“To be honest, I used to hate boxing.” Koki Kameda Reveals the Truth About the “Kameda Family”

“The real me is actually shy.”

“I’ve hated boxing ever since I was a kid. Every morning when I woke up and went for a run, I’d think, ‘Why do only my brothers and I have to do this?’ But for the Kameda family, boxing is an obligation. Even if I’m criticized by the public for playing the ‘heel,’ I just let it go. After all, that’s my job.”

In an office in Minato Ward, Tokyo, the former three-division world boxing champion reminisced about his family. Koki Kameda, 39. Eleven years after his retirement, his current title is promoter and business executive.

In late May, Koki bowed his head before the press. The reason for his apology stemmed from the cancellation of the May “SAIKOU LUSH” event in Kyrgyzstan, for which he served as promoter.The financial situation of “LUSH,” the co-organizer, had deteriorated, leading them to dissolve their business partnership with Kameda. While there was speculation that his promoter’s license might be suspended indefinitely, the event in Aichi the following month went ahead thanks to financial support from “CyberAgent.” He described it as “the greatest crisis of my life.”

However, on this day, about two months later, his signature “Kameda style” had fully returned.

“Ever since I was young, I’ve had to play the role of ‘Koki Kameda’ that the media demanded. It’s hard to become famous just by being a ‘good boy.’ My dad always said, ‘You’ll get known faster if you play the heel and make people hate you.’ But the real me is shy and not good at speaking in front of people. There were times I couldn’t sleep because I was so worried about what to say or how to perform at press conferences.

My active career ended in the blink of an eye, so I can hardly remember anything from my days as a professional boxer. Now that I’m in this position, I’m finally beginning to understand the sense of crisis my father felt about the boxing world.”

His father, Shiro (61), drilled the basics of boxing into him from childhood, and all three brothers—his second son, Daiki (37), and his third son, Kazuki (35)—went on to become world champions.However, due to criticism over Daiki’s repeated fouls—such as in his fight against Daisuke Naito (51)—they have not received the recognition their achievements deserve.

In 2014, “Kameda Gym,” to which the three brothers belonged, was suspended. That same year, a JBC (Japan Boxing Commission) official filed a lawsuit seeking damages from four Kameda Gym associates, alleging assault and intimidation. Although Kameda Gym won the case, sponsors and television networks withdrew their support.It became virtually impossible for the three brothers to fight in Japan, and he himself was forced to retire at the age of 28.

“It was during my final fight in Chicago—where I was aiming to become a four-division champion—that I finally came to love boxing. Even cutting weight was fun. I lost the fight, but I was able to move on right away. I don’t want to see any more boxers like us who are treated as ‘victims.’ I guess that’s what drives me now.”

The September 11–18 issue of *FRIDAY*, on sale August 28, and the paid version *FRIDAY GOLD* feature Koki Kameda discussing the struggles he has faced as a promoter and his outlook for the future.

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From the September 11 & 18, 2026, combined issue of *FRIDAY*