Tomoki bids for piece of boxing lore vs Ambunda

TWO of Japan’s best boxers today, Koki and Daiki Kameda, will be supporting their youngest brother, Tomoki, when the latter fights WBO bantamweight champion Paulos Ambunda in the “Battle of the Undefeated” at the Waterfront Cebu City Hotel and Casino’s Grand Ball Room on Aug. 1.

Pressure, however, is building on the 22-year-old Tomoki, who has a record of 27-0 (win-loss) with 18 knockouts. A win against Ambunda will be a historic feat in the world of boxing for the Japanese since this will mean he and his siblings will be considered as the first family in boxing to become world champions.

The 26-year old Koki (31-1,17KOs), the eldest among the Kameda fighting brothers, recently retained his WBA World Bantamweight title against Filipino John Mark Apolinario in Tokyo, Japan via unanimous decision. The 24-year old Daiki Kameda (28-3,18KOs) is a former WBA flyweight champion and is set to fight  Mexican Rodrigo Guerrero for the vacant IBF Super flyweight title this Sept. 3 in Kagawa, Japan.

Adding pressure to Tomoki’s side is the huge number of Japanese supporters who will flock to Cebu for the showdown against Ambunda.

According to Japanese based here in Cebu, more than 600 Cebu-based Japanese have already bought their tickets for the fight. More than a hundred will also fly to Cebu to watch the bout.

“I am really pressured because I might disappoint my brothers, especially our father and my fellow Japanese who will watch the fight,” said Kameda. “But I am very confident that I can win against Ambunda.”

Ambunda  holds an unbeaten record of 20-0 with 10 knockouts. He won the WBO bantamweight  title against Thai Pong Luang Sorsingyu in South Africa last March.

Tomoki earned his “El Mexicanito” (Mexican Boy) moniker after having honed his boxing skills in Mexico since he was 15. He earned his stripes by beating top Mexican fighters, including the previously unbeaten Stephano Jamoye for the WBC Youth bantamweight title, Jairo Ramirez for the vacant WBC silver bantamweight title and Javier Franco, whom he knocked out.