Rachman retains IBF title<\/p>\n
The Jakarta Post, Jakarta<\/p>\n
Muhammad Rachman of Indonesia may have retained his world
\nmini-flyweight belt but he would have preferred a knock-out win
\nrather than a technical draw.<\/p>\n
Rachman said after the fight that he wished he had knocked out
\nThai Fahlan Sakkreerin in their International Boxing Federation
\n(IBF) bout in Merauke, Papua, on Tuesday night.<\/p>\n
\"It disappoints me that I couldn't floor him. I should have
\nbeen able to KO him,\" he said as quoted by Antara.<\/p>\n
Rachman said if not because of a head-butt, which injured him
\nabout his right eyebrow, he could have easily defeated
\nSakkreerin.<\/p>\n
Referee John Wright stopped the fight in the first minute of
\nround three after consultation with the ring doctor.<\/p>\n
The referee declared the fight a technical draw, which meant
\nthat Rachman kept the belt.<\/p>\n
Rachman, who took the title from Daniel Reyes of Colombia last
\nSeptember, will fight against another challenger, Omar Soto of
\nMexico, in June.<\/p>\n
Antara reported that Rachman and Fahlan climbed into the
\noutdoor ring at Hasanabsai Stadium late on Tuesday night after
\nthe match had been delayed for two hours because of rain.<\/p>\n
The boxers spent little time on get-to-know-you niceties, and
\nbegan pounding each other with hard punches.<\/p>\n
Spurred on by home support, Rachman landed a powerful hook in
\nthe second round to leave Fahlan reeling.<\/p>\n
The delay of the fight disrupted the planned live television
\nbroadcast by RCTI.<\/p>\n
Rachman is one of Indonesia's two boxing world champions; the
\nother being World Boxing Association featherweight champion Chris
\nJohn.<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/rachman-retains-ibf-title-1447893297",
"image": ""
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
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