M. Rahman retains IBF Pan Pacific title

M. Rahman retains IBF Pan Pacific title

JAKARTA (JP): Indonesian M. Rahman retained his International
Boxing Federation (IBF) Pan Pacific mini flyweight title after
ousting Filipino challenger Lito Danggod on Tuesday evening in
Jember, East Java.

Referee John Wright of Australia decided to stop the match
after Rahman wounded his left temple in the third round due to a
collision.

The rules said the Akas Probolinggo boxing club boxer retained
his title because the match was stopped due to an accident.

Danggod, who is ranked second in the IBF Pan Pacific list, and
coach Joshua Cawyson were very disappointed with the decision but
they abided by the rules.

Both fighters were considered equal from punches landed at the
beginning of the title-bout, watched by 3,000 spectators and
broadcasted live by RCTI.

Rahman performed aggressively in a close fight, although blood
streamed from him after he accidentally banged his head against
Danggod.

At the end of third round, Wright discussed Rahman's bleeding
wound with the ringside doctor, the judges and the match
director, and decided to stop the match.

In the undercard, Indonesia's IBF Intercontinental junior
flyweight champion Anis Roga won in a split decision over Celso
Dinggod of the Philippines.

Judge M Binsyech of Indonesia gave 117-111 and Australian John
Wright gave 116-111 for Anis, while Vincent Rondrigues of the
Philippines gave 115-112 to Dinggod, ranked fourth in the IBF
Intercontinental and first in the PABA (Pan-Asian Boxing
Association) rankings. (yan)