by Francisco Salazar

Former bantamweight world titleholder Tomoki Kameda returns to action Friday night, it was told to BoxingScene.com Thursday afternoon.

Kameda will face Pipat Chaiporn in a 10 round junior featherweight bout at the Korakuen Hall in Tokyo, Japan.

Kameda (32-2, 20 KOs) lost close back-to-back unanimous decisions to Jamie McDonnell in 2015. Originally from Tokyo and training in Mexico City, Kameda returned to action on October 15, knocking out Edgar Martinez in the opening round.

The 25-year-old Kameda won the WBO World bantamweight title in August of 2013 and made three successful defenses before facing McDonnell.

Chaiporn (42-9-1, 25 KOs) has won seven of his last rights bouts, but all against less than average opposition.

Two-time world title challenger Ryo Akaho (29-2-2, 19 KOs) will face Yushi Tanaka (19-1-3, 13 KOs) in a 10 round bantamweight bout.

Francisco A. Salazar has written for Boxingscene.com since September of 2012 and has covered boxing in Southern California and abroad since 2000. Francisco also covers boxing for the Ventura County (Calif.) Star newspaper, RingTV.com, and Knockout Nation. He can be reached by email at santio89@yahoo.com or on Twitter at FSalazarBoxing