Champ Boy to take on mighty Kawashima

Champ Boy to take on mighty Kawashima

JAKARTA (JP): Indonesia's Boy Aruan is going out of his way to
seize the world title when he challenges World Boxing Council
super flyweight champion Hiroshi Kawashima in Tokyo on Nov. 8.

It will be Boy's first appearance since he wrested the Orient
and Pacific Boxing Federation (OPBF) crown from South Korean
Chang Hyun-oh here in January.

"Boy should have made a maiden title defense six months after
his victory. But promoter Tourino Tidar let his option for Boy's
fight expire last June," Boy's manager Setyadi Laksono said on
Wednesday.

Setyadi said he gave the option to Japanese promoter Munekatsu
Kawaragi who offered the Indonesian a career-high payment of
US$20,000 for the title bout scheduled for 12 rounds. Defending
champion Kawashima will earn $50,000.

Boy was promoted to the WBC by Willy Lasut at the last moment
after Tourino failed to meet the set deadline. "I personally want
Boy to make at least three title defense attempts before going up
to the world level," manager Setyadi said.

Setyadi added that he had sent a letter to Tourino, asking for
clarification on the lack of action, but to no avail. "We need
money to cover the swelling training expenses," Setyadi said.

WBC rated Boy as the contender number 10 in its latest
rankings issued last month.

Boy, who won a unanimous decision over Chang to take the OPBF
title, now carries a win-loss record of 24-3. Left-hander
Kawashima, unbeaten in his 15 bouts, clinched the WBC crown from
Jose Luis Bueno of Mexico in May last year and outpointed the
same opponent in his second title defense attempt in January.

Setyadi said his boxer will undergo 100 rounds of sparring
bouts in addition to a rigorous training session which starts on
Sept. 4 at Plengkung beach, Banyuwangi, East Java. (amd)