Chrisjon set for tricky match against Pacquiao

Musthofid The Jakarta Post

World featherweight champion Chrisjon, 25, may face a tricky title bout against No.1 contender Filipino Manny Pacquiao in the midst of seeking another promoter after the departure of Daniel Bahari.

Chrisjon won his World Boxing Association (WBA) title last year in Bali and defended it successfully this June against Osamu Sato in Tokyo.

He looks formidable with his perfect record of 34 wins, 19 of which have come by way of knockouts. However, the Indonesian faces a potentially tough match against Pacquiao, who has Mexican ring legend Marco Antonio Barrera on his list of victims.

Pacquiao has not lost since 1999, and has reeled off a 13- fight winning streak with 12 knockouts and an average of 4.8 rounds.

Nicknamed The Destroyer, the 26-year-old Filipino has a 38-2-2 record, with 30 wins coming inside the rounds. His latest triumph came in May at the expense of Juan Manuel Marquez of Mexico in Las Vegas.

With the mandatory fight against his top contender set for October -- likely to take place in the Philippines -- Chrisjon has been given an option to choose his opponent from the rankings.

No. 7 Spend Abazi of Denmark and No. 14 Jose Cheo Rojas of Venezuela were on the cards, but have now been discarded following a match fee disagreement that resulted in the departure of promoter Daniel Bahari.

Chrisjon's trainer Sutan Rambing demanded a match fee of US$200,000 for the next fight, but was turned down by Daniel, who offered on $125,000, even when Sutan came down to $150,000.

Sutan rejected the offer and is now looking for another promoter.

WBA international coordinator for Indonesia and Indonesian Promoters Association chairman Tourina Tidar lamented the parting.

"It's deplorable, because it is Chrisjon who will be affected," Tourina told The Jakarta Post on Wednesday.

Although there is little chance that the two would reestablish the partnership, Tourino said he would try to negotiate a possible reconciliation.

"I will send a letter to each of them. I will tell Sutan that it is a good amount. As for Daniel, I will remind him about the mandatory fight," he said, adding that copies of the letters would be forwarded to WBA headquarters.

As the WBA's registered promoter for Chrisjon, Daniel is entitled to option fees if Sutan has another promoter.

"It could be that the takeover is free of charge, (but) that depends on their agreement. Our concern is to protect our promoter, who has paid his sanction and match fees to the WBA," Tourina said.

In the case that no Indonesian promoter was interested in Chrisjon, Tourina said the option would be placed on auction.

"In an auction, a foreign promoter could join and win the bid, which would be a slap in our face," he said. "Are we not financially attractive enough?"

WBA featherweight ranking 1. Manny Pacquiao (Phi) 2. In Jin-chi (Kor) 3. Takashi Koshimoto (Jpn) 4. Derrick Gainer (USA) 5. Michael Brodie (Gbr) 6. Marco A. Barrera (Mex) 7. Spend Abazi (Den) 8. Victor Polo (Col) 9. Oscar Leon (Col) 10. William Abelyan (Arm) 11. Zahir Raheem (USA) 12. Orlando Salido (Mex) 13. Ricardo Rocky Juarez (USA) 14. Jose Cheo Rojas (Ven) 15. Whyber Garcia (Pan)