McDonnell decisions Kameda again
WBA bantamweight champion Jamie McDonnell (27-2-1, 12 KOs) outpointed Tomoki Kameda (31-2, 19 KOs) in their rematch to retain his title on Sunday afternoon at the American Bank Center in Corpus Christi, Texas.
McDonnell sealed the victory with a right hand that sent Kameda to the canvas in the 12th, and won a unanimous decision by scores of 117-110, 116-111 and 115-112.
Kameda started strong, landing with rapid left hooks in the opening two rounds, but the champion soon utilised his five-inch reach advantage and took charge with his jab.
McDonnell dominated the action in the middle rounds, landing some good shots and putting the Japanese fighter on the back foot.
Kameda upped his work-rate and caught McDonnell with some hard shots in the 9th but the Doncaster man always rallied back and landed punches of his own.
McDonnell floored his opponent in the final session, Kameda claimed it was a slip but a punch landed as he was moving backwards and he took a count, although it did not really matter because McDonnell was already well ahead on the cards anyway.
McDonnell, who previously scored a points win over Kameda in May, said: "I felt in control. The jab was key, I think I threw that more than I threw anything. It was working and I felt in control all the way through."
Kameda thought he should have got the decision and said: "I thought I won this fight a lot more clearly than the last fight. I think I had the right plan and did everything right."
Also on the card, former WBC super middleweight champion Anthony Dirrell (28-1-1, 22 KOs) defeated Mexico's Marco Antonio Rubio (59-8-1, 51 KOs) by a one-sided unanimous decision in a 10 round bout.
All three judges had American Dirrell winning by scores of 100-90.