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KAMEDA-LANDAETA REMATCH TODAY IN JAPAN By Joe Koizumi PhilBoxing.com Wed, 20 Dec 2006 TOKYO, JAPAN -- Unbeaten, flamboyant and sensational WBA light-flyweight champ Koki Kameda (12-0, 10 KOs), Japan, will risk his newly acquired belt against grudge rival Juan Jose Landaeta (20-4-1, 16 KOs), Venezuela, today (Wednesday) at the Ariake Coliseum in Tokyo, Japan. It is not only a most anticipated rematch but also a most significant world title bout to decide the future of the Japanese boxing. Their first encounter resulted in Kameda's highly controversial victory by a split decision (115-113, 114-113 and 112-115) last August, when nationwide controversy took place afterwards by pro-Kameda and anti-Kameda fans. The latter severely castigated the official verdict as well as boxing itself for some weeks after the contest. The scoring standard, ten-point must system, the WBA's appointment of the officials and the Japan Boxing Commission's accountability were questioned in many TV programs by people who usually hadn't seen boxing and had been quite ignorant of the noble art of boxing. Then Japan was full of great many "amateur" boxing commentators. People crazily called up JBC (Japan Boxing Commission), TBS TV and Kyoei Promotion in order to verbally attack them on the debatable decision. It was like a muddy stream by anti-Kameda public opinion that hated Kameda's least sophisticated behavior, which should have had nothing to do with the decision itself. They simply dislike Kameda's least politeness against our modest culture. Their rematch was inevitable enough. The 20-year-old champ gallantly accepted the WBA's recommendation of a rematch with the sworn enemy Landaeta. It was once scheduled on October 18, but Kameda's cut around the eye during his sparring session caused a postponement for some two months until today. The postponement was also loudly jeered by the anti-Kameda people. Kameda is nowhere to go but to defeat Landaeta. Their first fight registered an incredible TV rating of more than 50% as it was really watched by more than a half of our 120 million population. The general public paid great attention to that event including such mass media as TVs, radios, magazines, weeklies, dailies, websites, etc. The controversy might be as hot as the historical Long Count Affair of the Gene Tunney-Jack Dempsey rematch in 1927. Yesterday there was a weigh-in ceremony, where Kameda tipped the beam at 107.75 pounds, while Landaeta scaled in at the 108-pound class limit. The officials are as follows: referee Luis Pabon (Puerto Rico); judges Stanley Christodoulou (South Africa), Terry O'Connor (England) and Raul Caiz Jr. (US); and supervisor George Martinez (US) who is the NABA president. Landaeta, nicknamed "Baby" due to his boyish face, is a skillful southpaw who can punch in combination with precision. The Venezuelan, 28, previously lost a split verdict twice here against Yutaka Niida and Kameda in a WBA 105-pound elimination bout and a WBA 108-pound one respectively. Both resulted in such hairline contests that Landaeta could have been a winner. Therefore, great many anti-Kameda fans sympathize with Landaeta's disputed defeats and support his triumph this time. Kameda, the most well-known out of six current champs in Japan, is said to have changed his fighting style from previous infighter to hit-and-run boxer-puncher to cope with the crafty counterpuncher Landaeta. Originally Kameda was known by his early start (seven quick stoppages within two rounds out of ten KO/TKO wins) and his aggressiveness in the close quarter. He is said to have abandoned his previous peek-a-boo style and adopt a new strategy to utilize his southpaw jab and footwork. Some wonder whether it may work well in such a short interval in some four months after their first encounter. Kameda, a shaven headed youngster, had been a legitimate flyweight boxer. But he dared to move down to the 108-pound category in order to fulfill his dream to conquer three divisions of 108, 112 and 115 pounds. He attempted to follow a footstep of Oscar De La Hoya having started his coronation by moving down to the 130-pound class from his then legitimate 135-pound category. Landaeta criticized a preconceived idea that the bigger is more advantageous than the smaller, saying, "Reducing the weight to move down to the lower class will make Kameda weaker than he used to be." As for their first bout, it might be right since Kameda failed to display his potential power-punching against the Venezuelan and suffer a bitter knockdown by Landaeta's southpaw right hook in the opening session. If Kameda should be really successful in properly make the stipulated 108-pound, this time, his physical power may prevail over the lanky Venezuelan. Kameda can punch and throw punches fast. Problem is whether he will be able to catch the elusive and busy-punching Landaeta with precision. Kameda's specialty is a body bombardment, which previously seemed considerably effective against Landaeta last August. But the handsome Venezuelan showed his last surge to almost topple Kameda in the eleventh round, which eventually had the general public see Landaeta winner along with Kameda's visit to the canvas in the opening canto. Kameda, however, was in command in middle rounds with busy body punches. It might be no use crying over the split decision already rendered. It is a pity that boxing itself was then so severely attacked by common people without proper knowledge on the sweet science. They simply asked why some close rounds were given to Kameda or Landaeta. They don't know well on the 10-point must system and the current tendency that even a very close round is rendered either of the two (which is criticized as the "9-point" must system). They wrongly pointed out that Landaeta threw more combinations to the gloves of Kameda than Kameda landed blows to the midsection. They were quite ignorant of the meaning of clean effective hits. But they are customers who may buy tickets and TV watchers who will produce possibly again high TV rating. All of them with pro-Kameda fans will certainly watch today's rematch. The main event will start exactly at 7:55 pm. This nationwide sensational show is presented by Kyoei Promotions with the cooperation of Teiken Promotions and will be telecast by TBS TV. (12-19-06) Click here to view a list of other articles written by Joe Koizumi.  |
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