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)