Tomoki Kameda has an exit plan in mind - and plans to go out with a bang.
The former WBO bantamweight titlist has declared that 2026 will be his final year in the sport. The 17-year pro has already plotted his next move, hoping to secure a fight that will lead towards a shot at either the WBA or WBO featherweight title.
"I have a plan to keep fighting until I'm 35,” Kameda said in a video posted on his social media channels. “I have one more year left. That will be my final challenge. I think the end of [2026] will be my last.”
Kameda, 42-5 (23 KOs), will celebrate his birthday on July 12th. The milestone will leave him having spent literally half of his lifetime as a pro boxer, having won the WBO 118lbs title and a secondary version of the WBC 122lbs belt along the way.
His WBO title victory over Paulus Ambunda in August 2013 produced a record-breaking moment for the Kameda family. Along with older brothers Koki and Daiki, the Kamedas became the first trio of siblings to all win major titles with the feat.
Another record was added five weeks later, when Daiki Kameda’s IBF 115lbs title haul marked the only time in boxing history that three brothers simultaneously held major titles.
Tomoki’s reign lasted just over two years, before he was stripped for agreeing to face then-WBA secondary titlist Jamie McDonnell. WBO rules forbid its title claimants to face secondary and interim titleholders within other sanctioning bodies. It proved moot; Kameda suffered back-to-back defeats to the Brit, which also marked his final days at bantamweight.
His title search at 122lbs and 126lbs didn’t prove to be as productive. He claimed the WBC’s interim title at junior featherweight, but fell short in a title consolidation clash with then-unbeaten full titleholder Rey Vargas in their July 2019 meeting in Carson, California.
Kameda divided his time thereafter between 122lbs and 126lbs, hoping for a major title fight at either weight. He worked his way to the top position with the IBF, but nearly blew his chance after an upset defeat to Lerato Dlamini in October 2023. Kameda avenged the loss with a split decision win in August 2024 to establish himself as the IBF mandatory challenger.
The lone fight of 2025 saw Kameda welcome IBF 126lbs titlist Angelo Leo to his Osaka hometown. Leo, 26-1 (12 KOs), prevailed via majority decision to retain the title and is now on to his next mandatory challenge versus Ra’eese Aleem.
Kameda claims to have pursued rematches with both Leo and Vargas, only to come up empty at each term.
It now leaves him in pursuit of WBA featherweight titlist Nick Ball and long-reigning WBO claimant Rafael Espinoza.
England’s Ball, 23-0-1 (13 KOs), is due to next face former two-division titlist Brandon Figueroa on February 7 in his Liverpool hometown. Espinoza, 28-0 (24 KOs), is fresh off a brutal 11th round stoppage of Arnold Khegai last November 15 in San Luis Potosi, Mexico. The 6 ft featherweight currently does not have a fight scheduled as this goes to publication.
“I don't have much time, so I'm in the process of deciding whether to go to the WBA or WBO," noted Kameda. “I want to fight in a world championship [next]. That depends on the champion's schedule. I'll do my best to make it a world championship. That's a negotiation, so I don't know.
“I'll give it my all in the few remaining matches so I won't have any regrets, and I want to end it with the belt in the end. This year I will regain the world championship. This will be my last year, so I will definitely become champion.”
