Kameda banned for year for violent outburst

TOKYO Disgraced Japanese boxer Daiki Kameda was banned for a year on Monday after his violent outburst during a world title fight last week.

His father and trainer Shiro also had his license as a ringside trainer suspended for abusing the referee during his son's unsuccessful bid for the WBC flyweight title.

The 18-year-old Daiki was docked three points after an astonishing meltdown in the final round of last Thursday's fight against champion Daisuke Naito.

Kameda was docked a point for punching Naito as both men wrestled on the canvas and was quickly penalised a further two points for picking up Naito and slamming him down.

Daiki, younger brother of bad boy Japanese fighter Koki, a former light flyweight world champion, was roundly condemned for his antics after a title bout that ended in farce.

Shiro Kameda, who was already walking a tightrope with Japanese boxing officials over past misdemeanours, was banned indefinitely from working in his fighters' corners during bouts.

The head of Kameda's Kyoei gym, meanwhile, was stripped of his owner's license for three months after an emergency meeting of the Japan Boxing Commission's (JBC) ethics panel.

DEEPEST APOLOGIES

Hours earlier, Kyoei president Keiichiro Kanehira had apologised for failing to control his fighter and ringside trainers.

"We take responsibility for the inappropriate behaviour of Daiki Kameda and his trainers," Kanehira said in a statement. "We offer our deepest apologies and humbly accept any punishment."

Koki Kameda, who was in Daiki's corner, escaped with a warning after television microphones picked up him telling his younger brother to elbow Naito in the eye.

Naito suffered a cut above his right eye early in the fight and the 33-year-old champion was only allowed to continue after a doctor checked the wound in the seventh round.

Trouble has flared at past fights involving the Kameda brothers and security was beefed-up for last week's bout at Ariake Colosseum.

Daiki, who had dismissed Naito as a "cockroach" in the fight's build-up, entered the ring dressed as an ancient Japanese warrior monk, glaring at fans and spitting on the floor.