Despite getting the nod from two judges and defeating Tomoki Kameda in Japan on Saturday, Welkom-born boxer Lerato ‘Lights Out’ Dlamini has admitted that he had a tough fight against the Japanese opponent.
The 29-year-old Dlamini won the shootout by a split decision in front of a hostile crowd at the Ota-City General Gymnasium in Tokyo.
Two judges Mike Fitzgerald and Fernando Villareal had Dlamini winning by 116-112 meaning that he won eight of the 12 rounds while Kameda won seven rounds on Michiaki Someya’s score card.
This clash was an eliminator for the number two position on the International Boxing Federation (IBF) featherweight ratings.
“The fight was tough as expected, but I felt like I was in control after the second round until the 10th where I suffered a cut on my eyebrow,” Dlamini remarked.
Dlamini, who weighed 56,90kg, improved his record to 20 victories (11 knockouts) and two losses while Kameda dropped to 40 wins (22 stoppages) and four defeats.
“I am feeling really good after the win. All of the hard work paid off. Now I am gonna rest. It’s been a long camp,” Dlamini said.
