Indonesia'a Lamhot to fight Mexican boxer
Indonesia'a Lamhot to fight Mexican boxer
JAKARTA (JP): Indonesia's prominent junior bantamweight fighter Lamhot Simamora is gearing up his campaign to take the International Boxing Federation (IBF) crown with a fight against Afrain Pintor of Mexico at the Senayan Basketball Hall on March 28.
Both Lamhot and Pintor are seeking better rankings during the non-title match scheduled for 12 rounds. It will be Lamhot's first appearance in the ring after more than a year.
The bout will serve as the final step for 22-year-old Lamhot toward challenging the IBF junior bantamweight champion.
Chairman of the Torpana Medan boxing center, Edward Pangaribuan, said in Medan, North Sumatra, that the championship is crucial for Lamhot, who gave away his Orient and Pacific Boxing Federation (OPBF) belt for the world championship bout early in 1993.
"The fight will be Lamhot's greatest opportunity to show that he deserves the world championship match," Edward said.
He said that the contract for the fight has been completed. The Indonesian and Pintor will receive Rp 16 million (US$7,273) and Rp 12 million ($5,455) respectively.
"I'm not expecting another cancellation as Lamhot has sacrificed his OPBF," Edward said.
Lamhot, a student at a computer school, retained his OPBF title seven times before he bid for an IBF title bout against then champion Julio Barboa of Mexico, supposed to be held in February 1993.
Promoter Boy Bolang decided on a postponement of the world championship, when learning that Lamhot was not ready for the bout. The plan suffered an even worse setback following Lamhot's injury during practice.
While Lamhot's preparations went on, American Harold Grey snatched the IBF crown from Barboa in September last year. IBF has allowed Grey to defend his title twice during six months after wresting the championship belt.
Boy is now negotiating a plan to have a world championship fight pitting Lamhot and Grey. Boy said Grey's promoter, Cedric Kushner, has given the green light to the title bout. (icn)