Revenge was sweet for Tomoki Kameda, even if he had to sweat out the scorecards again.
The former bantamweight titleholder made sure to get it right the second time around in a dominant performance against Lerato Dlamini. It wasn’t quite as reflected on the scorecards as Kameda settled for a split decision victory. Dlamini won 114-113 on one card, while scores of 114-113 and 116-111 landed in Kameda’s favor in their ABEMA-TV broadcast main event on Saturday from Yamato Arena in Suita, Osaka, Japan.
Kameda (41-4, 23 knockouts) this time made a point that was not caught off guard. The former bantamweight titleholder put in a lethargic effort in their October 7 clash in Tokyo. It cost him not only a split decision, but a mandatory title shot at a WBA featherweight title that has changed hands twice since then.
A more motivated version of Kameda took the fight straight to Dlamini (20-3, 11 KOs) in the opening round. The local favorite stormed straight ahead and forced Dlamini onto the defensive early in the night.
Dlamini offered more angles in round two but mostly caught gloves as he opened up his offence. Kameda quickly cut off the ring and forced Dlamini into the ropes. He was able to find an opening for his left hook to the body, although most of his shots were blocked at the top.
Kameda continued to plow forward, forcing Dlamini to fight off the back foot. Dlamini was able to crack Kameda’s guard with right hands but was unable to land a sustained attack.
The fight took a drastic turn in round five. Kameda had Dlamini in trouble as he unloaded a barrage of punches along the ropes. Dlamini managed to escape but was sent to the canvas seconds later.
Kameda landed another flurry of power punches halfway through the round. Dlamini tried to respond but missed wildly with a right that sent him spinning and falling into the ropes. The sequence was dismissed as a slip but inadvertently bought Dlamini time to recover.
Action slowed down in the middle rounds, which worked in Dlamini’s favor given the near disastrous fifth round. Kameda didn’t offer much in the sixth, but responded to a right hand in the seventh with a quick-fire bushel of punches.
Dlamini hit the deck twice in round eight, although both series were correctly waved off as slips. He spent most of the rest of the round on the run, while Kameda was on the attack.
Kameda opened the ninth with a ripping left hook to the body. He continued to take the fight to Dlamini, landing another body shot moments later. Dlamini played defense for the rest of the round and much of the tenth as he tried to slow down his resurgent rival.
In a more competitive eleventh round, Dlamini went toe-to-toe with Kameda in the trenches. A left hook by Dlamini landed on Kameda’s shoulder as he tripped over his opponent’s foot and staggered back. He quickly regained his balance and immediately went back inside.
While victory was secure heading into the twelfth and final round, Kameda wanted so much more. He roped Dlamini right into the gate and then waved his arms to pump up his adoring fans who were there. Dlamini tried to fight back in vain, but Kameda stayed one step ahead.
The fight ended in a strange way. Kameda drove Dlamini right into the bell and eventually through the ropes. The referee waved it off as a slip, but not before Kameda went into celebration mode and thought he had scored a takedown. Dlamini struggled to get to his feet, but was finally upright and awake.
Kameda wore a look of disgust when Judge Bob Williams’ card was read out in favor of Dlamini. The other two cards landed the right way, earning Kameda another title bid. He is now the mandatory challenger to recently crowned IBF featherweight titleholder Angelo Leo (25-1, 12 KOs).
The sequel came nearly five months after its original March 31 date. Dlamini’s team activated an escape clause when Kameda Promotions failed to secure the bout as an IBF featherweight title eliminator.
Kameda stayed on the show, stopping Kevin Villanueva (22-5-3, 15 KOs) after five rounds.
Dlamini has not fought since his victory over Kameda. The almost eleven month break had another fight that fell through.
Dlamini was ordered to hold talks with Arnold Khegai (21-1-1, 13 KOs). It went to a purse trial on April 30, which was won by TGB Promotions.
However, Khegai bailed on the proceedings given the meager purse he would have earned for a trip to South Africa. He and his team chose to sign with Top Rank instead and set their sights on WBO titlist Rafael Espinoza. Khegai is the WBO no. 1 contender.
Dlamini is now being forced to rebuild almost a year after ruining Kameda’s title plans at the time.
Meanwhile, Kameda is back on track for another title shot. His mandatory to Leo is expected to be ordered later this fall.
Jake Donovan is a senior writer for The Ring.
Follow @JakeNDaBox
