Daisuke Naito vs Koki Kameda

A swollen and bloodied nose did not stop Daisuke Naito from pressing forward, but his persistence could not overcome Koki Kameda’s more accurate counterpunching. The unbeaten challenger took the WBC flyweight championship by unanimous decision over 12 rounds at Saitama Super Arena on November 29, 2009. Daniel Van de Wiele and Hubert Minn each scored 117, 111, while Max DeLuca returned 116, 112. Kameda, 23, added the flyweight crown to his previous championship at light flyweight. Naito, 35, failed in his attempt to make a sixth successful defence. Both weighed 112 pounds, and Hector Afu refereed.

The meeting carried a family history. Naito had defeated Kameda’s younger brother, Daiki, in a disorderly championship contest in October 2007. This time, the older Kameda fought with considerable restraint. Rather than attempt to overwhelm the champion, the southpaw kept his guard compact, used his feet to maintain distance and looked for the left hand as Naito advanced. The champion opened with right-hand leads, seeking to reach Kameda before the challenger could settle into his countering rhythm. Kameda’s speed and straight punching soon presented difficulties. In the second round, a left caught Naito coming forward, disturbed his balance and left his nose bleeding.

Naito increased his efforts in the third and fourth, throwing wider hooks and trying to make the exchanges less orderly. His right hand found the target, and he brought the crowd into the contest when he trapped Kameda near a corner and followed a right with a left hook. Kameda answered with short lefts and punches to the body, remaining composed when the distance closed. The champion also tried to establish his jab rather than depend entirely on sudden attacks. After 4 rounds, the announced scores reflected a competitive opening: 2 judges had the contest level at 38, 38, while the other favoured Kameda 39, 37. Naito was still close enough to impose a different course on the fight.

Through the fifth and sixth, Naito continued to lead with the right and followed with hooks, but Kameda frequently answered before the champion could withdraw. His short left checked Naito’s entries, while his guard and occasional clinches prevented the older man from sustaining combinations. Naito had useful moments at close quarters, including work to the body, yet Kameda was generally the cleaner puncher. In the seventh and eighth, the challenger made greater use of distance and lateral movement, forcing Naito to turn and begin his attacks again. The champion’s nose was now conspicuously swollen. After 8 rounds, all 3 judges favoured Kameda, with scores of 78, 74 and 77, 75 twice.

Knowing he was behind, Naito pursued the fight more urgently in the ninth and tenth. Some of his hooks landed, particularly when he could get Kameda close to the ropes, but others were caught on the challenger’s gloves. Kameda continued to reply with straight lefts and combinations, making Naito pay for the ground he gained. A cut above the champion’s right eye added to his difficulties in the tenth. Nevertheless, Naito kept attacking. In the eleventh, he again sought to confine Kameda near a corner, only for the challenger to escape with footwork and resume countering. Afu cautioned Naito over the use of his head during that round.

The final round brought another determined effort from the champion. Naito worked with short hooks inside, drove Kameda towards the ropes and continued looking for the right hand that might reverse the contest. Kameda protected his head, returned punches when openings appeared and remained standing through the closing exchanges. There were no knockdowns. At the bell, Kameda raised his arms; Naito returned quietly to his corner. The challenger’s accuracy and control of distance had earned the decision, despite the champion’s sustained aggression. Kameda advanced to 22 wins, no losses and 14 knockouts. Naito’s record became 35 wins, 3 losses, 3 draws and 22 knockouts. After the announcement, the beaten champion bowed to the spectators and exchanged words with his successor.

Kameda earned this win. Naito’s win over younger brother Daiki gave the meeting its edge, but Koki kept his discipline when it mattered. His straight left caught Naito coming in, and his footwork made the champion keep resetting. Naito showed why fans respected him, pressing despite a badly swollen nose, but determination couldn’t make up for the cleaner punches he was taking. For me, Kameda’s composure was the difference. He respected Naito’s ability enough to box intelligently and deserved the decision.