The World Boxing Association’s second-ranked super bantamweight Tomoki Kameda of TMK GYM stopped 13th-ranked Luis Castillo of Mexico in the fifth round in Osaka on Feb. 25 at 56 kg (123.46 lbs) catchweight in a ‘’tune-up’’ fight for a world title challenge.

The technical knockout of the scheduled 10-rounder at ATC Hall came 1 minute and 18 seconds into the round when the 31-year-old Kameda connected with a sharp left hook to the head which severely staggered his 27-year-old opponent, prompting the referee to call off the fight.

Up until the stoppage, Kameda, a former World Boxing Organization bantamweight champion and a former World Boxing Council interim super bantamweight kingpin, controlled the fight throughout by chiefly working Castillo’s body while dodging the Mexican’s wild overhand rights.

After the fight, Kameda said, ‘’I had a hard time fighting with him because he punched slow. I had intended to go the full distance. But my body shots began to weaken him in the fourth round. Honestly, I wanted to deck him with my right punch.’’

Kameda is expected to visit the United States in April to watch the scheduled title fight between WBA and International Boxing Federation super bantamweight champion Murodjon Akhmadaliev of Uzbekistan and challenger Marlon Tapales of the Philippines on Apr. 9 in San Antonio, Texas.
TMK GYM’s head Keiichiro Kanehira said, ‘’We want to realize the WBA title fight in Japan this autumn.’’

Kameda has a record of 40 wins, including 22 KOs, against three losses, while Castillo fell to a 30-5 win-loss tally with 20 KOs.