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)