Indonesian boxers get PABA title fights
JAKARTA (JP): Two veteran Indonesian boxers, Nico Toriri and Robby Rahangmetan, will try their luck overseas in Pan Asia Boxing Association (PABA) title bouts next month.
Promoter Tourino Tidar told The Jakarta Post Monday that Nico will fight defending PABA junior middleweight champion Kevin Kelly of Australia in Sydney on April 5, while Robby will face the Association's featherweight title holder Chormokphet Chorchamuang of Thailand in Bangkok on April 6.
Both Nico and Robby are the number one contenders in their respective divisions.
The mandatory fights, scheduled for 12 rounds, will earn Nico A$3,200 (Rp 19.2 million) and Robby US$1,200 (Rp 12 million).
Despite fighting on foreign soil, Nico and Robby are both guardedly optimistic of victory.
"I will knock Kelly out in the seventh round to avenge a controversial draw in a non-title bout with him here in 1991," said 31-year-old Nico, who was raised in Irian Jaya.
"I know Kelly's strategy but I have my own strategy to knock him out," Nico added.
In contrast to Nico's familiarity, Robby said that he knew nothing about his Thai opponent. The 31-year-old Indonesian will be making his first appearance in a PABA sanctioned bout, having fought mostly at national level to date. His last international fight was against Cris Saquet of the Philippines for the Orient and Pacific Boxing Federation (OPBF) flyweight title in Surabaya in 1991. In that fight Robby was knocked out in the fourth round.
"The KO defeat encourages me to knock out Chormokphet in the sixth round," Robby from Ambon said.
Tourino said he would arrange prestigious World Boxing Association (WBA) bouts for Nico and Robby if they win their upcoming matches.
Junior featherweight Bugiarso and lightweight Cheppy Holman are the only Indonesians who are currently on the WBA's list of contenders. Bugiarso is ranked sixth and Cheppy is fourth in their respective divisions.
Nico will depart for Sydney on April 2 and Robby will leave for Bangkok on April 3. (lnt)