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)