Ex-champ Kameda's dad to face WBC discipline panel

TOKYO (AFP) The World Boxing Council has slammed the father of Japanese flyweight Koki Kameda for tarnishing the sports image by intimidating officials when the boxer lost his world title last month. The WBCs disciplinary committee has summoned Shiro Kameda to a hearing in Mexico City on April 12-13 to review the case and discuss corresponding actions, the council said in a press release. The Japanese Boxing Commissions ethics committee, meanwhile, held its first meeting on the case Wednesday without reaching a conclusion, a spokesman said. Kameda, who has trained his three sons to become brash boxers, erupted in anger when the eldest of them, 23-year-old Koki, lost his WBC title to Thailands Pongsaklek Wonjongkam in Tokyo on March 27. He was heard abusing referee Guadalupe Garcia, WBC supervisor Edward Thangarajah and Japanese Boxing Commission executive secretary Tsuyoshi Yasukochi in the dressing room. Using strong language, the senior Kameda wrongfully claimed that the referee should have deducted two points from the Thai boxer for head-butting. The WBC statement, released on Monday, said that the organisation had struggled for a quarter century to change the image of boxing from an activity for the lowest levels in society to what it really is. It said the sport is an opportunity for the poor of the world to become sports heroes and live a life of dignity. Therefore, those who act to tarnish its image must be brought into the scrutiny of the rules of boxing. The father, 44, has already been barred by the Japanese commission from serving as a cornerman after he told his second son, Daiki, to fight dirty in his failed attempt at a world title in 2007. Daiki, now 21, was suspended for a year but came back to become the World Boxing Association flyweight champion by outpointing Thailands Denkaosen Kaowichit in Kobe last February. Koki and Pongsaklek collided head-on in the fifth round, with Kameda suffering a cut over his right eyebrow. The referee deducted one point from Pongsaklek. They head-butted again in the same round but there should be no point deduction, according to rules, as both sustained cuts. However, the judge told Kamedas side by mistake that he had taken two points away from the Thai boxer. In fact, only one point was deducted. One judge scored the match even at 114. Two others carded it 116-112 and 115-112 in favor of Pongsaklek. The judging was absurd, the senior Kameda was heard shouting at the officials, according to Japanese media. He particularly chided the Japanese official, who served as a supporting WBC supervisor, telling him: You will know what happens if you make me mad. I will have your head. You hear me, stupid? The WBC statement confirmed Pongsakleks victory as unquestionable.

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