JAMIE MCDONNEL SCORES IMPRESSIVE WIN OVER TOMOKI KAMEDA, RETAINS WBA BANTAMWEIGHT TITLE
By Ronnie Nathanielsz
PhilBoxing.com
Tue, 08 Sep 2015
Britain?s Jamie McDonnell retained his WBA bantamweight title with an impressive points victory over Tomoki Kameda in a rematch in Texas, having beaten the Japanese last May to win the title.
Sky Sports in London reported it was ?a textbook display of boxing - taking the decision on the scorecards 116-111, 115-112 and 117-110.?
?Kameda started well and probably won the opening two rounds, using his rapid left hook as a counter-punch - whipping it around McDonnell's jab to connect. But by the third, McDonnell's five-inch reach advantage was beginning to tell as he forced the challenger on to the back foot with intelligent use of his jab coupled with improved head movement on the way in. Kameda was soon resorting to holding as he struggled to keep up.
The middle rounds belonged to McDonnell as he continued to force the pace and refused to allow Kameda any front-foot initiative. Roared on by some vocal travelling support, McDonnell threw in countless eye-catching jabs that left Kameda with no answer.?
Sky Sports reported ?There was slight concern in the ninth when Kameda upped his work-rate and caught McDonnell with a crisp right, but the door was soon shut and the jab re-established - the snap in McDonnell's suggesting that a rare stoppage could be in the offing.
With trainer Dave Coldwell and his twin brother Gavin urging him on in his corner, McDonnell carried on executing the game plan well and rose for the final round in a clear lead.?
The 29-year-old nearly produced the perfect end to proceedings during that final session as the second punch of a well-timed one-two landed under Kameda's ear and sent him to the canvas. Kameda claimed a slip but the impact of the punch certainly contributed and he took a count.
Kameda threw everything he had in the final 20 seconds and briefly pinned McDonnell on the ropes but by then, the fight was well won and McDonnell won a moral victory by forcing his way back to the centre of the ring and ending the fight on the front foot.
A delighted McDonnell said afterwards: "That fight felt easier than the last. I felt in control. The jab was key - I think I threw that more than I threw anything. It was working and I felt in control all the way through.
"I think he slipped a little for the knockdown but I did catch him and that sealed the victory."
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