Kameda dethrones Ambunda: Tomoki joins brother Koki as reigning world bantamweight champions

CEBU, Philippines - Japanese ring star Tomoki ‘El Mexicanito’ Kameda pulled off a lopsided unanimous decision victory to dethrone Paulus ‘The Rock’ Ambunda of Namibia and emerge as the new WBO bantamweight champion in the main event of the ‘Battle of the Undefeated’ fightcard last night at the jampacked Waterfront Cebu City Hotel and Casino.

Speed was the name of the game for the 22-year-old Kameda as he wisely used his quick hand speed to outbox the shorter South African who has no answer for his deadly combinations.

Kameda avoided a toe-to-toe exchange against Ambunda by capitalizing on his reach advantage and footwork to pile up points  against the previously undefeated South African.

Ambunda’s bright spot only came in the seventh round where he connected solid left hook that staggered the Japanese fighter. The Japanese challenger, however, quickly recovered  and continued to put on a boxing clinic against Ambunda.

After 12 rounds of intense action, three judges scored 118-110, 116-112 and 117-111 all in favor for Kameda, who improved his perfect record to 28-0 spiked with 18KOs, while the former Olympian Ambunda suffered his first career defeat in 21 fights.

With his victory, Tomoki joined his two older brothers Koki and Daiki in making history as the first fighting brothers to have held world boxing crowns.

Koki is the reigning WBA bantamweight titlist, while Daiki, who formerly held the WBA flyweight crown, will meet Rodrigo Guerrero for the vacant IBF super flyweight title on September 3 in Japan. If Daiki wins that fight, all three brothers would be active world champions.

"I am so happy that our father's dream has been granted for us. I also appreciate my brothers support and also to my countrymen who are at here to give their support. I will try to defend my title for a long time and I want to do it someday in Las Vegas," said Kameda. (FREEMAN)