[Full Text Published] “The Truth Is, I Actually Hated Boxing”: Koki Kameda Reveals His Turbulent “Family Memories”

Continuing to Play the “Heel”

“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 get criticized by the public for playing the villain, I just let it go. After all, that’s my job.”

In an office in Minato Ward, Tokyo, the former three-weight world boxing champion reflected on his family’s history. 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 “SAIKOULUSH” event in Kyrgyzstan, for which he served as promoter.The co-organizer, “LUSH,” faced worsening cash flow and terminated its business partnership with Kameda. Although there was talk of his promoter’s license being suspended indefinitely, the event in Aichi the following month went ahead thanks to financial support from “CyberAgent.”He described it as “the biggest 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 of me. It’s hard to become famous by being a ‘good boy.’ My dad always used to say, ‘It’s faster to become known to the public if you’re a heel and 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 time 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—the second son, Daiki (37), and the third son, Tomoki (35)—went on to become world champions.However, due to criticism over repeated fouls—such as in his fight against Daisuke Naito (51)—he has not received the recognition his achievements deserve.

What Drives Him After Retirement

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 affiliates, alleging assault, intimidation, and other offenses. Although Kameda Gym won the case, sponsors and television networks withdrew their support.It became virtually impossible for the three brothers to compete in Japan, and I, too, 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 who are ‘victims’ like we were. I guess that’s what drives me now.”

In his personal life, he fell victim to a massive investment scam amounting to 700 million yen, leaving him so destitute that he couldn’t even pay his youngest son’s tuition. He managed to make ends meet by earning appearance fees from TV and online programs. He says the reason he returned to the boxing world after the aforementioned court victory was his relationship with his father.

“I carried on the legacy of the gym my father founded, called ‘KWORLD3,’ and launched a new professional boxing gym. I also reinstated my father’s trainer’s license, so I feel like I’ve been able to honor him in my own way. That said, my work as a promoter so far has really been a rollercoaster.”

His first event resulted in a loss in the millions. Since then, he has continued to struggle with attracting audiences and managing cash flow. Following the aforementioned dispute with “LUSH,” he realizes he’ll need to take a more steady and methodical approach moving forward.

“I’m not very versatile, so I can only do one thing at a time, but once I get interested in something, I focus on it completely. For example, with ‘Dragon Quest,’ I won’t be satisfied until I reach level 99.I’m a bit of a geek. Most of my job as a promoter involves raising money, and my target audience consists of people who don’t know anything about boxing. I take the time to explain the appeal of boxing, saying, ‘Unlike RIZIN or Breaking Down, boxing has commissions in various countries and is also an Olympic sport.’ I’ve actually found this educational and quite enjoyable.”

“Kameda Promotion,” with Koki as its president, is now in its 21st year. The company has organized 31 events. Here’s the vision he has for the future:

“I want to move beyond a professional boxing scene centered solely on Tokyo; I want to hold more world title fights in Osaka, Western Japan, and the Chubu region to build excitement. I see this as my mission, which is why I ran for president of the West Japan Boxing Association. There are people who dislike me, and to be honest, there are times when I feel like I’m being held back.But the boxing world needs a breath of fresh air, and if there’s no one willing to take on new challenges, it will fall into decline.”

Nowadays, the Kameda family gathers maybe once a year, if that. Even so, Koki’s conviction—that he’s doing this for his father—is unlikely to waver.

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