Sutan tells Chris John he will see him in court<\/p>\n
Musthofid
\nThe Jakarta Post\/Jakarta<\/p>\n
Surrounded by a posse of attorneys, sports officials and
\nmembers of the media, boxing champion Chris John came face to
\nface with former trainer Sutan Rambing on Friday in a last-ditch
\neffort to end their acrimonious dispute.<\/p>\n
Their next encounter, however, is likely to be in court.<\/p>\n
After a tense meeting lasting almost two hours at the Office
\nof the State Minister of Youth and Sports Affairs, the World
\nBoxing Association (WBA) featherweight champion and Sutan seemed
\nno closer to resolving the dispute.<\/p>\n
The latter stems from Sutan's contention that Chris John's
\nresignation from his Semarang-based Bank Buana training camp in
\nDecember 2004 breached their contract, valid through 2007.<\/p>\n
A pensive Chris John allowed high-profile lawyer Ruhut
\nSitompul to do most of the talking for him.<\/p>\n
"If you want to file suit with the police ... if you want to
\nsue Chris John, go ahead. We are prepared. In fact, we are
\nawaiting it. I'm happy to let the court decide," Ruhut said.<\/p>\n
In an agreement reached before Chris John's successful title
\ndefense against American Derrick Gainer on April 22, Sutan was to
\nreceive Rp 400 million in compensation.<\/p>\n
The agreement was made between Sutan and fight promoter Daniel
\nBahari, mediated by representatives from the office of the sports
\nminister and the controlling and supervisory body for
\nprofessional sports (BPPOPI).<\/p>\n
Sutan received Rp 150 million before the bout, but the
\nremainder has not been paid. A check handed over to the BPPOPI by
\nDaniel on Wednesday was worthless because it had not been
\nendorsed by the boxer.<\/p>\n
Ruhut spent most of Friday's meeting arguing that Sutan's
\ndemand was excessive. He said Chris John, now trained by
\nAustralian Craig Christian, received a net amount of Rp 450
\nmillion, after deductions for taxes and fees, from the Gainer
\nbout.<\/p>\n
Sutan refused to back down from his demand, balking at Chris
\nJohn's offer of another Rp 50 million.<\/p>\n
"It's simple. I'm trying to hold firm on what we agreed upon
\nbefore. This is not like bartering for vegetables. My stance is
\nthat the agreement is carried out to the letter or we take the
\ncase to court," Sutan said.<\/p>\n
"He (Chris John) is now rich. He isn't the same as 10 years
\nago."<\/p>\n
Sutan's lawyer said Sutan would sue for Rp 5 billion in
\ndamages, and their legal team was also looking into Christian's
\nlegal status in Indonesia.<\/p>\n
"We will file suit with the police, probably tomorrow. As for
\nCraig, we will have to look into documents. He should come to
\nIndonesia equipped with a work visa," said Zuchli Imran Putra.<\/p>\n
Chris John, 25, acknowledged that a legal battle may tarnish
\nhis boxing career.<\/p>\n
"What else can I say? I'm prepared for it," he said.<\/p>\n
The uneasy atmosphere of recriminations and hurt feelings was
\ntoo much for former Asian light middleweight Syamsul Anwar
\nHarahap, now a respected TV commentator and newspaper columnist.<\/p>\n
"I'm very sad. The national boxing (community) is in mourning.
\nPlease, give it another thought," he said, bursting into tears.<\/p>\n
As the two opposing camps filed out of the room, nobody seemed
\nto be listening to his plea.<\/p>",
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