AMBUNDA-KAMEDA ?BATTLE OF THE UNDEFEATED? PRESS CONFERENCE HIGHLIGHTS
By Rene Bonsubre, Jr.
PhilBoxing.com
Tue, 30 Jul 2013
CEBU CITY ? In one of the more animated press conferences seen here in the fight capital of the Philippines, the teams of WBO bantamweight champion Paulus Anbunda (20-0, 10 KO's) of Namibia and challenger Tomoki Kameda (27-0, 18 KO's) of Japan traded potshots Tuesday noon inside the Caspian room of the Waterfront Cebu City Hotel.
Ambunda, who described himself as ?The Lion of Africa'? had the Cebu and Japanese media eating out of his hands with his pre-fight bluster. He repeated his vow to beat his challenger and go after the other brothers, WBA bantamweight champ Koki and former WBA flyweight champ Daiki. Ambunda became champion last March when he dethroned Pungluang Sor Singyu of Thailand by unanimous decision.
?I beat Sor Singyu like a baby,? he said. When asked what made him better than AJ Banal, the man Pungluang beat for the title, Ambunda said ?I got everything.?
One of the members of Team Ambunda, trainer Paulus Emmanuel, told this writer before the press conference that they will have no problem making weight and that his boxer is a total professional. Inside the press conference room, he continued to criticize Kameda, saying that ?He is used to fighting old guys.?
This drew a reaction from Koki Kameda who said that the Ambunda beating his brother is ?impossible.?
?100 percent, Tomoki will beat him.? Koki said.
One of Kameda's trainers responded by saying that Tomoki is just too fast for Ambunda, ?You won't see him.?
Top photo: WBO champion Julius Ambunda (L) of Namimbia and challenger Tomoki Kameda of Japan (R) pose with WBO President Francisco 'Paco' Valcarcel (C) during Tuesday's presscon at the Waterfront Hotel in Cebu City.
Tomoki did not want anything to do with Ambunda's pronouncements and said that he is here to make history ? three brothers winning world titles; he will be Japan's first WBO champion. He even requested not to answer any more questions because he just wanted to concentrate on the fight calling all the pre-fight hype ?a waste of time.?
Ambunda however continued his chest beating, ?I have been a boxer for 15 years. I have prepared enough.? He went on to describe his challenger as ?just a stepping stone?.
?Africa has been neglected for a long time,? Ambunda's manager, Nestor Tobias said, ?We thank the WBO for the opportunity.?
Both camps continued to tease each other and traded cheers and banter throughout the proceedings. The boxers signed the fight contracts, picked gloves and had the rules meeting with the officials.
WBO President Francisco 'Paco' Valcarcel was in attendance together with the WBO ring officials, Referee Raul Caiz,Sr (USA), judges Carlos Colon (Puerto Rico), Waleska Roldan (U.S.) and Thomas Miller (U.S.) and supervisor Luis Perez (Puerto Rico).
The adversaries will have the official weigh-in Wednesday morning at the Waterfront Hotel.Tickets are also available at the Waterfront Lobby 8AM to 8PM ? VIP 2500, GOLD 800, BALLROOM 500 and Balcony seats 200 pesos.
Featured on the undercard is Marlon Tapales, who will face Fredirex Rodriguez for the WBO Asia-Pacific bantamweight title.
Click here to view a list of other articles written by Rene Bonsubre, Jr..
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