No. 8-rated flyweight, fell short with a pair of 12-round decision defeats in world title attempts against Kazuto Ioka and Juan Carlos Raveco early in his career.

"El Gemelo" then reeled off 15 consecutive victories to earn a shot at the vacant IBF 108-pound belt, which he won by stopping Randy Petalcorin (TKO 7) before making two successful title defenses.

The aggressive 36-year-old vacated his title to move up to 112 pounds, where he was outpointed in an IBF title fight to now-retired former champion Sunny Edwards. He also lost a close fight to Ayala but has scored three consecutive wins at home in Nicaragua.