Tomoki Kameda-Alejandro Hernandez: Pre-Report Card

by Cliff Rold

The chance to add another belt to his trophy case may be coming. 

Japan’s Tomoki Kameda has work to do first.

Saturday night (Showtime, 9 PM EST/PST), Kameda will attempt to defend his WBO Bantamweight title fir the third time. Reports from this site earlier in the week raised the stakes on that defense.

If Kameda wins, a showdown with sub-WBA titlist Jamie McDonnell (not to be confused with their “Super” champion Juan Carlos Payano) could be coming in early 2015.  He has a solid veteran looking to knock that possibility off track. 

Let’s go to the report card.

The Ledgers

Tomoki Kameda
Age: 23
Title: WBO Bantamweight (2013-Present, 2 Defenses)
Previous Titles: None
Height: 5’7
Weight: 117.5 lbs.
Hails from: Tokyo, Japan
Record: 30-0, 19 KO
Rankings: #2 (BoxRec), #4 (BoxingScene, TBRB), #5 (ESPN), #9 (Ring)
Record in Major Title Fights: 3-0, 1 KO 
Current/Former World Champions Faced: 2 (Paulus Ambunda UD12; Pungluang Sor Singyu KO7)

Vs.

Alejandro Hernandez

Age: 28
Title/Previous Titles: None
Height: 5’6 ½ 
Weight: 118 lbs.
Hails from: Mexico City, Mexico
Record: 28-10-2, 15 KO, 1 KOBY
Rankings: #9 (BoxRec)
Record in Major Title Fights: 0-1-1 (1-1-1 including interim title fights)
Current/Former World Champions/Titlists Faced: 1 (Gilberto Keb Baas MD12; Carlos Tamara L12; Omar Narvaez L12; Marvin Sonsona D12; Leo Santa Cruz KO by 4; Akifumi Shimoda L10)

Grades


Pre-Fight: Speed – Kameda B+; Hernandez C+ 


Pre-Fight: Power – Kameda B; Hernandez B

Pre-Fight: Defense – Kameda B; Hernandez C

Pre-Fight: Intangibles – Kameda B; Hernandez B

Kameda, like eldest brother Koki, is willing to use his legs when he needs them.  Unlike Koki, he doesn’t seem as hesitant to let his hands go.  The youngest of the world championship-winning Kameda trio is the most effective offensive fighter of the bunch.

His defensive attributes will be called on here.

Hernandez is not a fast fighter at all, but he is fundamentally pretty solid and his timing isn’t bad.  He can apply smart pressure and will be forced to bring the fight forward to have a shot.  If he can cut off the ring, rather than just follow when Kameda moves, he may have some success.

Kameda, taller and considerably quicker of hand, moves wisely.  Then he fires.  When he has the space he wants, it’s going to be hard not to control the action and back Hernandez up.  Hernandez enters with a bit of a win streak and a nice win over Daniel Rosas.

He also has much more experience against top talent from Flyweight to Bantamweight.

Experience is an advantage when most other things are equal.  It doesn’t look like a lot is equal here, but the challenger is a game guy and will likely make this the better of the fight’s on Showtime’s card this weekend. 

The Picks

This should be a good showcase for Kameda, one that forces him to work in spots while continuing to grow as a fighter and leaving with the win.  Kameda is a good, not great puncher, but his legs and serious advantage in speed will allow him to land more as the fight wears on.  Hernandez just doesn’t quite have the firepower to do more than make for some close rounds.  The pick is Kameda by decision.

A fight with McDonnell would ask some new and interesting questions.          

Report Card Picks 2014: 49-20

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