Kameda Challenges Donaire, Who is Willing To Accept

If he succeeds in dethroning WBC-WBO bantamweight champion Fernando Montiel in February, Nonito Donaire Jr. plans to unify the title by next taking on WBA king Koki Kameda of Japan.

Donaire, popularly known as “The Filipino Flash,” accepted Kameda’s challenge to fight him after the Japanese southpaw (24-1, 15 KO’s) won the vacant WBA title with a unanimous 12-round decision over former WBA super flyweight champion Alexander Munoz in Saitama, Japan, last weekend.

Donaire, who watched the fight from a $1,000 seat at special ringside, said the Japanese champion was “crazy” to challenge him, but welcomed the opportunity to unify the title.

The current WBC Continental Americas bantamweight champion, who stopped former world champion Wladimir Sidorenko in the fourth round last December in Anaheim, California, will challenge Montiel on Feb. 19 in Las Vegas, Nevada.

Back in training at the Undisputed Gym in San Carlos City, California, Donaire said he “just ran while in Japan” because it was pretty cold.

“I started training as soon as I got back,” he said.

Donaire said trainer Robert Garcia would report next week along with lightweight Brandon “Bam Bam” Rios and undefeated 20-year-old featherweight Randy Caballero.

“Everything is fine and my whole system is getting used to training again,” said Donaire, noting that he has reached 130 lb, lower than when he started training for the Sidorenko fight.

Internationally respected referee Bruce McTavish said the Donaire-Montiel showdown could be “The fight of the Decade,” describing both champions as “fantastic boxers.”

McTavish credited Donaire with the advantage because he “can fight any style.”
koki kameda:bbb:happy