Jamie McDonnell-Tomoki Kameda: Post-Fight Report Card

by Cliff Rold

For the second time, we have a scoring debate.

Note the word used.

It’s a debate. This is not a controversy. Controversy is bad and usually comes with something that makes the sport look less than credible. Whitaker-Chavez and Holyfield-Lewis I were scoring controversies that made boxing look bad.

What happened Sunday, and in Jamie McDonnell’s first of now two wins over Tomoki Kameda, makes people look at their scorecards and wonder. Those who score for McDonnell have to wonder what those scoring for Kameda saw that they didn’t.

And vice versa.

That’s a good thing.

It’s a reminder that boxing nearing the top level can be very tough to separate and sometimes educated eyes see different things.

Let the debate rage. For the winner, it’s on to other things.

Let’s go the report card.

Grades
Pre-Fight: Speed – McDonnell B+; Kameda B+/Post: Same
Pre-Fight: Power – McDonnell B-; Kameda B/Post: B; B
Pre-Fight: Defense – McDonnell B; Kameda B/Post: B+; B
Pre-Fight: Intangibles – McDonnell B+; Kameda B+/Post: Same

Kameda, as was the case the first time, got off to a quick start. As noted in the pre-fight report card, he’s a hair quicker on the trigger though they graded the same for speed. Neither is quite in the ‘A’ range and both are quicker than ‘B.’ McDonnell made up, again, for a mild deficit with better accuracy and use of his reach.

McDonnell was also better defensively. While neither was tattooed consistently, it was McDonnell who was able to block and parry better as the fight progressed. Kameda was tossing flashy combinations but it was McDonnell who was landing the cleaner jabs and right hands. Late in round ten, he also seemed to unsettle Kameda with some solid left hooks. The Japanese battler was showing leg fatigue and it climaxed with being dropped by loose footing and a right to the neck in the final round.

If there was slightly less drama in the sequel, it was by way of the absence of the early knockdown drama in fight one. Kameda’s early knockdown of McDonnell in their first fight created scoring hole for McDonnell to dig out of. This time, there may have been an early hole but it was by way of close rounds. When McDonnell scored the late knockdown, it iced the cake. Going by the official scores, there wasn’t that much drama even without that final big moment for McDonnell.

He was up too far on two scorecards already. Credit to Kameda anyways for the way he came back to try to even the round in the final minute. Neither of their two fights were all out wars but they were certainly fun battles. Something about McDonnell’s style appeals more to the judges in Texas (where both fight occurred).

What’s next? For McDonnell three options would be immediately appealing and one could be quite lucrative. Having appeared now on two PBC cards, and with plenty of frame to move up, he could always challenge PBC-signed Carl Frampton at 122 lbs. That would be a fun UK fight (if it was in the UK…though PBC might put it somewhere like Ohio). McDonnell, who retains the sub-WBA belt at 118, could also challenge ‘Sooooper’ titlist Juan Carlos Payano. That would be a fascinating fight with the aggressive, and often dirty, Payano trying to solve the size and skill of McDonnell.

There is also interim IBF titlist Lee Haskins. Haskins is the last man to defeat McDonnell, scoring an eight-round decision in 2008. Lesser things than that have birthed a quality rematch.

Kameda is in a tough spot. He could always hope for a shot at Payano himself but might find a rematch with Pungluang Sor Singyu, a previously felled foe who now owns his old WBO belt in the division, his best immediate option. We certainly haven’t heard the last of Kameda who remains young and talented with time on his side.

Report Card and Staff Picks 2015: 66-16 (Including staff pick for Dirrell-Rubio…and yes, that was like the freebie spot in Bingo)

Cliff Rold is the Managing Editor of BoxingScene, a founding member of the Transnational Boxing Rankings Board, and a member of the Boxing Writers Association of America.  He can be reached at roldboxing@hotmail.com