WBA super flyweight champion Kohei Kono will take on second-ranked Koki Kameda on Oct. 16 in Chicago, the Watanabe Boxing Gym announced Monday.
The WBA ordered both camps to hold a mandatory world title match in March, but Kameda, along with his two younger brothers, have been barred from fighting in Japan due to sanctions imposed on the Kameda Boxing Gym by the Japan Boxing Commission.
Kameda, looking to conquer his fourth weight class, hasn't fought since November. He made a surprise appearance at Kono's news conference Monday, trying to stare down the champion.
"You better train," said Kameda, who had never met Kono. "You can't win the way you're boxing now."
Kono didn't take the bait and took the high road.
"I was surprised to see him here. Just as you'd expect from Kameda," he said. "Let him say what he wants."