Former WBO bantamweight champion Tomoki Kameda said Thursday he is hopeful he can make a swift return before home fans after he was issued a license by the Japan Boxing Commission.
The youngest of the three Kameda brothers, Tomoki, 25, and his now-retired older brothers Koki and Daiki had been barred by the JBC from fighting in Japan in 2014 after their old Kameda Gym was decertified following a controversy regarding Daiki's world-title fight in late 2013.
Kameda, bidding to conquer two divisions with the super bantamweight class, signed with Kyoei Gym on Oct. 7 and fought for the first time in a year on Oct. 15 in Mexico City, winning a non-title bout by TKO in the first round against Mexican Edgar Martinez.
"I'd like to fight before the fans as soon as I can," Kameda told a news conference a day after he was cleared to return to Japanese boxing. "My ultimate goal is to be a boxer recognized around the world."
Koki, 29, said of his youngest brother, "These past three years must have been a tough time. He finally pulled out of the long tunnel and today is the new start."
Tomoki has a 32-2 record, including 20 knockouts.