Rey Vargas successfully defended his WBC super bantamweight title against Tomoki Kameda on Saturday July 13th, 2019 in Carson, California at the Dignity Health Sports Park. Tomoki “El Mexicanito” Kameda is from Japan but has trained in Mexico since the age of fifteen. The champion Rey Vargas is from Mexico and trains with the legendary Nacho Berestain. The fans, fighters, and some in the media joked that the real Mexican would be the boxer that emerged victorious. The fight was ugly throughout because Rey Vargas’ length and boxing ability allowed him to keep Tomoki Kameda too far for Kameda to inflict substantial damage. The judges ruled unanimously 117-110 for Rey Vargas after twelve rounds of boxing.
As the first round started, the night grew darker and the lights attracted the crowd’s attention to the ring. From then, Kameda tried to work his way inside but was unsuccessful. In the second, Kameda was able to get close enough to Vargas to land punches but Vargas’s jabs, hooks, and uppercuts were the better attack. And with an adroit use of his reach, Vargas continued to throw and land the better punches as Kameda tried to force his way inside. Later in the sixth, Vargas continued alternating high punches, low punches, jabs, and uppercuts successfully.
The crowd began to display restlessness during the eight round because the fight had been constantly disrupted by grappling, tie-ups, tackles, and fighter complaints. These disruptions were largely due to Vargas’ skillful use of his reach advantage. Despite the constant disruptions, the eight round might have been Kameda’s best. But in the ninth, frustration and inability to entice Vargas into punching exchanges caused Kameda to taunt his opponent by raising his arms in a “T.” In the end, the crowd jeered and booed with disappointment. “Suelta las pinches manos!” screamed someone behind me as the final round culminated. “La pelea mas aburrida fue esta cabrones!” yelled another.
Ronny Rios of Santa Ana, California knocked out Diego De La Hoya of Mexicali, Baja California, Mexico with 1:17 into the sixth round. Diego De La Hoya, cousin of legendary boxer Oscar De La Hoya, was the slight favorite in this entertaining battle. The fight began with loud chants from the fans of the local Rios but De La Hoya’s people also sounded off in support, though not quite as roaring. The fight had constant and frequent exchanges of punches by both Latino boxers. The end came with a right uppercut from Rios. The referee waved off the fight after De La Hoya struggled to gain clarity after coming to his feet.
Diego De La Hoya on his knee from a Ronny Rios right hand by Tom Hogan/ Hogan Photos
Rey Vargas lands a left hook on Tomoki Kameda by Tom Hogan/ Hogan Photos