SPORT - BOXING
| 2013-08-02Ambunda to get rematch
Sheefeni Nikodemus
MAKE WAY ... Japan’s Komoki Kameda beat Namibia’s Paulus Ambunda on points to become the new WBO bamtamweight title holder in Cebu City, Philippines yesterday. notifight.com
PAULUS ‘The Rock’ Ambunda will get the opportunity to reclaim the WBO bantamweight title in a rematch against new holder Tomoki ‘Mexicanito’ Kameda later this year.
Ambunda lost the title and his previously unbeaten record after a twelve round unanimous decision at the Waterfront Hotel in Cebu City, Philippines yesterday.
Still unbeaten, the quicker Kameda (28-0, 18 KO’s) reportedly outboxed Ambunda en route to a 118-110, 116-112, 117-111 victory in front of over 3000 Japanese supporters, who had crammed into the venue to see him become the third Kameda brother to win a world title.
“[Ambunda’s trainer and promoter] Nestor [Tobias] has a rematch clause in the contract and he is obviously looking forward to exercising that once negotiations have been finalised between the two camps,” said MTC spokesperson Tim Ekandjo, who witnessed the fight in Cebu. “Ambunda is obviously disappointed but still in high spirit and looking forward to the rematch- hopefully on home soil.”
The 21 year-old Japanese is said to have banked on his superior reach, quick jab combinations and nifty footwork from the get go that put the power-punching Ambunda (20-1, 10 KO’s) out of rhythm.
The 32-year-old Ambunda, a 2004 Olympian, tried his best and even landed some hard punches but somehow couldn’t figure out Tomoki, who proved too slick.
Nonetheless, Ekandjo believes the fight was more evenly contested than the scorecard suggested.
“It was a very close fight with most of Kameda’s punches being blocked by The Rock but every time he punched, the strong Japanese crowd roared, which might have put the judges under pressure. But all in all a very entertaining fight with Ambunda landing solid punches,” Ekandjo said.
“Ambunda will take a break and look forward to the rematch as it was a voluntary defence,”added the former champion’s associate trainer Immanuel Moses.
Tomoki Kameda is part of the first trio of brothers to ever win recognised world titles in boxing history.
Koki Kameda currently holds the WBA bantamweight title, while Daiki Kameda formerly held the WBA flyweight title and will meet Rodrigo Guerrero for the vacant IBF super flyweight title on September 3 in Japan. If Daiki wins that fight, all three brothers would be active world champions.
Warriors plot Mambas ambush
• STAFF REPORTER
THE Brave Warriors have a surprise in store for Mozambique when the two meet in tomorrow’s Caf African Nations Championships return clash at the Sam Nujoma Stadium in Windhoek.
According to midfielder Willy Stephanus, the Brave Warriors are better prepared compared to the first leg in Maputo which ended in a 3-0 victory for the Mambas.
“We are much better prepared this time. Mentally we are ready and the hype in the team is very high and come Saturday, we have a huge surprise for Mozambique, said Stephanus. “But again, the whole team has to be on the same rhythm so that we execute the tactics successfully.”
He added that tomorrow’s encounter will be reminiscent of last year’s clash in Windhoek between the two sides.
“Before we played them in Cosafa this year, we managed to beat them 3-0 at home with Sadney (Urikhob) and Benson Shilongo with the goals. Now we have to score four and we have the quality of players to do just that. We are not underestimating them at all, we respect them but we have a job to do and our supporters need this. It was last year then but now anything is still possible, said Stephanus. The match kicks off at 17h00.
Still unbeaten, the quicker Kameda (28-0, 18 KO’s) reportedly outboxed Ambunda en route to a 118-110, 116-112, 117-111 victory in front of over 3000 Japanese supporters, who had crammed into the venue to see him become the third Kameda brother to win a world title.
“[Ambunda’s trainer and promoter] Nestor [Tobias] has a rematch clause in the contract and he is obviously looking forward to exercising that once negotiations have been finalised between the two camps,” said MTC spokesperson Tim Ekandjo, who witnessed the fight in Cebu. “Ambunda is obviously disappointed but still in high spirit and looking forward to the rematch- hopefully on home soil.”
The 21 year-old Japanese is said to have banked on his superior reach, quick jab combinations and nifty footwork from the get go that put the power-punching Ambunda (20-1, 10 KO’s) out of rhythm.
The 32-year-old Ambunda, a 2004 Olympian, tried his best and even landed some hard punches but somehow couldn’t figure out Tomoki, who proved too slick.
Nonetheless, Ekandjo believes the fight was more evenly contested than the scorecard suggested.
“It was a very close fight with most of Kameda’s punches being blocked by The Rock but every time he punched, the strong Japanese crowd roared, which might have put the judges under pressure. But all in all a very entertaining fight with Ambunda landing solid punches,” Ekandjo said.
“Ambunda will take a break and look forward to the rematch as it was a voluntary defence,”added the former champion’s associate trainer Immanuel Moses.
Tomoki Kameda is part of the first trio of brothers to ever win recognised world titles in boxing history.
Koki Kameda currently holds the WBA bantamweight title, while Daiki Kameda formerly held the WBA flyweight title and will meet Rodrigo Guerrero for the vacant IBF super flyweight title on September 3 in Japan. If Daiki wins that fight, all three brothers would be active world champions.
Warriors plot Mambas ambush
• STAFF REPORTER
THE Brave Warriors have a surprise in store for Mozambique when the two meet in tomorrow’s Caf African Nations Championships return clash at the Sam Nujoma Stadium in Windhoek.
According to midfielder Willy Stephanus, the Brave Warriors are better prepared compared to the first leg in Maputo which ended in a 3-0 victory for the Mambas.
“We are much better prepared this time. Mentally we are ready and the hype in the team is very high and come Saturday, we have a huge surprise for Mozambique, said Stephanus. “But again, the whole team has to be on the same rhythm so that we execute the tactics successfully.”
He added that tomorrow’s encounter will be reminiscent of last year’s clash in Windhoek between the two sides.
“Before we played them in Cosafa this year, we managed to beat them 3-0 at home with Sadney (Urikhob) and Benson Shilongo with the goals. Now we have to score four and we have the quality of players to do just that. We are not underestimating them at all, we respect them but we have a job to do and our supporters need this. It was last year then but now anything is still possible, said Stephanus. The match kicks off at 17h00.
