Bugiarso clinches PABA title

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)