Bantamweight

Stuart Hall had a very merry Christmas. The bantamweight was able to enjoy the festive period, including having a dinner on Dec. 25 with all the trimmings, knowing 2016 has the potential to be a big year for him.

Hall (19-4-2, 7 KOs) had a relatively quiet 2015, appearing just twice in the second half, but he knew by the end of it that bigger fights were just around the corner.

The 35-year-old from Darlington, England, is a former world champion determined to get the IBF belt he once had in his possession.

The next step towards that goal is beating Rodrigo Guerrero on April 16 in Leeds, England. The bout, which takes place on the undercard to Josh Warrington's clash with fellow featherweight Hisashi Amagasa, is scheduled to be a final eliminator for the IBF belt.

The plan is clear: Beat Guerrero and get a shot at the man holding Hall's old title, Lee Haskins.

"I'm back on the big stage, and that's where I belong," Hall said at a press conference held in Leeds.

"I've known since around Christmas [about the scheduled bout in April]. I could enjoy my Christmas dinner because I knew the date [I would be fighting].

"I'm in full training now and really looking forward to the night. It’s a must-win fight.

"Tactics on the night are going to be crucial for me. But, I love to fight and I’m a strong man. I think he’ll feel my power on the night."

The term "must-win fight" is easily thrown around in the media. Any boxer over a certain age, or with a number of recent defeats on their record, is labelled to be drinking in boxing's last-chance saloon. However, when a boxer himself admits it is now a win-at-all-costs moment in his career, you know it's serious situation.

Hall clearly understands the importance of every outing at this stage of his career.

The bantamweight division has options—plenty of them. As well as fellow Englishman Haskins, Britain has a second world champion at the weight in WBA holder Jamie McDonnell. 

But there are also pitfalls—a defeat can push you towards the back of the queue. At 35, that's not a position where Hall can afford to be.

Southpaw Guerrero (24-5-1, 16 KOs), of course, is just as hungry for success as his next opponent.

Gatito is 28 and ranked highly by the IBF, WBA and WBO, according to FightNews.com. He has already won a world title at super flyweight, and Hall expects a seriously tough test. "He [Guerrero] is a typical Mexican. He switches as well, but he likes to plant his feet and have a war," he said.

Hall, however, knows what it takes to become a world champion. He also has happy memories of fighting at the First Direct Arena in Leeds.

Stuey claimed the vacant IBF strap by beating Vusi Malinga at the same Yorkshire venue in Dec. 2013.

His compatriot, Paul Butler, took the title from him six months later, while Hall failed to reclaim it against American Randy Caballero in Monaco in Oct. 2014.

Now, though, Haskins is the champion.

He didn't even have to throw a punch to dethrone Caballero, who weighed in more than five pounds over the limit for his scheduled defence against the English challenger late in 2015.

Hall knows plenty about both men. He has a points loss to Haskins on his CV—they fought in 2012 for the vacant European belt.

"I want to try and get this world title back, get this rematch with Haskins, " he said.

"In all honesty, I think Caballero would have stopped him. That fight didn't happen, though."

On his own experiences against Caballero, Hall added, "I thought he was a great fighter. I thought our fight was very close.

"The judges were miles out (Caballero earned a unanimous points win by scores of 116-111 twice and 118-110). It was if they'd scored it before we'd got into the ring. I felt like I bossed that fight. Caballero started boxing me a bit because he realised he couldn't beat me by just fighting inside six rounds, which is what he normally does to others."

Hall would also "love" another meeting with McDonnell, who won the first fight—staged in 2011 for the British, Commonwealth and European belts—on points.

"We are really close. But I need to get a belt before [a rematch]. He's done well, not just for himself but also for his family," he said of his good friend, who is a two-time world champion at 118 pounds.

McDonnell may be a long-term possibility, but Hall must first find a way to get past Guerrero.

Still, Christmas dinner in 2016 would taste even better if Hall is able to sit down to eat as a world champion again. That dream will remain alive if gets a win in Leeds, a city that already holds special memories for him. 

Rob Lancaster is a featured columnist for Bleacher Report. Unless otherwise stated, all quotes were obtained firsthand.

On Tuesday, February 16, bantamweight hopeful Alexis Santiago (20-3-1, 8 KO) will take on Erik Ruiz (15-4, 6 KO) in the main event of a Premier Boxing Champions broadcast on Fox Sports 1. Here's a look at the viewing information for the 118-pound battle.

When: Tuesday, February 16 at 9 p.m. ET

Where: Sam's Town Live in Las Vegas

TV: Fox Sports 1

Quite honestly, this is going to be a scrap that only appeals to the most hardcore boxing fan. It not only features fighters from one of the lower weight classes—which American fans all but ignore in most cases—it's also a fight without a true headline name.

The 25-year-old Santiago is the most well-known of the two, but he's not among the top 10 bantamweights in Ring Magazine's latest rankings. He's ranked No. 52 in the weight class, according to the IBO. It's possible a win over Ruiz could put Santiago in the top 10 in the WBA, and that could potentially set him up with a title fight against that governing body's champion Juan Carlos Payano.

The latter has already appeared on PBC programming, so the negotiations and matchmaking shouldn't be a major issue. In Santiago's last bout, he won an eight-round unanimous decision over Gustavo Molina. Santiago has won nine fights in a row since losing a unanimous decision to Roman Morales in 2012.

Per Lem Satterfield of Premier Boxing Champions, Santiago believes he has prepared well for his opponent.

“We had a sparring partner who was coming forward and throwing a lot of punches right in front of us. That way we’ll be ready for [Ruiz’s] pressure and everything he has coming for us,” says Santiago. “We had the other [sparring partner] who can box real good, so if Ruiz decides to do that, we’ll be ready for both.”

That doesn't sound like the most technical preparation, but this may not be a technical fight. Santiago has the ability to brawl. While he has only a modest KO total in his career, previous fights have revealed a warrior-like mentality.

Ruiz is a tough and gritty fighter. The 23-year-old hails from Oxnard, California and he's trained by the legendary Robert Garcia. Almost every fighter who comes from Garcia's gym brings a certain level of ruggedness. Ruiz is no exception.

He has however failed to win whenever the level of competition has been raised. Back in January 2015, he got an opportunity to face the highly regarded Jessie Magdaleno. Ruiz lost a lopsided unanimous decision in that bout.

He has split the four fights he's had since then. Beating Santiago in a televised main event would be a special moment for him. This one figures to go the distance with both fighters dishing out some punishment. If you're looking for a good scrap where name recognition is secondary to action, this is one you'll want to see.

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Randy Caballero will finally defend his IBF bantamweight belt for the first time on Saturday, when he faces Lee Haskins at the Mandalay Bay Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas. 

El Matador (22-0, 13 KOs) claimed the belt with a victory over Englishman Stuart Hall in October 2014, but he has not fought since due to injury.

But on Saturday, he'll make his comeback against another foe from England. Haskins became the interim champion in June by stopping Ryosuke Iwasa in his hometown of Bristol. 

The 31-year-old (32-3, 14 KOs) will get the chance to claim the full title in his American debut, with the bout part of the undercard for Miguel Cotto's clash with Saul "Canelo" Alvarez.

When: Nov. 21, 4:15 p.m. PT (7:15 p.m. ET, 12:15 a.m. GMT)

Where: Mandalay Bay, Las Vegas

TV: HBO pay-per-view (U.S.), BoxNation (UK)

Live Stream: BoxNation (UK), Tidal.com, GoldenBoyPromotions.com, HBO YouTube channel

Comeback Kid

He may boast an unbeaten record, but Caballero can get his career back on track with a win at the weekend.

The 25-year-old's victory over Hall in Monte Carlo, Monaco, appeared to be the perfect springboard to the big time.

After going on the road to become a world champion—Caballero had also defeated Kohei Oba in Japan in a final eliminator before facing Hall—the initial plan was to have his first defence on home turf in California.

However, a February date against Alberto Guevara had to be shelved due to a cyst on the champion's ankle that required surgery, per Dan Rafael of ESPN.

In an interview with Matthew N. Becher of Boxing Insider, Caballero confirmed he is now fully fit and raring to go: "I don’t think I’ll have any ring rust whatsoever. My mind is set, my mind knows that my foot is 110 per cent back to normal, if not even better. I’m ready to go. We know this fight right here opens a lot of doors for my career after this."

To give their fighter additional exposure, Golden Boy Promotions will be showing Caballero's bout with Haskins online.

"Randy has the charisma, athleticism, fan-friendly fighting style and now a world title to make him one of the future top stars in the sport," said Golden Boy CEO Oscar De La Hoya, per Rafael.

It is easy to see why his promoters are so enthusiastic. Caballero is young and unbeaten, and although he was born in the United States, he as strong Nicaraguan roots through his parents.

He has a habit of knocking down opponents, too. Hall was dropped in the second round but recovered to go the distance, while his five previous outings prior to his title shot had all ended inside the distance.

Caballero will be eager to impress on his return, but he must understand there is no way to make up for lost time.

Road Warrior

Haskins has taken the long road to Las Vegas. 

He turned pro in 2003, but it seemed like he might never make the most of his obvious potential due to a lack of dedication. The nickname Playboy was handed to him for a reason.

There were still moments of success—Haskins has lifted the British and Commonwealth titles at super flyweight and bantamweight, and he's also a two-time European champion at 118 pounds.

However, as explained to Matt Christie of Boxing News, he never quite took his job seriously:

I never knew what was coming for me.

But the thing is I’m an unpredictable guy; sometimes I’ll try and steal the fight, sometimes I’ll turn up and want to fight, and I’m that kind of guy.

Back in the day I never used to train properly and it was bad preparation by myself and that will transfer into the ring. If you don’t put it in in the gym then it definitely won’t work in the ring.

Now, the penny has apparently dropped. Since being stopped by Stephane Jamoye in Liege, Belgium, just under three years ago, Haskins has won six on the bounce.

His sixth-round TKO of Iwasa last time out was a career highlight to date. He admitted as much himself, per Matt Maltby of the Daily Mail: "I've had 35 professional fights and that was the best performance."

Caballero is a step up in class again, but Haskins has enough quality to cause his rival problems.

A skilled fighter who is comfortable working off front or back foot, Haskins will give it everything to seize the opportunity that has finally come his way.

Prediction

Haskins can make Caballero work in what will be a long overdue first defence of the IBF strap.

The Englishman will understand this could be his only opportunity to box on a big stage, so expect him to be fit, focused and fluid in the way he approaches the task.

However, Caballero has enough class to cope with whatever Haskins throws at him. He would be wise to take his time, though, even if he may want to put on a show.

The current champion will wear down his foe as the bout wears on, eventually forcing a stoppage in Round 8 or 9.

Jamie McDonnell and Tomoki Kameda meet in a rematch Sunday, with the former's WBA bantamweight title on the line.

The pair went toe-to-toe in Texas in May, with McDonnell (26-2-1, 12 KOs) coming out the winner on points despite being knocked down in the third round.

Now, the Englishman returns to the Lone Star State, though the fight is being held in Corpus Christi rather than Hidalgo this time.

Kameda (31-1, 19 KOs), meanwhile, gets an immediate chance to avenge his one and only loss as a professional.

The fight is part of a Premier Boxing Champions card that also includes Anthony Dirrell vs. Marco Antonio Rubio. Sky Sports will broadcast the action in the United Kingdom.

When: Sunday, Sept. 6, at 10 p.m. BST / 4 p.m. ET / 1 p.m. PT

Where: American Bank Center, Corpus Christi, Texas

TV: Sky Sports (UK), CBS (US)

Live stream: SkyGo (UK, subscription required), CBS (US, subscription required)

Going over old ground

So, why has McDonnell agreed to face Kameda again?

The answer is an easy one, according to his trainer and manager, Dave Coldwell: money.

"Everyone is driven by something. His passion is earning money for his family—he’s driven to do that," Coldwell told Bleacher Report before he and the rest of the team flew out to the United States.

Al Haymon's chequebook has delivered McDonnell a quick return flight to Texas.

The first fight was close. CompuBox stats released on Twitter showed that McDonnell landed 217 punches compared to Kameda's 200.

However, the champion from Doncaster is determined to make sure the scorecards are not needed the second time around, per Matchroom Boxing: "I believe I will stop him late on, I took him into the trenches last time but I didn’t put it on him enough. I think I will make that big statement and then move up."

McDonnell is tall for a bantamweight—he stands at 5'10"—and, win, lose or draw, this next fight could well be his last at the 118-pound limit.

A move up could lead to some lucrative fights, and his sights are set on one domestic rival in particular, according to boxing writer Danny Winterbottom on Twitter: "Jamie McDonnell wants to fight Quigg if he beats Kameda again. 'I'd love the Scott Quigg fight, that would be massive.'"

The 29-year-old became a world champion for a second time when he picked up the vacant WBA strap by stopping Tabtimdaeng Na Rachawat at Wembley Stadium in London last year.

He has not been beaten since 2008, having been stripped of the IBF bantamweight title before he even had the chance to defend it.

However, owning belts is not a major concern for McDonnell. Money makes his boxing world go round, and that's the reason he finds himself in Texas facing a familiar foe.

Revenge mission

Kameda may have been born in Osaka, Japan, but he learned the ropes away from home.

The 24-year-old fought seven of his first nine bouts on Mexican soil, earning the nickname El Mexicanito.

He had a 31-fight unbeaten streak going until he bumped into McDonnell. Despite dropping the champion with a superb right hand in the third, Kameda ended up with his first loss.

That result has led to a change in the Japanese's corner. Ismael Salas, who also works with Guillermo Rigondeaux, is now his trainer.

Kameda said at the pre-fight press conference: "I feel much better going into this fight with better sparring and preparation and it will show in the fight. [Ismael] Salas has a great game plan and I can’t wait to perform it."

Coldwell was impressed by the Kameda he saw in the first bout, but he spotted a psychological weakness: "He was saying he was going to knock Jamie out. But when Jamie got up and told him the same, he lost his rag. I told Jamie then that he [Kameda] was a bully and that if he doesn’t get his own way, he gets frustrated."

Now, it is time to find out if the alterations can make a difference for the challenger.

He will be itching to gain revenge but must remain composed against McDonnell, who is hard to shift.

Prediction

Despite all the talk, don't expect much to change from the first meeting.

They are both strong bantamweights, with Kameda the quicker to the punch but McDonnell better to the body, an area he will look to exploit in hopes of winning inside the distance.

However, his record of 12 knockouts in 29 fights doesn't suggest he has the power to stop Kameda in his tracks. Therefore, a points win—albeit by a slightly larger margin this time—is the most likely outcome.

Although McDonnell holds the belt, there may be less pressure on the champion. His stock is high, and a move to super bantamweight offers plenty of options.

Unless otherwise stated, quotes used in the preview were obtained firsthand by the author.

They may say you should never go back, but Jamie McDonnell has no issues returning to Texas to fight Tomoki Kameda again.

The pair of bantamweights will clash for a second time on September 6, with the American Bank Center in Corpus Christi the venue for their rematch on Premier Boxing Champions.

McDonnell won the first meeting, staged in Hidalgo, Texas, back in May, outpointing his Japanese opponent despite suffering a knockdown in the third round.

His WBA title was on the line then, and it will be again when he faces Kameda in a rare Sunday bout that will be screened live on both sides of the Atlantic.

The belt, however, is of no real interest to McDonnell. Boxing isn’t now, and hasn't ever been, a passion for the man from Doncaster. Instead, it's a way of making money.

“[McDonnell] is not in love with the sport. He’s in love with the fact that he can fight and it makes him money,” explained his trainer and manager, David Coldwell.

“Everyone is driven by something. His passion is earning money for his family—he’s driven to do that.”

The proverb “once bitten, twice shy” means nothing to McDonnell. Going back to face a fighter who he only narrowly defeated on the scorecards, and who dropped him to the canvas in the early stages, may seem a risky career move.

But McDonnell doesn't mind taking risks. This is strictly business.

While there was a rematch clause in the contract for the first fight with Kameda, the 29-year-old is happy to go back over old ground because it makes financial sense to do so.

Coldwell admits the money on offer is “unbelievable,” adding, “Al Haymon is like the fairy godfather at the moment. We had a choice of boxing for peanuts over here or boxing in America for money that will look after [McDonnell's] family.”

Peanuts simply don’t interest McDonnell, whose twin brother, Gavin, is currently the European champion at super bantamweight.

He could yet join his sibling at the 135-pound limit. The move into a division that currently includes two British world champions—Englishman Scott Quigg and Carl Frampton from Northern Ireland—would open the door to more big paydays.

“What we’ve got to do is to see how he makes the weight for this next fight. If he makes it comfortably enough, then we will do another fight at bantam,” said Coldwell.

“If he can do the weight, the next fight we could do—and the carrot has been dangled in front of us—is massive.

“If you’re talking big money for bantamweights, you’re talking America. If you’re talking nice little defences against people you haven’t heard of, then it’s back home.

“If that fight [that has been dangled] doesn’t come off, however, we will step straight up to super bantamweight.

“The best scenario is—he beats Kameda, has this one more fight at bantamweight, wins that and then moves up and fights Scott Quigg.”

Kameda can throw a spanner in the works when he gets the chance to take on McDonnell again.

The 24-year-old from Osaka will be eager to avenge his first career loss last time out in a fight that saw all three judges score it 114-113 in McDonnell's favour.

However, Coldwell is urging the Englishman to make sure it isn't so close the second time around: “I believe that we need to win the rounds more clearly than we did last time.

“If we can do that, I think Jamie’s strength—plus he’s hitting a little bit harder now—could mean we end up stopping him late.”

A win, any kind of win, would keep McDonnell on course for those major fights—for sizeable cheques—that he wants.

He has quietly gone about his business for much of a career that looked in danger of going nowhere when he lost successive bouts to domestic rivals Chris Edwards and Lee Haskins.

But since that second reverse in 2008, McDonnell has been on an astonishing run. His 18-fight win streak has included becoming British and European champion. The IBF title he lifted in 2013 was never lost in the ring, instead being taken from him by the governing body over issues surrounding a mandatory defence.

He claimed the WBA belt by beating the experienced Tabtimdaeng Na Rachawat last year, and he has successfully defended it twice now.

While in no way a big puncher, he is a pleasure to watch because of his nonstop motor. He is the boxing equivalent to the process of weathering—he breaks down opponents with repetitive, consistent attacks, stripping away their layers to eventually leave them exposed and at the point of crumbling.

When you take into account what he has achieved so far, McDonnell deserves to be considered one of Britain’s best right now.

Yet BoxRec—a website considered the encyclopedia of the sport—ranks McDonnell at 23 among active Brits. You have to click to the second page of the list just to find his name.

When asked if his fighter is still underappreciated in his homeland, Coldwell instantly replies, “Absolutely. If you look at what he’s won—he’s won everything.

“After beating Kameda, he should have had more exposure. But he didn’t get it.

“Now, though, [the rematch] is the one. Since the fight has been announced, everyone is talking about it.

“If he goes out there and performs when he’s in the window like he is now, then it will properly snowball.”

Expect McDonnell to do everything he can to keep the momentum going. His desire has nothing to do with belts or building a legacy. All he wants to do is build a better life for his young family.

Boxing is just a job to Jamie McDonnell—and he’s damned good at it, too.

Rob Lancaster is a featured columnist for Bleacher Report. All quotes used in the article were obtained firsthand.

Premier Boxing Champions makes its Bounce TV debut this Sunday from Full Sail Live in Winter Park, Florida. WBA super world bantamweight champion Juan Carlos Payano (16-0, 8 KO) will put his title and undefeated record on the line against former American Olympian and fellow undefeated challenger Rau'shee Warren (13-0, 4 KO).

There are also two intriguing super welterweight bouts on the card. Yudel Johnson (17-1, 9 KO) faces Jorge Cota (24-1, 22 KO) and John Jackson (19-2, 15 KO) battles Dennis Laurente (49-5-5, 30 KO). Bounce has hired an esteemed trio to handle the broadcast.

Per Mike Sloan of Sherdog.com, veteran announcer Fred Hickman will serve as the host, while former HBO Boxing After Dark blow-by-blow announcer Fran Charles will man the same duties with Bounce, and former super welterweight champion Austin Trout will be the expert analyst.

When: Sunday, August 2, at 9 p.m. ET

Where: Full Sail Live in Winter Park, Florida

TV: Bounce

Live Stream: BounceTV.com

Jackson vs. Laurente Preview

John Jackson is the son of former middleweight champion Julian Jackson. He has inherited his father's massive punching power, but back in June 2014, Jackson fell victim to the dramatic KO that his father was also tripped up by various times in his career.

Jackson was dominating current WBO middleweight champion Andy Lee (prior to Lee winning the title), but he was caught by a titanic right hand that knocked him out immediately. Here's a look at the sequence:

Since then, Jackson has rebounded with a unanimous-decision win over Carlos Adan Jerez in November 2014, but a win over a veteran like Laurente would be a big step toward climbing the ladder.

Laurente is a 38-year-old Filipino journeyman with legit power and a ton of experience. This is a good fight for Jackson as he continues to pick up the pieces after the dramatic loss.

Johnson vs. Cota Preview

A pair of contrasting styles could make the Johnson vs. Cota fight an interesting war. Johnson is a 34-year-old former Olympic silver medalist from Cuba. He has slick boxing skills and a solid jab. He'll be facing a pure slugger in Cota. The 27-year-old from Mexico has a KO percentage of 88, and he'll be looking to put Johnson's lights out.

Johnson's only professional loss came at the hands of highly regarded American Willie Nelson back in 2012. Since then, Johnson has won five fights in a row. That includes a split-decision win over Pablo Munguia in February.

Despite his sparkling KO record, Cota is largely untested. He's never fought outside of Mexico, and Johnson will be one of the few recognizable names he's faced in his career. A win or a strong showing could help vault Cota into more stateside opportunities.

Warren vs. Payano Preview

Any time two undefeated fighters fight for a legitimate world title, it's a big bout. Don't be fooled by their diminutive statures or lack of notoriety—this is a battle between two skilled southpaws.

Warren's amateur background is stellar, as is Payano's. The latter was also an Olympian in 2004 and he won two silver medals in the Pan-Am Games.

Warren earned this shot at the title with a convincing first-round TKO win over Javier Gallo in March. The fight was a rematch after the initial meeting ended in a no-contest due to an accidental head-butt. 

Warren doesn't have a wealth of punching power, but his speed, footwork and understanding of angles is excellent.

Payano won the title in his last bout via technical decision over the tough and talented Anselmo Moreno. Payano suffered a cut from an accidental head-butt in the second round. The referee ruled he was unable to continue after the sixth. He was up on all three of the judges' scorecards and was thus awarded the win and title.

By nature, Payano is a brawler with technique. 

He likes to throw a ton of punches. He possesses good but not fight-changing power. If the fight is a brawl, he'll have the advantage. If it's contested at a more deliberate pace, Warren has the chance to pick him apart and win an easy decision.

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Lee Haskins has home advantage as he attempts to claim the interim IBF world bantamweight title at the expense of Ryosuke Iwasa in Bristol, England on Saturday.

The local favourite (31-3, 13 KO) is a former Prizefighter champion at super flyweight but is now fighting at 118 pounds. He became the British champion at the weight in 2013 before winning the European (EBU) belt last time out.

Iwasa has been a national champion as well in his native Japan; however, he has never fought outside of his country so far in a career that has seen him compile a 19-1 (12 KO) record.

The bout is only for the interim title, as reigning IBF champion Randy Caballero is currently out of action. He suffered an ankle injury back in February, per Dan Rafael of ESPN.

When: Saturday, June 13, 10 p.m. BST

Where: Whitchurch Sports Centre, Bristol, England

TV: Channel 5 (UK)

Opportunity knocks

Haskins has, to a large degree, flown under the radar in British boxing.

He won his first 15 fights as a pro before coming unstuck against South African Tshifhiwa Munyai in his bid to become the Commonwealth champion.

There was a further setback when he missed out on the British belt, as an arm injury saw him lose to the experienced Ian Napa in 2007.

Since then, however, Haskins has lost only once. His record includes wins over Jamie McDonnell and Stuart Hall, two British fighters who have won world titles.

Haskins now wants to reach the top of the sport. He has shrugged off the Playboy nickname he gained in his younger days, explaining to Sporting Life that he is now fully focused on his career:

Even when I fought Jamie (in 2008) I wasn't training.

I'd do two or three weeks of light training and then struggle making the weight. I was never anywhere near peak fighting condition.

Now it's different. I've got a family and I'm older and wiser. I'm constantly in the gym and train three times a day most days. I learnt my lesson a good few times - it usually ended with me getting beaten up.

The 32-year-old knows that the bout with Iwasa could be his one and only shot at the big time, as he told BBC Points West: "This could be the last chance I get to fight for a world title, so I have to take it."

With his mind on the job and with the added advantage of fighting in his own backyard, this is Haskins' time to shine.

A warm welcome

Per Jake Donovan of BoxingScene.com, the two camps avoided a purse bid hearing after they came to an agreement over the location for the interim title clash.

The outcome is that Iwasa has to travel outside of Japan for the first time in his pro career.

However, the 25-year-old does not seem overly bothered by having to go on the road, per Andy Stockhausen of the Bristol Post:

Coming to this country to fight is a risk, but everybody has made me feel so welcome in Bristol that I'm not worried.

When you step into the ring, it could be anywhere in the world and it does not matter. I trust the Bristol people to be respectful and for the judges and referee to be fair.

I am more excited than worried and I am looking forward to showing the Bristol people a beautiful style of boxing.

Iwasa is ranked third by the IBF and has every right to be confident—he lost just once, to Shinsuke Yamanaka for the Japanese title, back in 2011.

He went on to be crowned national champion later that same year, beating Jerope Mercado on points.

Prediction

Iwasa is an unknown commodity to those who do not have a strong knowledge of the domestic scene in Japan.

He will have the benefit of both a height advantage (he stands at 5'7" compared to the 5'5" Haskins) and reach advantage (70 ½" versus 66") over his rival on Saturday night.

However, Haskins has the benefit of having previously faced some excellent fighters at the weight limit.

The Bristolian seems to realise the importance of the bout at this stage of his career, so expect him to grab it with both hands.

Haskins should prevail, but he will have to go the full 12 rounds to come out on top.

On a busy weekend for British boxing, Jamie McDonnell's victory over Tomoki Kameda has perhaps not quite received the attention it deserves.

The Doncaster bantamweight (26-2-1, 12 KO) successfully defended his WBA title in Hidalgo, Texas, in the process handing his Japanese opponent, Kameda, his first defeat in the paid ranks.

It was the Englishman's 18th straight victory, an impressive unbeaten run that now stretches over more than seven years.

Yet his fine performance on American soil was not even seen live back home, with Sky Sports focusing instead on heavyweight Anthony Joshua's knockout of Brazilian Raphael Zumbano Love in Birmingham. 

The bout with Kameda, who had been WBO champion before vacating the belt prior to fighting at the State Farm Arena, rather summed up McDonnell's career to date.

There was an early setback when he was dropped to the canvas in the third round, caught by a cracking right hand from his opponent. Premier Boxing tweeted a short clip of the punch, capturing it perfectly:

Yet, there had been issues for McDonnell to overcome long before the first bell sounded, starting with his trainer, Dave Hulley, not making the trip due to a fear of flying, per Liam Hoden in the Sheffield Star.

The team then suffered a delayed arrival in Hidalgo after an issue with their tour bus, as revealed on Twitter by Dave Coldwell, who took over in the corner for the absent Hulley:

Yet, McDonnell is no stranger to having to deal with a little adversity.

He won just eight of his first 11 professional contests, including suffering losses to Chris Edwards, when challenging for the British title, and Lee Haskins.

He recovered to become IBF champion but then lost the belt out of the ring, the governing body stripping him of the honour for failing to agree terms for a fight with mandatory challenger Vusi Malinga.

But, on each occasion the 29-year-old has been dealt a blow, he has found a way to battle back.

He did just that against Kameda, overcoming the very first knockdown of his career by using his reach advantage (72″ versus 66″) to gain a degree of control behind his jab.

In the end the judges felt the champion did just enough, all three sitting at ringside scoring the bout 114-113 in his favour.

McDonnell was, understandably, delighted with the outcome. He said in the aftermath, per Sky Sports: 

I felt in control all the way through. It was a great performance. I know I should have just boxed but I wanted to fight.

I didn't think I was going to get the decision being abroad, but it's more than spectacular to come out of here victorious. He's a great, undefeated champion.

His speed surprised me on the knockdown. I knew he was going to be fast, but I didn't expect it like that. I didn't see the shot and next thing I knew I was on the floor.

He also revealed the potential plan is to move up in weight, adding: "I want to catch the big fights before they're gone."

It is, in truth, quite a feat for him to have remained at bantamweight for so long.

While an extra four pounds might not sound like much to most of us, every little amount helps for a fighter who stands tall at 5′10″.

His height will make him an awkward customer for anyone at super bantamweight, a packed division that includes McDonnell's compatriots Kid Galahad and Scott Quigg, as well as Northern Irishman Carl Frampton.

Promoter Eddie Hearn suggested the only way is up for McDonnell—whose twin brother, Gavin, currently holds the European strap at super bantamweight—via Twitter on Sunday:

Whatever he does next, McDonnell deserves a huge amount of credit for what he has achieved already.

His list of honours (he was previously British, Commonwealth and European champion too) is impressive, particularly as he is not a fan of the sport. He told Sky Sports: "I do it because I'm good at it and it pays well, but I've not seen your Muhammad Ali fights and Mike Tyson fights because I'm not a boxing person."

McDonnell may not describe himself as a boxing person, but he is a shining example to others hoping for success in the ring.

He has a wonderful mix of talent and tenacity, not to mention stamina and inner strength, making him a national treasure that British fight fans should be seriously proud of.

It may not be the unification clash that had originally been planned, but Jamie McDonnell against Tomoki Kameda is still an intriguing fight in the bantamweight division.

The clash in Texas will see McDonnell's WBA title on the line at the State Farm Arena in Hidalgo, Texas.

Kameda (31-0, 19KO) was the WBO champion. However, the governing body refused to sanction his next bout. The Japanese fighter's reaction was to vacate the strap.

He is, though, looking to protect an unbeaten record against McDonnell (25-2-1, 12KO), who has not lost, himself, since 2008.

However, someone's successful streak will have to come to an end on Saturday night.

When: Saturday, May 9; show starts at 4 p.m. (local)/1 p.m. (PT)/9 p.m. (BST)

Where: State Farm Arena, Hidalgo, Texas

TV: CBS (US), Sky Sports (UK)

Live Stream: Sky Sports (regional restrictions apply)

Champion spirit

McDonnell may be making his American debut, but he seems extremely confident of getting a positive result on his travels, per Martin Domin of the Daily Mail:

'I think Kameda is a bit scared and a bit intimidated by my size,' he said. 'I genuinely believe I am going to knock him out. I'm too big and too strong.

'I've been a world champion for a couple of years now. I'm ultra-confident for this fight. It's the best I've ever felt. I'm really looking forward to it.

'Kameda is a good fighter and I expect the very best from him. He better expect the very best from me. This is life changing, whoever wins this fight gets propelled up a few levels.'

The Doncaster fighter has every reason to be optimistic: He has reeled off 17 wins in a row and has won the British, Commonwealth and European titles in that stretch of results.

The 29-year-old was also the IBF champion, only to be stripped of the belt.

McDonnell claimed the WBA version by beating Tabtimdaeng Na Rachawat at Wembley last year, then successfully defended it against Javier Nicolas Chacon in November.

However, Kameda will be his toughest challenge to date. His cause is not helped by the absence of trainer Dave Hulley due to a fear of flying, per Liam Hoden in the Sheffield Star.

Manager Dave Coldwell has stepped in to fill the void, but McDonnell is experienced enough to cope with the change in his corner. 

Chance to shine 

Kameda—the youngest of three boxing brothers—began his professional career fighting in Mexico, resulting in him gaining the nickname El Mexicanito.

His time in South America has moulded his fighting style. As Scott Christ stated in his preview for Bad Left Hook, the 23-year-old "focuses on a healthy body attack."

He out-pointed Paulus Ambunda to become the WBO champion in 2013 and went on to defend the gold on three occasions.

The last two outings came on American soil and although he dismantled Pungluang Sor Singyu first up, he struggled to a split-decision verdict against Alejandro Hernandez in Chicago last November.

Now, however, Kameda is determined to impress in front of a wider audience.

He said at the pre-fight press conference (h/t BoxingNews24.com): "It is a dream come true to fight on a network like CBS. Millions are now going to get to know me, get to know my style. Boxing is changing and to be part of that is a great honor to me."

Facing the fearless McDonnell offers him the perfect opportunity to sparkle in the United States.

Prediction

Picking a winner is not easy, considering these two are placed right next to each other in the bantamweight rankings, per Ring Magazine.

Kameda has yet to taste defeat, but that tight victory over Hernandez, a Mexican who had to retire after four rounds against Leo Santa Cruz in 2012, raises a few concerns.

Likewise, McDonnell had to work hard against the brave Chacon last time out. The Englishman might not be the biggest hitter at the weight, but he will certainly not lack for effort.

His high work rate may cause problems for Kameda, but expect the challenger to eventually work out a way to deal with the pressure. A points win will see the Japanese move to 32-0 and become the new WBA champion.