Tomoki Kameda


Tomoki Kameda is a Japanese professional boxer. He is a former World Boxing Organization bantamweight champion, having held the title from 2013 to 2014.

Early life

Kameda was born in the Nishinari-ku ward of Osaka. He is the younger brother of Kōki Kameda and Daiki Kameda. Their father, boxing trainer Shiro Kameda, dreamt that all three sons would grow up to win world titles in the sport.
At the age of 15, Kameda relocated to Mexico in order to learn from Mexican boxing experts.

Amateur career

Kameda had been training for the Beijing Olympics and ran his record to 35-1-1 in Japan. After his move to Mexico, he competed in the Guantes de Oro de México. However, he was too young to participate at the Olympic qualifiers. Instead of waiting, Kameda chose to turn pro.

Professional career

WBO bantamweight champion

Kameda made his professional debut against Alejandro Moreno on November 21, 2008, and won the fight by a second-round knockout. He amassed an 27–0 record during the next year, before challenging for the WBO bantamweight title. On May 30, 2013, it was announced that Kameda would challenge the undefeated reigning WBO bantamweight champion Paulus Ambunda. The bantamweight title bout was scheduled as the main event of an August 1, 2013 card that took place at the Waterfront Cebu City Hotel & Casino in Cebu City, Philippines. Despite coming into the fight as an underdog, Kameda won the fight by unanimous decision, with scores of 118–110, 116–112 and 117–111. Kameda made history as the first Japanese boxer to win a WBO title.
Kameda faced another Namibian in his first title defense, as he was booked to face the undefeated Immanuel Naidjala. The bout was scheduled for the undercard of the Liborio Solis and Daiki Kameda unified super flyweight title fight, which took place on December 3, 2013, at the Bodymaker Colosseum in Osaka, Osaka. Kameda retained the belt by unanimous decision, with scores of 117–111, 118–110 and 119–109. Kameda was booked to make his second title defense against the former two-time WBO bantamweight titleholder Pungluang Sor Singyu. The fight was scheduled for the undercard of the Canelo Alvarez and Erislandy Lara middleweight bout, which took place on July 12, 2014, at the MGM Grand Las Vegas in Paradise, Nevada. This bout represented Kameda's United States and Showtime debut. Kameda won the fight by a seventh-round technical knockout. He sent Singyu to the canvas with a left hook to the liver, which left the former champion unable to beat the ten-count. The scores at the time of the stoppage were 58–56 for Kameda, 58–56 for Singyu and 57–57. Kameda made his third and final WBO bantamweight title defense against Alejandro Hernández on November 1, 2014, at the Credit Union 1 Arena in Chicago, Illinois. The bout was organized by Hernández's promoters Warriors Boxing, who won the purse bid with an offer of $603 000. Kameda was entitled to an 80% split of the purse, i.e. $482 400, while Hernández earned $120 600. Kameda won the fight by split decision. Two judges awarded him a 115–113 scorecard, while the third judge gave the same scorecard to Hernández.
After beating Hernández, Kameda requested to face the WBA bantamweight champion Jamie McDonnell in a title unification bout. This request was rejected by the WBO, as McDonnell was only the WBA "regular" champion, which was considered a secondary title by the organization. Kameda reacted to this by vacating the title on April 23, 2015, stating: "I have decided to relinquish my WBO belt. My main focus is to fight the best fighters in the world regardless of titles. Mcdonnell is a top fighter at 118 pounds and it was my wish to face him. I respect the WBO's decision to not sanction the fight and thank them for the opportunity to be their world champion". Kameda was booked to challenge McDonnell on May 1, 2015. Although he entered the bout as the favorite, Kameda lost the fight by a close unanimous decision. All three judges scored the fight 114–113 for McDonnell. The pair was scheduled to fight an immediate rematch on September 6, 2015. McDonnel once again won the fight by unanimous decision, this time in a more convincing fashion, with scores of 115–112, 116–111 and 117–110.

Super bantamweight

After suffering the first two losses of his professional career, Kameda moved up in weight to super bantamweight, and was booked to face Edgar Martinez on October 15, 2016. He won the fight by a first-round knockout. Kameda next faced Mike Rawatchai on March 10, 2017, in his first fight in Japan since December 2013. He won the fight by unanimous decision, with scores of 100–88, 100–90 and 99–90. Four months later, on July 10, 2017, Kameda faced the one-time IBF bantamweight title challenger Iván Morales. He won the fight by unanimous decision, with scores of 100–90, 100–90 and 99–91. Kameda was booked to face Daniel Noriega on May 5, 2018. He won the fight by unanimous decision, with all three judges scoring the fight 100–88 in his favor.
Kameda was booked to challenge the reigning WBC interim super bantamweight titleholder Abigail Medina on November 12, 2018. The title bout was scheduled as the main event of an Abema TV broadcast card that took place at the Korakuen Hall in Tokyo, Japan. Abema TV broadcast the fight live and exclusively on the internet, which was the first time that a world boxing championship in Japan was broadcast in such a way. Kameda won the fight by unanimous decision. Two of the judges scored the fight 117–111 in his favor, while the third judge awarded him a 116–112 scorecard. The fight peaked at 2.2 million viewers.
Winning the interim title placed Kameda at the front of the line to challenge the reigning champion Rey Vargas. The fight was officially confirmed on June 6, 2019, to take place at the Dignity Health Sports Park in Carson, California on July 13, 2019. The bout was broadcast by DAZN. Vargas justified his role as the betting favorite, as he won the fight by unanimous decision. All three judges scored the fight 117–110 for Vargas. Kameda was out-landed 173 to 133 in total punches, but only 122 to 120 in power punches.
Kameda returned to boxing following a 22-month absence from the sport to face Hironori Miyake. The bout was booked for May 22, 2021, and took place at the 176BOX in Toyonaka, Japan. He won the fight by unanimous decision, with scores of 79–73, 78–73, and 78–73. After successfully bouncing back from his third professional loss, Kameda was scheduled to face Yonfrez Parejo in a WBA super bantamweight title eliminator. He earned the status of mandatory challenger by beating Parejo by unanimous decision, with scores of 118–110, 117–111 and 116–112.
On April 22, 2022, Kameda announced he had begun to train at the TRYBOX Heisei Nishiyama. Kameda was booked to face William Encarnación on July 30, 2022, at the Kobe Municipal Central Gymnasium in Kobe, Japan. Kameda won the fight by a fourth-round knockout.
Kameda was booked to face the #12 ranked WBA super bantamweight contender Luis Castillo in a stay-busy fight on February 25, 2023, at the ATC Hall in Osaka, Japan. He won the fight by a fifth-round knockout.
Kameda was ordered by the WBA, on June 5, 2023, to face former unified super-bantamweight champion Murodjon Akhmadaliev in a super bantamweight title eliminator.
Kameda fought Angelo Leo for the IBF Featherweight Championship on May 24, 2025 in Osaka. He lost by decision.

Personal life

Kameda is fluent in Spanish. He married his wife, a Mexican woman, in October 2015. They have two sons.

Nickname

His early nickname in Japan was. It denotes "The Ultimate Weapon of the Kamedas". He later gained a Spanish nickname El Mexicanito which translates to "The Little Mexican", since he also trains and fights out of Mexico. He has started to earn the respect of Mexican boxing fans, due to his very aggressive style of fighting.

Professional boxing record

No.ResultRecordOpponentTypeRound, timeDateLocationNotes
47Loss42–5Angelo LeoMD12May 24, 2025Intex Osaka, Osaka, JapanFor IBF featherweight title
46Win42–4Lerato DlaminiSD12Aug 24, 2024Yamato Arena, Suita, Japan
45Win41–4Kevin VillanuevaRTD5, 3:00Mar 31, 2024International Conference Hall, Nagoya, Japan
44Loss40–4Lerato DlaminiSD12Oct 7, 2023Ota City General Gymnasium, Tokyo, Japan
43Win40–3Luis CastilloTKO5, 1:18Feb 25, 2023ATC Hall, Osaka, Japan
42Win39–3William EncarnaciónKO4, 2:35Jul 30, 2022Kobe Municipal Central Gymnasium, Kobe, Japan
41Win38–3Yonfrez ParejoUD12Dec 11, 2021Centro de Usos Múltiples, Hermosillo, Mexico
40Win37–3Hironori MiyakeUD8May 22, 2021176BOX, Toyonaka, Osaka, Japan
39Loss36–3Rey VargasUD12Jul 13, 2019Dignity Health Sports Park, Carson, California, U.S.For WBC super bantamweight title
38Win36–2Abigail MedinaUD12Nov 12, 2018Korakuen Hall, Tokyo, JapanWon WBC interim super bantamweight title
37Win35–2Daniel NoriegaUD10May 5, 2018Korakuen Hall, Tokyo, Japan
36Win34–2Iván MoralesUD10Jul 10, 2017Korakuen Hall, Tokyo, Japan
35Win33–2Mike RawatchaiUD10Mar 10, 2017Korakuen Hall, Tokyo, Japan
34Win32–2Edgar MartinezKO1, 1:17Oct 15, 2016Gimnasio G2, Iztapalapa, Mexico City, Mexico
33Loss31–2Jamie McDonnellUD12Sep 6, 2015American Bank Center, Corpus Christi, Texas, U.S.For WBA bantamweight title
32Loss31–1Jamie McDonnellUD12May 9, 2015State Farm Arena, Hidalgo, Texas, U.S.For WBA bantamweight title
31Win31–0Alejandro HernándezSD12Nov 1, 2014Credit Union 1 Arena, Chicago, Illinois, U.S.Retained WBO bantamweight title
30Win30–0Pungluang Sor SingyuTKO7, 1:35Jul 12, 2014MGM Grand Garden Arena, Paradise, Nevada, U.S.Retained WBO bantamweight title
29Win29–0Immanuel NaidjalaUD12Dec 3, 2013Prefectural Gymnasium, Osaka, JapanRetained WBO bantamweight title
28Win28–0Paulus AmbundaUD12Aug 1, 2013Waterfront Cebu City Hotel, Cebu City, PhilippinesWon WBO bantamweight title
27Win27–0Nouldy ManakaneKO6, 0:36Mar 9, 2013Bunka Gym, Yokohama, Kanagawa, Japan
26Win26–0Rey Las PinasKO4, 1:23Dec 4, 2012Prefectural Gymnasium, Osaka, Japan
25Win25–0Javier FrancoTKO5, 1:18Oct 27, 2012international Convention Center, Chetumal, Mexico
24Win24–0Monico LaurenteUD10Aug 19, 2012Sun Messe Kagawa, Takamatsu, Kagawa, Japan
23Win23–0Jairo Hernandez10, 3:00Apr 26, 2012Centro Bancomer, Mexico City, Distrito Federal, MexicoWon vacant WBC Silver bantamweight title
22Win22–0Eduardo GarcíaKO7, 1:23Dec 7, 2011Prefectural Gymnasium, Osaka, Japan
21Win21–0Jesús CejaTKO7, 1:06Oct 15, 2011Centro Internacional, Chetumal, Quintana Roo, Mexico
20Win20–0Dandy ToeiUD10Jul 8, 2011Kyuden Gym, Fukuoka, Fukuoka, JapanRetained WBC Youth World bantamweight title
19Win19–0Nathan BolcioUD10May 7, 2011Prefectural Gymnasium, Osaka, Japan
18Win18–0Germán MerazUD12Feb 19, 2011Discothèque Collage, Puerto Vallarta, Jalisco, MexicoWon NABF bantamweight title
17Win17–0Pichitchai Twins GymKO3, 2:12Dec 26, 2010Super Arena, Saitama, JapanRetained WBC Youth World bantamweight title
16Win16–0Stephane Jamoye10Aug 28, 2010Lobo Dome, Mazatlán, Sinaloa, MexicoWon WBC Youth World bantamweight title
15Win15–0Arturo CamargoUD10Jul 10, 2010Arena VFG, Guadalajara, Jalisco, MexicoWon WBC Youth Intercontinental super bantamweight title
14Win14–0Javier RodríguezUD10May 29, 2010Arena Tecate, Guadalajara, Jalisco, Mexico
13Win13–0Narciso LaraTKO3, 1:36Apr 30, 2010Gimnasio German Evers, Mazatlán, Sinaloa, MexicoRetained WBC FECARBOX bantamweight title
12Win12–0Rodolfo GarayKO3, 1:53Jan 16, 2010Auditorio Centenario, Gómez Palacio, Durango, MexicoWon WBC FECARBOX bantamweight title
11Win11–0Marlon MárquezUD10Nov 27, 2009Edogawa Sports Center, Tokyo, Japan
10Win10–0Jesus PeribanTKO3, 2:00Sep 5, 2009Differ Ariake, Tokyo, Japan
9Win9–0Marco Antonio ChableTKO4, 0:46Aug 6, 2009Woda Night Club, Lomas de Sotelo, Mexico
8Win8–0Alejandro DotorTKO3, 2:08Jun 26, 2009Salon Marbet Plus, Ciudad Nezahualcóyotl, Mexico
7Win7–0Tatsuhiro KumobayashiTKO4, 0:42May 30, 2009Edogawa Sports Center, Tokyo, Japan
6Win6–0Alain Lopez4Apr 11, 2009Gimnasio Niños Héroes, Tepic, Nayarit, Mexico
5Win5–0Andres TorresTKO2, 1:38Mar 14, 2009Auditorio Centenario, Torreón, Mexico
4Win4–0Arturo DelgadoTKO2, 2:14Feb 6, 2009Salon Marbet Plus, Ciudad Nezahualcóyotl, Mexico
3Win3–0Juan Carlos Olvera3, 0:36Jan 24, 2009Arena San Juan, Ciudad Nezahualcóyotl, Mexico
2Win2–0Adrian RamirezKO2, 1:33Dec 8, 2008South Gym, Oyama, Tochigi, Japan
1Win1–0Alejandro Moreno2, 2:08Nov 21, 2008Salon Marbet Plus, Ciudad Nezahualcóyotl, Mexico