After a razor thin decision in their first fight, top bantamweights Jamie McDonnell (26-2-1, 12 KOs) and Tomoki “El Mexicanito” Kameda (31-1, 19 KOs) will square-off again on the Sunday, September 6 edition of Premier Boxing Champions (PBC) on CBS live from the American Bank Center in Corpus Christi, Texas.
In the first fight between the United Kingdom’s McDonnell and Japan’s Kameda, which originally aired on the May 9 installment of PBC on CBS, McDonnell narrowly took the decision 114-113 on all three judges’ scorecards.
In total, the two men combined to throw over 1,000 punches in their first fight, including nearly 800 power punches over the 12 rounds. On September 6, McDonnell and Kameda will go toe-to-toe once again with bantamweight supremacy on the line.
“I have a great engine and I always come on strong in the back end of the fight,” said McDonnell. “I think from round six on it was my fight. I started too slowly in the first fight but I worked hard and got the win.”
“I definitely think I won the first fight,” said Kameda. “I landed the much harder punches and built up enough of an early lead, but the judges saw what they saw. It was a close fight and I know I can change the outcome this time.”
One of the key moments in the fight (and one that some thought could have swung the fight in Kameda’s favor) was his third round knockdown of McDonnell via a lightning-fast right hand.
“I can remember being on the floor and I didn’t know how I got there,” said McDonnell. “His speed and power is there and I went down. It proves that not everyone is invincible and if you get caught, you are going to go down. We’ve put some work in to counter that power and hopefully that will show on fight night.”
Both men are deep into training camp now and have been working on numerous adjustments to keep their opponents guessing coming into the rematch. For Kameda these changes involved a change in coach as he enters his first fight with new trainer Ismael Salas.
“I have a completely different team now with Ismael Salas and Angel Heredia and ‘Stich’ Duran as cut man,” said Kameda. “I feel much better going into this fight with better sparring and preparation and it will show in the fight. Salas has a great game plan and I can’t wait to perform it.
“McDonnell is tall, so getting inside his jab took some extra work. He’s a good veteran but I will show I’m the superior fighter once again.”
“We knew he was going to be fast, he’s the fastest I have ever faced,” said McDonnell. “I got tagged with a right hand but in the rematch I know what to expect now. I’ve sparred against a lad that throws his right hand like Kameda does so I know how to keep out of range for that.
“I feel I am hitting harder. I’ve been working on my power in the gym and I feel it’s going to pay off. I’m always in great shape and I’ve been flying in the gym. I am really looking forward to this one.”
For McDonnell, it was a successful U.S. debut as he returned home to the United Kingdom victorious. McDonnell has already arrived in Texas as he did before their first fight in order to acclimate to the time and climate changes.
“I loved being in America for the last fight and doing the afternoon show,” said McDonnell. “We’ve been to Texas before now and it was a great time so I am happy to be back here and I know what to expect. We’ve brought Ryan Burnett (10-0, 8 KOs) out here to Corpus Christi to spar for the full fortnight, plus my wife, daughter and brother Gavin are all out here with me again.”
The two fighters will look to prove their supremacy once again and entertain boxing fans around the world on September 6.
“I think it will be a fast paced fight,” said McDonnell. “I started too slowly last time and I don’t want that to happen again. I believe I will stop him late.. I took him into the trenches last time but I didn’t put it on him enough. I think I will make a big statement.”
“I will look to prepare shots to score points and be victorious,” said Kameda. “If the knockout comes, I will take it. Most important is to get the victory and we will do what we have to do to win. I will not let him back in the fight later on. This time I will start strong and finish him and not let off the gas until I am champion again.”
