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)