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)