SAN ANTONIO – The hustle never stops for Koki Kameda.

In fact, it’s busier than ever for the former multi-division champion, years after his storied boxing career.

The past two weeks alone for Kameda included the promotion of his upcoming show, 3150Fight Vol. 5, which features the Shigeoka brothers—Ginjiro and Yudai—in separate interim strawweight title fights, a global journey to secure a new opponent when WBC champ Panya Padrabsri fell ill, and hopes of expanding Kameda Promotions and Abema TV into a partnership in the U.S.

“We had very good meetings, we hope it leads to something big,” Kameda told krikya360.com while in San Antonio for business and to watch the April 8 DAZN card in town. “My popularity has helped me to move along quickly (in Japan). Now, our plan is to introduce our brand around the world.”

Kameda’s company takes the lead for this Sunday’s show, which airs live on Abema TV from Yoyogi #2 Gymnasium in Tokyo. Sunday’s show on subscription-based Abema TV is only immediately accessible in Japanese markets. Viewers in the U.S. and elsewhere are required to use a VPN to access the hybrid platform, which provides linear streaming and video on demand.

The service—which carries approximately 20 channels—also boasts Japan’s largest collection of original episodes and the nation’s only 24-hour news channel. Boxing—and combat sports, in general—has become a huge platform driver, thanks to the tireless efforts of Kameda Promotions who have hit the ground running in its first full year.  

Sunday’s show comes just three months after Kameda Promotions and Abema TV partnered to present a January 6 title fight doubleheader from EDION Arena in Osaka, Japan. The event was well-received, as has been every step taken by the 36-year-old Kameda since donning the promotional hat some seven years after the final fight of his wild career.

“How many promoters do you know, in their third show they put on a show with two world title fights? Within six months, we were able to put together a championship doubleheader. We want that to be our staple. We hoped to have it for this show. We have two interim title fights instead because the champions weren’t available for different reasons. If Ginjiro and Yudai both win, they will both face the champions in their next fight.”

The unbeaten Shigeoka brothers co-headline Sunday’s show. Ginjiro (8-0, 6KOs; 1NC) faces former IBF strawweight titlist Rene Mark Cuarto (21-3-2, 12KOs) in a bout for the interim IBF strawweight title. Yudai (6-0, 4KOs)—Ginjiro’s older brother by two years—takes on Puerto Rico’s Wilfredo Mendez (18-2, 6KOs), a former WBO titlist, in a battle for the division's interim WBC title. Mendez was secured as a late replacement for an ill Padrabsri, with a deal reached during Kameda’s multi-city whirlwind tour of the U.S. prior to fight week.

“People pay attention to my events because it has my name on it,” acknowledged Kameda. “But I also take pride when my name is on an event. I know a lot of people are watching so we have to always aim to deliver the best product.

By then, Kameda hopes to have a strong U.S. partner along for the ride.

Included in his recent travels were visits with DAZN CEO Joe Markowski in New York City and Matchroom Sport chairman Eddie Hearn ahead of his company’s April 8 show featuring now two-division titlist Jesse ‘Bam’ Rodriguez. The idea behind bringing in strong partners is, of course, to bring both more eyes to the series and more of the product to the fans.

“Our dream is to turn this into a monthly series and have a championship fight on every show,” stated Kameda.

The goal is as ambitious as was Kameda’s own career, which saw championship wins at junior flyweight and flyweight, along with a lengthy stay as a secondary WBA bantamweight titleholder. Kameda last fought in October 2015—in the U.S. ironically versus countryman Kohei Kono against whom he dropped a hard-fought twelve-round decision in their sensational WBA junior bantamweight title fight to exit with a record of 33-2 (18KOs).

By then, Koki and his brothers Daiki and Tomoki made history several times over.

All three claimed titles over the course of their respective careers, becoming the first trio of brothers to accomplish the fight following Tomoki’s historic August 2013 twelve-round win over Paulus Ambunda to claim the WBO bantamweight title. Daiki added the IBF junior bantamweight just five weeks later, which saw all three brothers enjoy simultaneous reigns—also a Guinness Book of World Records feat, and one that will likely never be matched.

Kameda does see a lot of history to be achieved by the set of brothers he currently promotes.

“They are very talented,” Kameda said of the Shigeokas. “I know when we began promoting them that we would put them on a straight path to a world title, not waste any time.”

Ginjiro Shigeoka appeared on the January 6 show when he fought IBF strawweight titlist Daniel Valladares. Their bout was well in control by Shigeoka before a clash of heads abruptly ended the contest in round three when Mexico’s Valladares was unable to continue, thus rendering the bout a No-Contest.

“It hurt me to see Ginjiro denied the IBF world tile, but unfortunately the result is the result,” Kameda lamented. “Hopefully he and Yudai both win and then face the champions. We want to bring them back right away and become the most active champions in the sport while we continue to grow in activity as a company.”

Jake Donovan is a senior writer for krikya360.com. Twitter: @JakeNDaBox