AFTER producing a stunning knockout of the year contender IBF Featherweight champion Angelo Leo could be off to Japan for his first title defence.
The 30-year-old from Albuquerque, New Mexico shocked Luis Alberto Lopez in August by flooring ‘Venado’ with a terrific left hook leaving him unable to continue. Afterwards the new title holder called for showdowns against undisputed super bantamweight champion Naoya Inoue and WBO Featherweight titlist Rafael Espinoza.
During a recent interview with Skywalker Boxing Media, however, Leo, 25-1 (12 KOs), revealed he would be travelling to Japan to square off against Tomoki Kameda in March. The date is unclear with Leo suggesting March 22 but according to an announcement from Kameda Promotions the date is in fact March 29.
Kameda, 42-4 (23 KOs), is the current IBF number one contender and a former WBO Bantamweight champion. But at 33 years old and a long career behind him Leo will be heavily fancied to retain his title and thwart any plans of Japanese domination after the country’s success at bantamweight and super bantamweight.
