Boy Aruan set to keep OPBF title
Boy Aruan set to keep OPBF title
JAKARTA (JP): South Korean old war horse Chang Kyun-oh may just need three rounds to take the Orient and Pacific Boxing Federation (OPBF) junior bantamweight championship belt, but Indonesia's Boy Aruan insists on keeping the crown at home.
Both pugilists are fighting for the title left vacant by Indonesian Lamhot Simamora in a bout scheduled for 12 rounds at the Senayan basketball court tomorrow.
"Chang can say anything he wants, but I have a feeling that the time to become a champion has come," said Boy, a 23-year-old native of Medan, North Sumatra during a press conference yesterday. "He's old. He only has straight punches, no more," an upbeat Boy added.
Boy, born Lontar Aruan, has defended his national championship title five times. Carrying a win-loss-draw 23-3-1 record, left- handed Boy steps into the ring as OPBF contender number two.
The 33-year-old former South Korean number one has a 31-5-3 record with 15 knockout wins, but has 10 years on his opponent. "I have to finish him before three rounds, otherwise I will face big trouble," Chang told journalists through his interpreter.
"I knocked out an Indonesian here nine years ago. So there's nothing to worry about," Chang, a father of a three-year-old boy, said. Chang stopped Indonesia's Amri Sanusi in the seventh round of their international bout in 1986.
Apart from his two-month stint at home, Chang came here for a week of acclimatization prior to the fight. Japanese referee Kazumasa Kuwata and two judges Mohang Moon of South Korea and Djaffar of Indonesia will handle the match.
Promoter Tourino Tidar earmarked Rp 6 million (US$2,750) for Chang. Boy will earn Rp 5 million ($2,290) in his international debut.
Whoever takes the OPBF junior bantamweight crown will succeed a frustrated Lamhot. Boy's fellow Medan native has been waiting for an International Boxing Federation (IBF) title fight for a year in uncertainty.
"The promoter of the world match is still negotiating this case. He has yet to give me a report," Eric Sundah, financial manager of both OPBF and IBF matches, said yesterday.
Promoter Boy Bolang revealed last November that Lamhot would meet American Harold Grey, the newly crowned champion. Boy said Grey's promoter, Cedric Kushner, gave the green light to the title bout.
The promoter had bid to contest an IBF championship bout pitting Lamhot against then holder Julio Barboa of Mexico in February last year. The plan was delayed several times, following an injury and the poor preparation of the 28-year-old contender.
Grey snatched the IBF crown from Barboa in September last year. IBF has allowed Grey to defend his title twice during six months after wresting the championship belt.(amd)