The common takeaway from any visiting boxer who travels to Japan for a fight is that their fanbase grows exponentially.
Angelo Leo was the latest American boxer to enjoy a significant profile boost from his trip overseas. The two-division and current IBF featherweight titlist left Japan with his reign still intact and more fans than when he first entered his mandatory defense against Tomoki Kameda.
Leo (26-1, 12 KOs) outpointed Kameda (42-5, 23 KOs) via majority decision this past Saturday at Intex Osaka in his challenger’s hometown of Osaka, Japan.
“Japan is in its golden era of boxing now. They have fighter after fighter coming up in the lower weight. I came over here at the right time,” Leo told BoxingScene. “I’ve already gained fans since this fight was announced. The people have embraced me since I arrived.
“I have fans in Osaka and Tokyo, all sorts of fans [who made the] commute to come see me. It’s amazing to see big boxing is out here.”
Leo was in the same position as Kameda entering his title winning effort over Luis Alberto Lopez. Their clash last August 11 took place in Leo’s hometown of Albuquerque, New Mexico and ended with Lopez knocked out cold in the tenth round to violently end his title stay.
The win saw Leo become a two-division titlist, a fate Kameda – a former WBO bantamweight beltholder – was denied.
There was far greater motivation than just retaining his title for Leo. Every major featherweight eagerly awaits the arrival of four-division champ Naoya Inoue, 30-0 (27 KOs) will likely move up in weight within his next few fights.
“Winning out here kind of ties into an Inoue fight whenever he comes to featherweight, so it’s important to build my name in Japan,” noted Leo. “The Japanese boxing fans get to know who I am a little bit more.”
All told, it was a successful first fight outside of North America for Leo, who never previously envisioned a fight in the Far East.
“Just going to Japan and vacation there was a bucket list,” revealed Leo. “Being able to fight there, getting paid to go is just the frosting on the cake.”