Featherweight Lerato Dlamini Fights For His Country On August 24

“We were supposed to do the rematch straight away. If you know my history and my career, I like getting the best deals for my fights as possible. You might be aware that I inserted a clause into the agreement to the IBF, for being the eliminator for the number one position. But when the order came out, it wasn’t. I got word before we actually reached out, and we exercised our exit clause. Then it was Arnold Khegai [ordered to fight Dlamini in the eliminator], and it was kind of like twists and turns, and Top Rank thought they could lowball us and thought they would just go in and whack the purse bid, but obviously, we had something else up our sleeve.

“PBC won the purse bid, and then obviously Khegai pulled out, so the next available contender was not available. The next contender in line was Tomoki, and here we are now. So, there’s a lot more at stake. Obviously, [it’s] a really good deal for Lerato, which I’m really proud of. He deserves it.

“Now, it’s just the eliminator for the number one position, which means [Luis Alberto] Venado Lopez is now doing his voluntary against Angelo Leo. So the winner would obviously be next in line unless there’s unification or Venado moves up, then it would be us in line. We’re just very excited about the prospect of this contest, and I believe that we’ve done the job before. We’ll do [an] even better job this time around, and I believe that we’re going to win.

“I think the pressure is on Kameda. We’ve won before! He needs to perform, and I know he’s talking about retirement, so the pressure’s definitely on him. Stylistically, when he fought the guy that he actually beat up, there’s levels in boxing, and the guy that he fought, is definitely not on our level. If he is aggressive and if he is more come forward and throws more leather, he’s just going to be countered, and he’s just going to be out boxed even more, and he’s probably going to get hurt. So if he elects to become aggressive and elects to become a brawler, then unfortunately for him, it’s going to play into our hands.

“There are certain shots that we’ve been working on already technically in the gym that I believe that he’s going to throw again. The point is he might start faster this time around, but if he starts faster, he’s going to fade. So we get up for whatever he presents we got an answer for. But also, I think, whatever department he comes in with, we are going to match that department to be better at. And I think that was the difference in the first fight, and that’s going to come into play in the second fight. Unfortunately, we’re going to question him and he’s not going to have the answers and reply.”

Kameda has his opportunity to gain revenge over his South African counterpart, which will be a key motivator for him heading into the bout, but it’s Lerato who will look to use Kameda’s revenge to his benefit; Dlamini explained.

“I think this is going to be a tougher fight than the first fight. He does want revenge on me, and right now, the stakes are higher than the first fight, so I’m expecting a tougher fight. However, the results are going to be the same here. I watched his recent fight, and he changed his style compared to when he fought against me the first time. He was being a boxer, thinking a lot, and being defensive. And so now he’s a come-forward fighter; he likes to bully his opponents. So, I’m expecting a tougher fight. A very, very tough fight.”

Kamada has drafted South African sparring partners for this rematch, one who knows Dlamini well, and this has left a sour taste in Lerato’s mouth. The world title contender discussed the mind games his Japanese counterpart attempts to bring to the table.

“I know the guy. He’s been to our gym a couple of times and for him to do this stunt, it is kind of like I’m hurt about it. I feel like it’s wrong. We are South Africans. You’re supposed to be backing me and supporting South African boxers. So for him to pull such a stunt it was hard, but it won’t make a huge difference because none of those guys are at my level, and none of them fight like me. But I just think as a South African, you should support another South African and make sure that we win because when I win I don’t just win for myself, I win for the whole continent, the whole country as well. So yeah, I think it’s just spiteful of him to pull such s---.

“The big fight. It’s a fight that’s going to put me to number one. So, it’s like when you level up, you come across challenges, and you just need to be mentally prepared for them. It gives me that push as well to work harder because I know that there are some people in my country that want to see me fail, so I can’t make them happy. That does add a bit of motivation. I’m not going to lie.”

Lerato signed off with chilling tones to his Japanese foe. “Let me give a message to Kameda and tell him that they can bring the whole of Africa. They’re still going to lose on Fight Night. Doesn’t change a thing who they bring for sparring.”