Kohei Kono Drops, Decisions Koki Kameda in Historic Win

CHICAGO, UIC Pavilion - It wasn't pretty as reigning WBA super flyweight world champion Kohei Kono (31-8-1, 13 KOs) won a twelve round unanimous decision over former three division champion Koki Kameda (33-2, 18 KOs) as the televised opener of Premier Boxing Champions (PBC) on Spike. The scores were 115-109, 116-108 and 113-111.

It was the first time in history where two Japanese fighters collided for a world title on American soil.

Kono also turned back Kameda's attempt to become the first Japanese fighter to win four world titles in four weight divisions.

Both fighters were trading a lot of punches in the first round. During the second, Kameda seriously hurt Kono with a body shot and he was holding his right side for most of the final minute. Kono went down from a serious of low blows. Once he got up, he landed a straight shot that send Kameda down for only the second time in his career with only a few seconds remaining.

At the start of the third, Kameda lost a point for another low blow. They were trading punches once the action resumed. A few moments later the referee took another point away from Kameda for a foul, possibly a low blow.

It was a very active fight with both guys staying the pocket and trading a lot of punches. Kono held the advantage with the better variety of punches and landing more often.

During the seventh, the referee Celestino Ruiz threatened to stop the fight is either fighter committed another foul. They were trading punches and head hunting, which resulted in a cut above the right eye of Kameda.

In the ninth, Kono lost a point for pushing Kameda's head down. They continued to trade punches as Kameda's left eye was swelling shut. The fight continued at that pace until the final bell.