Bugiarso clinches PABA title

JAKARTA (JP): Indonesia's Bugiarso staged a late comeback to seize the Pan Asia Boxing Association (PABA) junior featherweight crown from holder Alexander Pak of Russia with a ninth-round technical knock-out win here on Thursday night.

Pak dominated the first nine of the 12 rounds scheduled for the bout, but failed to respond to the brilliant fight back from the stubborn Indonesian, who was the number one contender on the PABA list.

Bugiarso, whose flurry of shots claimed Akbar Maulana's life in a national championship bout last year, changed tactics by forcing Pak to trade punches from close range midway through the ninth round.

The Russian replied with ceaseless one-two combinations, pinning Bugiarso in a neutral corner. Both pugilists were launching punches when a lucky blow from Bugiarso sent Pak reeling to the ropes.

Scenting victory, Bugiarso came charging in with a few follow- up shots. A tired looking Pak made a surprising U-turn, trying to escape from his furious opponent.

Bugiarso landed a minor right-hand to Pak's face, but it was enough for the Thai referee Pinit Prayadsab to declare the contest over.

"Alexander could not see anything because of exceptional fatigue. It was too dangerous for him to go on fighting," Prayadsab told reporters after the bout.

Bugiarso is the third Indonesian to clinch a PABA title after Ilham Lahia and Juffrison Pontoh who won the featherweight and welterweight titles respectively last year.

Another Russian Oleg Marchenko avenged his compatriot's upset defeat later on in the night by knocking out Ceppy Holman in a lightweight bout. (amd)