CEBU, Philippines - The famous Kameda brothers of Japan - Koki and Daiki - are currently in town to train for at least a week at the RWS Gym of Cebuano topnotch promoter Rex 'Wakee" Salud.
They are accompanied by their father Shiro Kameda, who taught them the ropes of boxing in their Osaka home when they were very young.
The RWS Gym in Brgy. Punta Princesa is the same sweat shop where pound-for-pound king Manny Pacquiao trained for his rematch against Marco Antonio Barrera five years ago. Pacquiao reaffirmed his dominance over the Mexican great by lopsided unanimous decision to clinch the WBC International super featherweight crown on October 6, 2007 at the Mandalay Bay Resort and Casino in Las Vegas, Nevada.
"Maybe they heard something good about Wakee Gym that's why they decided to train here," said Jun Ablaca, a longtime trainer and one of Salud's trusted men.
Koki (27-1, 1KOs), the reigning WBA bantamweight champion, and Daiki (22-3, 14KOs), a former world flyweight titlist, are both in the thick of their rigid preparations for their upcoming fights.
The 25-year-old Koki is set to defend his WBA belt against Indonesian challenger Noulde Manakane on April 4 at the Yokohama Arena in Kanagawa, Japan.
His younger brother Daiki will see action in the undercard against Pompetch Twins Gym of Thailand in a non-title bout scheduled for 10 rounds.
The other day, Koki sparred for four rounds against Rodel "Batang Mandaue" Mayol, who himself is gearing up for a world title match against WBA flyweight crown-holder Hernan Marquez on March 24 in Ciudad Obregon, Sonora, Mexico.
"He's a skilled boxer with very good style and great punching power. He really deserves to be a world champion," Mayol said of Koki Kameda.
Koki will make the fourth defense of the WBA belt he claimed with a unanimous decision victory over Alexander Munoz on December 26, 2010 at the Super Arena Saitama, Japan. He scored a smashing fourth round knockout of Mario Macia in his previous defense on December 7 last year at the Prefectural Gymnasium in Osaka, Japan.
Koki once held the WBC flyweight crown but moved up in bantamweight division after losing to Thai Pongsaklek, who was recently dethroned by Filipino fighter Sonny Boy Jaro via sixth round stoppage.
Daiki, on the other hand, reigned as the WBA 112-pound king for two years (2009-2011) before he voluntarily abdicated his throne to venture into the super flyweight class. He then vied for the WBA super flyweight championship but lost by a close decision to Thai Tepparith Singwancha on December 7 last year at the Prefectural Gym in Osaka.
Ablaca said the Kameda brothers will stay in Cebu for only a week as they have to go back to Japan for the final phase of their training. - THE FREEMAN