Chris John likely to seek another postponement of bout

The Jakarta Post, Jakarta

Boxing promoter HM Arsyad says he will respect the decision of the World Boxing Association (WBA) on whether to grant world flyweight champion Chris John's request for a second postponement of his mandatory defense bout.

"If the WBA decides that the mandatory defense on February 4 must go ahead, then we'll have to do it, but if they decide to fulfill Chris John's request, then we'll respect that, too," the East Kalimantan-based Arsyad told Antara news service's Semarang office on Saturday.

But he added that forcing Chris John, who is nursing a right ankle injury, to fight against Mexican challenger Juan Manuel Marquez would be tantamount to surrendering the belt.

"Of course, the Indonesian public does not want to see the title lost by a national fighter. We'll have to wait for the results of Chris John's treatment in Semarang."

Chris John, reached at his home in the Central Java capital, said he still had one more opportunity to request the postponement of the bout. However, a third request would lead to him losing the crown.

"As for February 4, I probably won't be brave enough to fight if my injury isn't totally healed. That's why I will likely ask for a postponement of a month so I will be totally healed and ready to fight Marquez."

On Thursday, two days after returning from training at Harry's Gym in Perth, Australia, Chris John said he was focusing on light jogging and believed he would be ready for the February fight.

The original fight date was Dec. 9 in Tenggarong, Kutai Kartanegara, East Kalimantan. Chris John is expected to receive a purse of Rp 675 million (about US$67,000) for the bout.