OSAKA - Title holder Koki Kameda of Japan beat interim champion Hugo Ruiz of Mexico by a split decision in a unification bout for the World Boxing Association (WBA) bantamweight title on Tuesday.

Two judges scored it 116-113 and 115-113 in favor of the Japanese southpaw, while the other judge counted it 117-113 for the hard-hitting Mexican.

"I got married and had a baby before the bout and I have been under heavy pressure since then, so I'm really happy to win. It was a good result. I feel great," the 26-year-old said.

It was Kameda's fifth defense of the belt since winning the vacant title when he beat Alexander Munoz of Venezuela in December 2010, stretching his record to 29 wins, including 17 KOs, against one defeat.

Kameda is the oldest of a trio of boxing brothers who have bad-boy images in the media and among boxing fans.

Second brother Daiki was suspended from boxing for a year after his failed title bid against then World Boxing Commission flyweight champion Daisuke Naito in October 2007 for using dirty tactics.

Koki Kameda was reprimanded by the Japan Boxing Commission for urging his brother to fight dirty.

Their father, Shiro Kameda, has been barred by the WBC from serving as a cornerman in its matches for abusing officials and has been slapped with a life ban by Japan's boxing authority.

The 26-year-old Ruiz saw his record reduced to 31 wins, including 28 KOs against two defeats. - AFP