Boxer's ex-manager seeks mediation

Boxer's ex-manager seeks mediation

Moch. N. Kurniawan, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta

Boxer Chrisjon's former manager Sutan Rambing appealed to the
Indonesian Boxing Commission (KTI) on Thursday to mediate his
dispute with the WBA featherweight champion.

Sutan said he could sue for breach of contract after the boxer
abruptly resigned from his Bank Buana training camp in Semarang
in December, but it would prevent Chrisjon from undertaking any
bouts until the matter was finished.

"So requesting the KTI resolve our dispute is the best
solution and I will accept whatever decision KTI takes, including
the possibility that the KTI does not resolve it at all," said
Sutan, who recently returned from the haj pilgrimage.

"I'm already proud to deliver Chrisjon to become world
champion."

Among others attending the press conference were World Boxing
Association (WBA) representative in Indonesia Tourino Tidar and
Sutan's lawyer Uhum Gunawan.

Although they were invited, KTI officials did not show up.

In a letter to Sutan dated Dec. 26, Chrisjon stated he was
leaving the camp and would be responsible for his own management.

Although the 25 year old did not specify a reason for leaving,
he had publicly complained about his purse for his title defense
against Jose Rojas of Venezuela, saying it was too low at Rp 400
million.

Sutan countered by showing a Dec. 13, 2004, bank transfer slip
in the amount of Rp 496,612,125, which was a 50:50 split based on
the agreement set by both sides.

Chrisjon, who married this month, subsequently entered Greg
Christian's camp in Perth as part of his preparations for a March
3 mandatory defense against Derrick Gainer of the U.S.

At the press conference, Sutan also provided a copy of the
contract with the boxer dated Feb. 6, 2004, and valid through
Feb. 6, 2007.

The contract states that all bout purses and revenue from
other sources, such as advertisements, will be divided equally
between the two.

"By providing this letter of agreement, I hope I can clarify
that Chrisjon is still my boxer legally and my problem with
Chrisjon is not about money," he said.

"I don't depend on Chrisjon to finance my camp as I have run
it for years through private sponsors. All I want is for the
agreement that I have with Chrisjon to be upheld."