As BoxingScene.com reported two weeks ago, WBA super flyweight champion Kohei Kono (30-8-1, 13KOs) will defend his title against Koki Kameda (33-1, 18KOs), who attempts to capture his fourth divisional title, on October 16th at the UIC Pabillion in Chicago.
Kameda has previously captured world titles at light flyweight, flyweight and bantamweight.
On Monday, the two boxers came face to face at the Watanabe Boxing Gym in Japan to officially announce the fight.
The bout will be part of a Premier Boxing Champions card on Spike TV which also features a main event with light heavyweight contender Andrzej Fonfara (27-3, 16KOs) returning for the first time since the April knockout of Julio Cesar Chavez Jr., and taking on former WBO champion Nathan Cleverly (29-2, 15KOs). The WBC International title will be at stake.
According to the World Boxing Association, it will be the first time in 90 years where two Japanese fighters trade punches for one of their world titles on foreign soil.
The WBA ordered both camps to hold a mandatory world title match in March, but Kameda, along with his two younger brothers, have been barred from fighting in Japan due to sanctions imposed on the Kameda Boxing Gym by the Japan Boxing Commission.
Kameda, who hasn't fought since November, made a surprise appearance at Kono's press conference Monday, trying to stare down the champion.
"You better train," said Kameda, who had never met Kono. "You can't win the way you're boxing now."
Kono didn't take the bait and took the high road.
"I was surprised to see him here. Just as you'd expect from Kameda," he said. "Let him say what he wants."