CEBU, Philippines - After so much talk, it's now time to let their fists do the talking.
That's exactly what they are going to do when Paulus "The Rock" Ambunda of Namibia defends his WBO bantamweight crown against Japanese challenger Tomoki "El Mexicanito" Kameda in the main event of the "Battle of the Undefeated" fightcard tonight at the Pacific grand ballroom of Waterfront-Cebu City Hotel and Casino.
Those who are going to watch the slambang show are advised to come early as the first bout will take place at 5 pm. The Ambunda-Kameda rumble is set to start at 7 pm sharp as it will be broadcast live in Japan where Tomoki and his brothers Koki and Daiki enjoy a superstar status.
In a rare treat to the Cebuano fans, event promoter Shiro Kameda, TBS TV and Rex "Wakee Salud" Promotions International are opening the general admission section to the public for free.
After easily making weight during the official weigh-in yesterday, Ambunda and Kameda again traded verbal jabs, vowing that one of them will surely fall.
"Every fight is important to me that is why I take it very seriously," said Ambunda, who sports an unblemished 20-0 record spiked with 10KOs. "I will bring my title back to Africa. I'm going to knock him out in any round. Any mistake he makes, he is going down."
It will be Ambunda's first defense of the WBO throne he seized after beating former Thai champ Pungluang Sor Singyo by unanimous decision last March 2 at the Windhoek Country Club Resort in Windhoek, Namibia. Sor Singyo is best remembered by Pinoy fans for spoiling the world championship dream of ALA Gym stalwart AJ ‘Bazooka’ Banal on October 20 last year at the SM Mall of Asia (MOA) Arena in Pasay City.
Like Ambunda, Kameda did not also mince words about going for a knockout victory.
"I will win this fight and it will be by knockout within eight rounds," boldly declared Kameda, who carries a clean 27-0 slate packed with 18KOs.
Kameda is nicknamed 'El Mexicanito" as he has fought and mauled a total of 15 Mexican boxers since he debuted with a second round TKO of Alejandro Moreno on November 21, 2008 at the Salon Marbet Plus in Ciudad Nezahualcoyotl. He also collected his five regional titles under the WBC by crushing Mexican rivals.
That made Tomoki the most famous among the three fighting Kameda brothers of Japan. His elder brother Koki is the current WBA 118-pound champion, while Daiki is set to fight for the IBF super flyweight belt against Rodrigo Guerrero on September 3 at the Sun Messe Kagawa in Japan.
"It's going to be a highly entertaining night of fistic action. Expect war in the ring tomorrow (today)," said Cebuano topnotch promoter Rex "Wakee" Salud.
In the supporting main event, Marlon ‘Nightmare’ Tapales (22-2, 9KOs) of RWS Gym will slug it out with Fredirex Rodriguez (11-2, 8KOs) of Bukidnon in a non-title clash scheduled for 10 rounds.
The other exciting match features former WBC flyweight champion Sonny Boy Jaro against the resurgent Gherpaul Valero of Noy Pacing Flores Stable based in Mandaue City.
Valero is one of the four Team Singwangcha fighters who will be seeing action in the preliminary bouts. The rest are Ardie Boyose, Neil John Tabanao, and Joey Canoy.
Boyose will slug it out with Ahl Gurumo of Surigao del Sur, Tabanao will trade punches with Charlie Pucdol of Omega Boxing Gym, while Canoy will mix it up with Mindanao brawler Marwin Cristota.
Tickets are priced at P500 for ballroom, P800 for gold seats, and P2,500 for the VIP section. (FREEMAN)