Masimichi Yabuki proved successful in his jump up to 112 pounds as he stopped Angel Ayala in the 12th round to claim the IBF world flyweight title in Tokoname, Japan.

It was only last October that Yabuki (18-4, 17 KOs) stopped South African Sivenathi Nontshinga to claim the IBF 108-pound belt, but five months later the Suzuka man is now a two-weight titlist.

The Aichi Sky Expo Arena played host as Yabuki, 32, made a dream start after dropping Ayala (18-1, 8 KOs) with a left hook in the opening round—the Mexican caught coming in close with his hands down.

More success followed for Yabuki in the second stanza. Ayala, at this early stage, looked overawed by the challenge in front of him. He continued to lunge in with his chin in the air and paid with 42 seconds left in the round when Yabuki caught him flush with a straight right hand.

Soon after, a clash of heads opened up cuts above and below the respective right eyes of Yabuki and Ayala, who was fighting outside of Mexico for the first time in his career.

For all of his lacking in troubling Yabuki, there were no doubts over the Mexican's toughness, willing himself through each round as Yabuki broke him down, stifling any momentum the champion looked to build.

The ninth and tenth rounds were particularly brutal for Ayala, who had to absorb punishment to the body. His face was a bloody mess and his midriff was now taking a beating. Just a couple more rounds and it was to be Yabuki's crowning night once again.

Both men, crimson masks and all, made their way out for the final three minutes of the fight with Ayala needing the comeback of all comebacks and Yabuki looking to stay the course.

Ayala had no choice but to push but his forward movements were slow and ponderous and with 90 seconds left in the round, as he looked to exchange with Yabuki, he suffered his hardest knockdown yet, a huge straight right as he looked to land one of his own.

He was given a count and with blood streaming down his face all Ayala could muster was a nod to the referee to let him continue. The fight went on for another 20 seconds before Katsuhiko Nakamura stepped in to halt proceedings with just over a minute left.

Yabuki celebrated wildly in the corner, revelling in his two-weight title glory while Ayala, valiantly as he fought, was left in bemusement at what had just come before him.

Options are there for Yabuki, including a trilogy fight with The Ring's pound-for-pound No. 10 Kenshiro Teraji, who is the division's WBA, WBC and Ring titleholder, having just stopped Seigo Yuri Akui in the 12th round of a fight of the year contender himself.