KAMEDA, AMBUNDA AND HISTORY
By Rene Bonsubre, Jr.
PhilBoxing.com
Wed, 31 Jul 2013
CEBU ? I was a bit sceptical when I first heard about the idea that a Japanese would be challenging a Namibian for a world title here in Cebu. It is true that Cebu boxing fans are different from the rest of the country; being more learned, vocal and discriminatory. But they will also pay for tickets if they know they will see a good show.
Selling two foreign fighters will be hard. Four years ago, it was tried at the Cebu Coliseum with a regional belt at stake. Now, a world crown is on the line at the Waterfront Cebu City Hotel, which has replaced the old Coliseum as the traditional big fight venue here in the Philippines? boxing capital.
Scheduling the fight on a Thursday is not a plus factor. Fight fans have always been known to root based on ethnicity. But the Cebu sports scribes have always been passionate about boxing. They know a good match when they see it, and we also know what title bouts like this one will mean to our city in the long term. It was no surprise that news about this fight continue to fill the local dailies and tabloids.
Two unbeaten warriors, defending WBO bantamweight champion Paulus Ambunda of Namibia and Tomoki Kameda of Japan will be slugging it out for a piece of history on August 1.
One of Namibia?s newpapers, the Windhoek Observer, states that Ambunda, who was born in a small village called Omusimbuti, has been labeled by people as one of the greatest boxers produced by their country. He shifted from football to boxing after he was inspired by Harry Simon, who won the WBO junior middleweight title in 1998.
Ambunda is an Olympian, having reached the quarterfinals of the 2004 Olympics and a silver finish in the 2003 All Africa Games.
He turned pro in 2007 and in 2012, the boxer known as ?The Rock? was voted as the Namibian Sportsman of the Year. Four months ago, he beat Thai Pungluang Sor Singyu by unanimous decision and joined the ranks of Namibian pro fighters who won world titles, Harry Simon and Paulus Moses (WBA lightweight).
Ambunda can sell a fight. He was very entertaining with his one-liners during the press conference held Tuesday noon.
He has vowed to stop his challenger?s quest for history. Tomoki Kameda, a.ka. ?El Mexicanito?, is eager to follow the footsteps of his brothers Daiki and Koki, who have won world title belts. A third sibling with a world crown is a first. Japan has also opened their doors to the WBO and Tomoki aims to be the first WBO champ in his country.
The 32 year old Ambunda (20W-0L, 10 KO?s) said that he is willing to fight against anyone, that includes AJ Banal, who lost to Sor Singyu last October. Ambunda is also interested in fighting Nonito Donaire, be it at 122 lbs.
The 22 year old Kameda (27W-0L, 18 KO?s) has won a collection of regional belts since turning pro. He also had an excellent learning experience and toughening up process by fighting in Mexico on several occasions.
He refused to be goaded into a trash talking match with Ambunda. But everyone inside the press conference hall could sense the bottled up fury inside him.
Reports say that a huge Japanese contingent will be on hand to support him. Japanese media men are already here for this event. Come Thursday, one of these men will continue to make history.
PHOTO - Tomoki Kameda (left) and Paulus Ambunda
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