Former WBO bantamweight champion Tomoki Kameda said Thursday he is hopeful he can make a swift return before home fans after he was issued a license by the Japan Boxing Commission.
The youngest of the three Kameda brothers, Tomoki, 25, and his now-retired older brothers Koki and Daiki had been barred by the JBC from fighting in Japan in 2014 after their old Kameda Gym was decertified following a controversy regarding Daiki's world title fight in late 2013.
Kameda, bidding to conquer two divisions with the super bantamweight class, signed with Kyoei Gym on Oct. 7 and fought for the first time in a year on the 15th in Mexico City, winning a non-title bout by TKO in the first round against Mexican Edgar Martinez.
"I'd like to fight before the fans as soon as I can," Kameda told a press conference a day after he was cleared to return to Japanese boxing. "My ultimate goal is to be a boxer recognized around the world."
Koki, 29, said of his youngest brother, "These past three years must have been a tough time. He finally pulled out of the long tunnel and today is the new start."
Tomoki has 32 wins and two losses from 34 fights, including 20 knockouts.
IN OTHER NEWS: Last April at the Turning Stone in Verona, New York, and with the ShoBox: The New Generation cameras rolling, Alexey Zubov admits he choked.
"I was nervous. I never fought on a big show," explained Zubov of the unanimous decision loss he suffered to Moldova's Constantin Bejenaru. "It was such a huge step in my career and I felt frozen by nerves."
Fighters often make excuses when they lose, but with Zubov, there may be some validity. Normally a very active fighter with a high work rate, Zubov appeared listless and sluggish for eight uneventful rounds.
"Life doesn't always go the way you want. Losing that fight made me stronger. It was a good lesson for me and it was good for my experience to fight on that level. And now I know what it's like. That will never happen again."
Zubov will continue his quest for another shot at the big time on Saturday, November 12, at Salita Promotions' "Detroit Brawl" event at the Masonic Temple in Downtown Detroit.
Sponsored by Thomas Magee's Sporting House Whiskey Bar, tickets for "Detroit Brawl" will be priced at VIP $123, Box Seats $100, Ringside $93, $63, $38, and $28 and available at all Ticketmaster outlets and Ticketmaster.com.
