Japanese Scene Update: Daiki/Sakata Finalized, Nagashima Retires

Sidney Boquiren of RingwalkNippon has the latest Japanese boxing news.  For more updates, you can follow Sidney on twitter: RingwalkNippon@Twitter

Daiki vs. Sakata Finalized

The contract for WBA Flyweight titleholder Daiki Kameda’s defense against former champ Takefumi Sakata was submitted to and approved by the Japan Boxing Commission for approval today, reports Daily Sports Online.

Though it had been predetermined that Sakata would be first in line to face the winner of February’s Denkaosan Khaovichit vs. Kameda showdown, the bout was in a holding pattern as a legal battle between the Kameda clan and Sakata’s representatives at Kyoei Gym continued. Kameda’s father and trainer, Shiro, at one point claimed the fight would never take place.

However, as a byproduct of the fiasco that occurred after Koki Kameda’s attempted defense against Pongsaklek Wonjongkam in March that resulted in Shiro’s banishment, discussions for Daiki/Sakata began to move along more smoothly.

The fight will likely take place in Tokyo in August or September.

Tomoki Wins Second Regional Title

Daiki’s younger brother, Tomoki, continued his quest to collect meaningless trinkets in annexing the vacant WBC Caribbean Boxing Federation (CABOFE) Bantamweight title by out-pointing Javier Rodriguez in Guadalajara on Saturday. Daily Sports Online reports that the 18-year old, who has been crafting his skills in Mexico, held control of most of the bout with his speed and a sharp left jab, resulting in a unanimous decision by wide margins. Kameda remains undefeated, upping his record to 14-0 (11KO).

Though Saturday’s match was originally intended to award the vacant WBC Continental Americas title, the strap at stake was changed just before the bout. Kameda adds the CABOFE belt to the FECARBOX title he won in January.

Nagashima Victorious in Farewell Bout

Former world title challenger Kengo Nagashima added one last victory to his record before taking his final bow as a professional prizefighter. Fighting before a hometown crowd in rural Ibaragi, the 34-year old veteran won a unanimous decision on Sunday over Thai’s Pongsatorn Srisuree.

In a career spanning 15 years, the southpaw faced the likes of contenders Yuji Watanabe (TKO12), Sirimongkol Singwancha, Rick Yoshimura (UD10), and Randy Suico (UD12).

A former amateur champion, Nagashima built up a 21-1-1 record, claiming the Japanese and OPBF titles at Super Featherweight, before squaring off with Singwancha for the vacant WBC 130lb strap in August 2002. In what would be his first and only world title opportunity, the southpaw was blown out in two frames. Jumping up to Lightweight, Nagashima was again victorious on the national and regional levels, but was never able to find success beyond. Though his OPBF title winning effort against Suico in March 2009 was decent, his reign was unstable. Nagashima barely squeezed out a split decision in his first defense and lost the strap in his second this past January.

Known for his toughness and trademark camouflage trunks, Nagashima retires with a record of 39-4-2 (18KO).

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