OSAKA, Japan – Angelo Leo is already plotting his next visit to Japan after successfully defending his IBF featherweight title against Tomoki Kameda at the Intex Osaka.
His plans to return are actually for a vacation later in 2025, but he is eyeing another trip to take on the nation’s so-called “Monster”. Naoya Inoue has flirted with the possibility of moving up to featherweight, and revealed recently that he is starting to get tight at 122lbs.
The 31-year-old Leo set out to raise his profile by facing Kameda in Japan, and with his majority decision victory he believes he has got the Japanese icon’s attention.
“I think I did – I think me being a featherweight champion is already an attention in itself,” Leo said. “So yeah, I think he definitely knows who I am.
“I could fight him next year; whenever the time is right. But I do want that fight, and I think he would want it too if he's moving up to featherweight. I just think I have the style to beat him.”
Inoue faced Leo’s ProBox TV stablemate, the Mexican-American Ramon Cardenas, in his past outing earlier in May, and found himself on the canvas in round two after tasting a left hook. Inoue recovered from that shot and went on to stop Cardenas in the eighth round. This, however, was not the first time Inoue has been dropped – Luis Nery also clipped the Japanese star with a left hook that sent Inoue to the canvas. Inoue, similarly, recovered, and went on to stop Nery in round six.
“First and foremost, I have to give my hat off to Cardenas,” Leo said. “He did a great fight. He looked really good. But I don't think he exposed [Inoue] because he's already been caught with that left hook. So I think he just sealed the deal on what he's susceptible to.
“But nonetheless, Inoue knows how to make adjustments and he comes on strong after you knock him down. So you have to watch out for that. I'm willing to fight whoever, whenever, whatever the case may be.”
Leo won his IBF title with a contender for knockout of the year, against Luis Alberto Lopez. A left hook left the usually durable Lopez out cold on his back. Leo was asked what would happen if he landed the same shot on Inoue.
“Just watch out – keep that hand up,” he replied.
Prior to Leo’s victory, Ginjiro Shigeoka left the Intex Osaka on a stretcher after losing again to the IBF minimumweight champion Pedro Taduran. Japanese Boxing Commission officials confirmed that Shigeoka was taken to hospital and said that they believed him to be responsive and stable.