Masamichi Yabuki has moved on—and up, with any luck.

The Ring has learned that the two-time junior flyweight titlist has entered talks to challenge reigning IBF flyweight beltholder Angel Ayala. The development comes after negotiations collapsed for a targeted IBF/WBA junior flyweight title unification with Erick Rosa.

A few moving parts still need to be resolved for Mexico City’s Ayala (18-0, 8 KOs) to receive permission to face Yabuki (17-4, 16 KOs) in a voluntary title defense. Ayala was previously ordered to defend against Nicaragua’s Felix Alvarado (42-4, 35 KOs), with a Jan. 28 deadline looming to reach a resolution and avoid a purse bid hearing.

Approval would have to be granted by IBF to formally sanction the fight, in addition to Alvarado agreeing to step aside. The Ring has learned that Alvarado will be on board with that plan, or at least resigned to accept that fight, should Ayala and Yabuki reach a deal.

A fight between Ayala and Yabuki would pair The Ring’s No. 1 contenders at flyweight and junior flyweight, respectively. The bout will take place in Japan if all parties can get on board.

Japan’s Yabuki previously sought to face Dominican Republic’s Rosa (8-0, 2 KOs) at Kameda Promotions’ planned Lush BOMU Vol. 4’ event on March 29 in Osaka, Japan. The date proved to be a sticking point in negotiations. Rosa’s team aimed for a fight date later in April, which left the two sides at an impasse.

Yabuki dethroned Sive Nontshinga (13-2, 10 KOs) via a stirring ninth-round knockout last Oct. 12 in his home state of Aichi, Japan. The 32-year-old fighting hero of Nagoya, Aichi resurrected his career with the win, but is now at a point where his mentality is big fights or bust.

It is why he immediately turned his attention to Ayala the moment it was realized the fight with Rosa wasn’t going to happen next.

Ayala was ordered to face Alvarado, The Ring’s No. 6 flyweight and a former IBF 108-pound titlist, last Dec. 28. A 30-day negotiation period was assigned, with that deadline rapidly approaching.

Alvarado was considered unfortunate to lose a controversial unanimous decision to Ayala in their Oct. 2013 IBF flyweight title eliminator in Merida, Mexico. In fact, Alvarado was even announced as the winner before the ring announcer realized his error and revealed that Ayala prevailed by scores of 114-113 on all three cards.

Ayala then went on to win the vacant IBF title in an Aug. 9 sixth-round knockout of Dave Apolinario (20-0 at the time) in his Mexico City hometown. He’s yet to defend the title.

Alvarado re-entered the title mix after a Dec. 27 majority decision win over Argentina’s Tobias Reyes (16-0-1 at the time) in their IBF title eliminator in Managua, Nicaragua. The victory was his third in a row, but he now might have to wait at least one more fight for his chance to become a two-division titlist.

Yabuki has some wiggle room before he will be pressed to next defend against mandatory challenger Cristian Araneta (25-2, 20 KOs). Even if that ruling comes, Yabuki would have the right to file for an exception should he and Ayala reach a deal by that point.

Jake Donovan is part of the U.S. team for The Ring. Follow Jake on X and Instagram.