Kameda vows KO win in WBO title challenge here

Japanese Tomoki “El Mexicanito” Kameda (27-0, 18KOs) vowed to stop Namibian WBO World Bantamweight champion Paulus Ambunda (20-0, 10KOs) when they tangle in the main event of “Battle of the Undefeated: WBO World Bantamweight Championship” on Aug. 1 at the Waterfront Cebu City Hotel and Casino.

Both undefeated, Kameda and Ambunda will mark only the second world title bout between foreign boxers to be held here in Cebu after the 2009 duel between hard hitting Australian Michael Katsidis against Mexican Angel Hugo Ramirez at the Cebu Coliseum for the WBO Asia Pacific lightweight title which was won by the former.

“I want a good fight so that everyone will be entertained especially the Filipino boxing fans. There is a very big chance that I will knockout Ambunda,” said Kameda who just finished his one week training at the RWS gym in Labangon.

The fight card is put up by promoter Rex “Wakee” Salud which will also feature former interim WBC silver superflyweight champion Marlon Tapales against a still unnamed opponent for the WBO Asia Pacific Bantamweight title.

Salud and his matchmaker Juanito Ablaca are still scouting for Tapales’ foreign opponent.

“We are very proud that us, Cebuanos, will be hosting this world championship bout and we are very excited for this event,” said Salud during yesterday’s launching of the fight card at the Caspian Room of the Waterfront Hotel and Casino Lahug along with team Kameda headed by Tomoki himself, his trainer, Cebuano Sulpicio “Sol” Anoos and his manager Satoshi Shima of Kameda Gym in Tokyo.

WHY CEBU?

According to Salud, the fight landed here in Cebu because the Japanese boxing commission prohibited Kameda from fighting Ambunda in Japan because he is not yet an OPBF or world champion.

According to Ablaca, they are expecting a lot of Japanese nationals to flock the fight venue to cheer for Kameda. The fight will be televised live all-over Japan according to Shima.

“The Kameda brothers are very popular in Japan and Tomoki, the youngest among them is like the Manny Pacquiao of Japan. He’s got a lot of fans back in Japan,” said Shima.

Kameda got his “El Mexicanito” (Mexican Boy) moniker 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 in the fifth round last year. He had three non-title bouts in late 2012 and early this year where he emerged victorious.

Meanwhile, Gherpaul Valero and Ardie Boyose will lead the under card cast as they will be facing Darryl Basadre of Misamis Oriental and Jay-ar Mendoza of Surigao Del Sur, respectively. Six bouts featuring Filipino prospects going up against each other will spice up the fight card.

Kameda will fly back to Japan today to continue his training.