Locals grab two boxing titles in KO downpour
Locals grab two boxing titles in KO downpour
JAKARTA (JP): Two Indonesians filled the vacant titles of the newly introduced Pan Asia Boxing Association in bouts which saw all the three international cards stopped before the distance here on Thursday night.
Ilham Lahia maintained his flawless amateur record with a seventh-round knockout win over Clinton Simmons of New Zealand to win the featherweight crown. Earlier, Juffrison Pontoh took just six rounds to stop another New Zealander, Monthy Bahna, in their welterweight fight.
Some 2,000 people in the Senayan Volleyball Hall, however, where hushed when Mongolian Lakva Sim pummeled Max Karamoi in the fourth round with both fists for a KO win in the lightweight title.
A bell-to-bell fighter, Ilham used gritty foot work and stinging jabs to dominate the featherweight bout. In the sixth round, the 27-year-old Indonesian landed a left hook to send Simmons to the canvas. A wobbling Simmons regained his foot after an eight standing count to survive further punches until the bell.
Smelling blood, Ilham renewed his charge in the next round, leaving Simmons on the receiving end of his ceaseless punches. The New Zealander went down for the second time following a series of combinations, prompting his coach to throw in the towel.
North Sulawesi native Ilham improved his record to 14 wins against three losses, while Simmons tallied his losses to three against 11 wins.
Juffrison shrugged off his reach disadvantage to force Bahna to trade punches in a number of close brawls. It paid dividends for Juffrison in the fifth round when Bahna staggered after receiving a right-hander. Bahna quickly used clinches to avoid possible finishing punches from his Indonesian opponent.
Juffrison connected a straight left to Bahna's jaw early in the sixth round of the scheduled 12-round duel. The 29-year-old New Zealander kissed the canvas, but managed to beat the count. Bahna's fight back proved short-lived when Juffrison decked him with another big right.
Promoter Tourino Tidar also staged three under-card bouts at Jakarta's first PABA championship.
The new international boxing body was set up in March by 23 countries from Asia, Oceania, Europe and South America. It is affiliated to the World Boxing Association (WBA).
Indonesian boxers have long been part of the Orient and Pacific Boxing Federation, which runs under the auspices of WBA's rival, the World Boxing Council. (amd)