▪️The South African pro boxer outpointed a Venezuelan opponent in his latest fight, and now looks ahead to the 2026 season with confidence after making his presence felt in Japan
▪️”I’m also looking for my own sponsor to assist in my training camp and meals, pro boxing is business my promoter has no problem with this arrangement,” says Masamba
Africa light-welterweight champion John Paul Masamba has stamped his authority in Osaka, Japan.
With three wins under his belt so far since turning pro in Osaka, Masamba is the man to beat in his respective weight category.
It’s becoming increasingly difficult for the talented South African to get opponents in the B category in Japan.
In his third fight on December 3, 2025, Masamba (3-0-0, 1 KO) outpointed experienced Venezuelan David Luis Millan (32-10, 26 KOs) over eight rounds to maintain his unbeaten run.
“He was a good opponent, he absorbed some of my strong shots but I took him to school,” Masamba told boxersworld.co.ke in an interview from the comfort of his house in Osaka.
“I knocked him down three times he still kept coming.”
It was Masamba’s third consecutive victory since he turned pro in Osaka after winning light-welterweight gold at the 2024 Africa Elite Men’s and Women’s Boxing Championships in Kinshasa, DR Congo.
Masamba, now training at TMK Gym owned by former world champion Tomoki Kameda, is under Warrior Ascent and TMK Promotions. He outpointed tall Chinese Yesibolati Nasiyiwula in his first fight over six rounds.
In his second fight, Masamba stopped Japan’s Takuya Hashimoto (7-8-1, 7 KOs) in the first round.
Masamba let loose the bees on Hashimoto from the first bell, forcing the Japanese boxer to burry his head under both gloves like a tortoise.
On realising Hashimoto was not responding to Masamba’a onslaught, the referee wisely stopped the fight.
“If I wanted to knock him out immediately after the bell I would have done it because of his awkward fighting style,” says Masamba who graduated to 10 rounds following his victory over Hashimoto.
Masamba will soon be ranked by the Oriental and Pacific Boxing Federation (OPBF), a professional boxing organisation that sanctions fights in the Asian and Pacific Region. He will vie for a title later this year probably against the reigning OPBF light-welterweight champion.
“I will be back in the next three months for my fourth fight, for now I’m planning to embark on serious training after the December break,” said the 24-year-old Masamba.
“I have now settled well in Osaka, I like it here the security is good you can even leave your door open at night and you’ll find everything in the house intact,” says Masamba.
“The Japanese are very honest people unlike back home, I do meet my fellow South Africans here talk to them now and then but I prefer mingling with the Japanese and other Asians to learn and connect.”
In addition to Africa Elite Championships gold, Mandela Cup silver medal and turning pro in Japan, Masamba’s career highlights include being part of the WBC Warrior Ascent Program, which supports his professional journey towards WBC glory.
“At the moment my main goal is to be signed by Top Rank and be based in Japan having international training camp with Shakur Stevenson and he’s team,” says Masamba nicknamed Masaki Kameda in Osaka.
“At the moment I’m in search of own sponsors to help me with my training camp, meals and training gear, I’m very okay with my promoter he’s taking good care of me but I just want my own sponsor, my promoter has no problem in me having own sponsor, pro boxing is business.
“I don’t have any challenge here my life is smooth and peaceful but it’s the culture difference which I’m learning to cope up with, I’m also okay with the fights I’m getting.”
Masamba has ruled out the possibility of defending his African light-welterweight title given that these days pro boxers are allowed to feature in amateur competitions.
“Well, I can’t go back to the amateurs since South African boxing body,
SANABO, don’t allow pro boxers to compete in amateurs and my team in Osaka I’m not sure if they will allow this but if I were to compete I will win it with ease.”
He’s okay with the current system of pro boxers allowed to take part in amateur tournaments.
“I think it opens doors again for boxers who missed a chance to go to the Olympics,” says Masamba.
