August 18, 2007
The newly crowned WBC flyweight champ Daisuke Naito (31-2-2, 21 KOs), Japan, will put his belt on the line in his initial defense against unbeaten hard-punching compatriot Daiki Kameda (10-0, 8 KOs), the 18-year-old brother of ex-WBA light-fly ruler Koki, in Tokyo on October 11.
Naito stunned the boxing world by upsetting formidable defending champ Pongsaklek Wongjongkam Kratindaeng-gym, making his eighteenth defense, last month to become a Cinderella Man. Kameda, a fast-rising hard-puncher, lopsidedly defeated WBC#17 ranked Fahpetchnoi Sor Chipattana this July to raise his WBC rating.
Daiki is such a unique singer-song boxer who makes it a rule to play a piano and sing a song after his victory that he is tremendously popular among girl fans. He hopes to break the record of the youngest world champ produced in Japan now held by ex-WBC 105-pound champ Hiroki Ioka, who acquired the belt at 18 years 9 months and 10 days. Should Daiki gain the belt, he will seize the diadem five days earlier than Ioka.
Daiki, a flamboyant and eloquent young man, calls the champ Naito cockroach due to his unorthodox and tricky style, but Naito, 14 years senior at 32, is more experienced and can punch as hard as the fast-rising prospect. It will be a sensational event.
(8-18-07)