Tomoki Kameda
(35, TMK), a former two-division world champion and the No. 3 contender for the WBA world featherweight title, departed from Kansai International Airport on the 30th for a training camp in Mexico in preparation for his world title challenge in the same weight class scheduled for October in the United States. He plans to engage in extensive sparring sessions in Mexico City with Emanuel Navarrete (31, Mexico), the IBF and WBO World Super-Featherweight Champion, with whom he has a close relationship, before heading to the United States.
メキシコ合宿へ旅立った亀田
As Kameda prepared to challenge Brandon Figueroa (29, USA) for the WBA world featherweight title, he searched for a sparring partner but couldn’t find anyone in Japan or abroad who resembled Figueroa. Consequently, he decided to travel to Mexico to seek out Navarrete, with whom he had sparred during his super bantamweight days.
“The Navarrete camp, which is aiming to win all three major titles, also offered to spar with me. I think it’s been eight years since we last sparred, but Navarrete is in a higher weight class and is a stronger fighter than Figueroa. Navarrete’s gym is located 800 meters higher than Mexico City, which sits at an elevation of 2,000 meters, so I think training in that tough environment will build my stamina. “In any case, I’m going to strengthen my cardiovascular system and build a body capable of moving for about 20 rounds,” Kameda said with high spirits.
“I went to Mexico when I was 15 and have gained a lot of experience since then. I feel like this is my last chance, so I want to give it my all and draw on all that experience.” His Mexican wife and two children also boarded the flight to Mexico, but while his family will stay at his wife’s parents’ home, Kameda will split off to stay at Navarrete’s home and focus entirely on becoming a three-division champion. “The date and time of the fight haven’t been announced yet, but I’ll head down to sea level a week before the fight and make my way to the venue,” he said.
“I’ve fought 47 times so far, and my motivation is sky-high to face Figueroa—the strongest opponent I’ve ever faced—on his home turf. When I return home, I’ll be bringing back my third weight-class belt.” Kameda hopes to seize this big opportunity—which may be his last—and is eager to face Naoya Inoue (Ohashi).
Kameda’s record stands at 42 wins (23 KOs) and 5 losses.
