Kuniaki Shibata (柴田 国明, born March 29, 1947, in Hitachi, Japan) is a Japanese former professional boxer who competed from 1965 to 1977.
In April 1970 he challenged for the vacant Japanese featherweight title, and won by tenth-round knockout.
Shibata moved up to super featherweight, and got his second world title shot against Lineal and WBA champion Ben Villaflor in Honolulu on March 12, 1973.
Shibata was a short and speedy fighter, who took advantage of even the slightest openings to throw in a flurry of punches.
He and former WBC lightweight champion Guts Ishimatsu were gym mates, and both fighters were trained by Eddie Townsend.