KTI chief slams 'third party' in Chris John-Sutan dispute
KTI chief slams 'third party' in Chris John-Sutan dispute
The Jakarta Post, Jakarta
Chairman of the Indonesian Boxing Commission (KTI) Anton
Sihombing has blamed third party meddling for the failure to
resolve the contractual dispute between featherweight champion
Chris John and his former trainer.
"The problem between Chris John and Sutan Rambing could have
been settled in an amicable manner, if there hadn't been a third
party who became involved who had their own interests in mind
instead of the majority's," Anton was quoted as saying on
Wednesday by Antara.
He said the commission reached an agreement with Chris John
and Sutan shortly before the former's World Boxing Association
(WBA) successful featherweight title defense against American
Derrick Gainer on April 22.
The boxer agreed to pay a total of Rp 150 million in two equal
installments, Anton added, after Sutan threatened to sue for
breach of contract.
"My understanding was that the problem would not continue," he
said. "But it turned out that an agreement was made, without the
knowledge of KTI, for Rp 450 million, which was brokered by the
third party of the controlling and supervisory body for
professional sports (BPPOPI), under the auspices of the Office of
the State Minister of Youth and Sports Affairs."
The matter was not within the supervisory body's jurisdiction,
Anton said.
The agreement to pay Rp 450 million was mediated by BPPOPI,
along with promoter Daniel Bahari. However, Anton said Chris John
had not given permission to Daniel to agree on the amount of
compensation.
He criticized those "would-be heroes" in the dispute,
including former badminton player Icuk Sugiarto, now an expert
staff to the state minister.
"With all due respect to Icuk Sugiarto ... can he grasp the
problems of professional boxing as a former badminton
players? ..." Anton said.
Sutan is threatening to sue Chris John for resigning from his
Semarang-based Bank Buana training camp in December 2004. The
boxer's contract ran through 2007.
Meanwhile, Chris John said on Thursday that he would retain
Australian Craig Christian as his manager and trainer, including
training at the latter's Harry's Gym in Perth.
Chris John confirmed that he received US$90,000 for the Gainer
bout, with Christian paid $22,500 and $7,000 provided to the WBA
and KTI in fight fees.
Although he has been criticized for moving to another training
camp after Sutan coached him to his world title, Chris John said
of Christian: "If it's already going well, why should I consider
moving to the training camp of somebody else?"
The boxer plans to leave for Perth by the end of May.