Lerato Dlamini vs Tomoki Kameda Preview
Lerato Dlamini and Tomoki Kameda will finally cross paths again. The two men will fight in Suita, Japan on Saturday, August 24th. Dlamini pulled off a massive shock in their first meeting. Now Kameda hopes to take revenge and march toward another title shot.
Dlamini won the first fight by split decision. Now he hopes to prove this wasn’t a fluke and that he’s genuinely an up-and-coming star. Meanwhile, Kameda is an experienced professional with over 40 fights. He’s desperate to show that he’s still one of the best in the world.
Despite his victory, Dlamini enters this match as an underdog. However, there’s not much to separate these men in the ring because of their history. The first bout was very close and entertaining, so we hope this one will be fun too.
Lerato Dlamini vs Tomoki Kameda Key Stats and Head-to-Head
These fighters come from unique backgrounds. Kameda hails from Osaka, Japan, so this rematch is in his backyard. He had a tough upbringing before turning professional. Kameda is a former WBO Bantamweight champion and competed for the WBC Super-Bantamweight strap.
He currently has a record of 41-4 with 23 knockouts. ‘El Mexicanito’ has won five of his last six matches with the only defeat coming against Dlamini. That was very much an underdog victory for the South African star.
Dlamini doesn’t have the same pedigree as his opponent despite his win. The Linksfield resident has an overall record of 20-2 with his most recent loss in a title fight against James Dickens. ‘Lights Out’ has a 55% KO rate, so there’s no sign that he has more knockout power than his Japanese foe.
Their first meeting was an entertaining scrap. Dlamini’s early work was the difference-maker in this fight. His activity was enough for him to snatch the early rounds on two of the judge’s cards. Kameda thought he scored a late knockdown, but the referee judged it was a slip. Ultimately, Kameda was probably the superior boxer, but he didn’t do enough across the full bout.
This was a massive blow to Kameda because it cost him a WBA Featherweight title shot. He is determined to prove that this is an anomaly and that he is the better fighter. The well-travelled Kameda spent the bulk of his early career in Mexico. He’s risen through the weight divisions with age and is now 33.
Both men fight out of an orthodox status while Kameda has a height advantage. It’s fair to say that Kameda has also fought higher-quality opponents than his rival. But ‘Lights Out’ enters this rematch with confidence.
Lerato Dlamini vs Tomoki Kameda Predictions
Prediction: Tomoki Kameda to win by decision
Our boxing prediction is that Tomoki Kameda will win this rematch. He’s fighting in his hometown, outside Osaka, and will enjoy tremendous support. Kameda has better preparation and training than Dlamini. He’s also a more experienced and arguably more talented fighter.
However, too much experience can be a boxer’s downfall. Dlamini is only two years younger than Kameda but has fewer miles on the clock. He could sneak another win by exploiting the damage his rival has taken across his career.
We’re picking Kameda to win this fight. We predict he’ll have a smarter game plan and will start faster. He can’t leave the early rounds behind him again because this cost him dearly in the first match.
We also believe that he’s more likely to score a knockout. Kameda has two knockouts in his past five fights. His most recent opponent, Kevin Villaneuva, retired on his stool after five rounds. This stay-busy fight was a big confidence boost for Kameda as he gets his career back on track.
Dlamini suffered upheaval before this match-up. He thought he was fighting Ukraine’s Arnold Khegai until mid-July. However, Top Rank lost the bid for that bout. Now Dlamini finds himself in a rematch against a very motivated opponent.
Kameda originally had a mandatory rematch option. However, it fell apart because Dlamini didn’t qualify for an IBF eliminator. The South African voided the fight but suddenly found himself against one of his toughest opponents again.
Despite the controversy, ‘Lights Out’ says he is confident that he has Kameda’s number. This is possible because he is fast and could use his movement again to significant effect. Frustrating Kameda seems like an excellent tactic, and the most likely route to victory.
Dlamini trains under top South African boxing coach Colin Nathan. He thinks his fighter will retire Kameda. Nathan’s reputation is growing after Dlamini’s teammate Kaine Fourie won an IBF continental title last weekend. He’ll prepare Dlamini to the best of his ability.
Angelo Leo might have to see the winner of this fight next. Lerato Dlamini vs Tomoki Kameda in 2 weeks time in the IBF Final Eliminator pic.twitter.com/Td2rEUjIrQ
— Tokkerū (@ATokkers5) August 11, 2024
Meanwhile, Kameda’s older brother, Kōki, is in his corner. Kōki Kameda is a former three-weight champion. The pair came through the ranks together in Cuba under Osmiri Fernandez. Kameda had some of the best sparring partners in the world and this could be a difference-maker. He believes he’s better than Dlamini and the loss was a freak result.
Watch out for Kameda’s bodywork in this fight. We’ve seen him stop opponents with liver punches in the past. This could be an effective weapon in this match as he tries to slow Dlamini’s movement.
Lerato Dlamini vs Tomoki Kameda Betting Tips
Dlamini entered their first fight as a big underdog. The odds are closer this time, but he remains a significant outsider in this rematch. This might surprise some players, but Kameda’s pedigree justifies the decision from our bookmaker.
It’s currently 1/7 for Kameda to win this match. This means that a €10 stake would make €2.86 if successful. It’s not a huge profit given the nature of this match-up. There are better boxing markets available for this fight.
We’re picking Kameda to win, but it’s wiser to go for the method of victory rather than the outright result. We also predict he will be more aggressive in this rematch. He has the power to cause some serious problems for his South African foe. His recent KO rate also suggests this could be the most likely result.
Meanwhile, betting on Dlamini will tempt you because he is a 3/1 underdog. A €10 boxing bet will make €30 if he shocks Kameda again. It would be an outstanding result, but there’s a reason the odds are against him. Even though we think Kameda will win, this is the most sensible outright pick.
The over-under markets for the number of rounds is another worthwhile wager. This fight will go the distance with neither fighter willing to risk it all. Check the in-play betting odds during this fight because they’ll fluctuate if one fighter is more dominant than the other.
Most of Kameda’s finishes come in round five or earlier. If you’re selecting him to win by KO, the specific round could be a good prop bet. Remember, Dlamini fights at a higher pace and could tire later. This could give Kameda more opportunities to knock his opponent out.
Dlamini also likes an early finish. He KO’d Hamidu Kwatu in the third while he ended Jelbirt Gomera’s night in the fourth round. Maybe he can get an early finish against Kameda, too. However, the Japanese operator is a superior technician to any of Dlamini’s previous opponents.
Consider selecting this fight as part of an accumulator to enhance the potential winnings. We have already predicted the Floyd Mayweather vs John Gotti III exhibition bout. Stay tuned for more boxing predictions and betting tips this week.
Lerato Dlamini vs Tomoki Kameda Outcome
There’s a massive prize at stake for the winner of this fight. The victor will become the mandatory challenger for the IBF featherweight title. Champion Luis Alberto Lopez defends his belt on August 10th against Angelo Leo in Albuquerque, New Mexico.
Both winners should face each other for the title. Kameda is desperate to become a two-weight world champion. Dlamini already cost him one shot at a featherweight strap. He is determined to make up for lost time and right the wrongs of the past. It would be an incredible achievement for him and his brother to win this strap.
Meanwhile, Dlamini knows he is close to becoming one of South Africa’s immortal athletes. He remains a relative unknown right now, but a title shot would change everything. Defeating Kameda guarantees him the chance to fight for a belt. Everything is on the line for these two men.
