For the "thrash-talking" Koki Kameda, a controversial split decision by judges over Venezuelan Juan Landaeta was probably as dirty as it gets.
New WBA light flyweight world champion Koki Kameda is lifted by yokozuna Asashoryu after defeating Venezuelan Juan Landaeta in a split decision at Yokohama Arena on Wednesday night.
KYODO PHOTOOne day after the 19-year-old Osaka native captured the vacant WBA light flyweight crown at Yokohama Arena, boxing critics and fans alike continued to question whether Kameda was in over his head against the 27-year-old Landaeta.
Kameda, the eldest of three brothers in a "boxing family," appeared to look plain ordinary, if not completely lost, suffering his first knockdown in his career with a right hook from Landaeta in the dying seconds of the first round.