Nico beats Jodsingh to claim OPBF crown

Nico beats Jodsingh to claim OPBF crown

JAKARTA (JP): Sweat, blood and bruises were not too much to
pay for former mini-flyweight world champion Nico Thomas, who
struggled to salvage his pride -- and his family life -- on
Thursday night.

"This is the most exhausting fight I've ever had in my
career," a panting Nico said after recapturing the Orient and
Pacific Boxing Federation (OPBF) title late Thursday night.

The 29-year-old left-hander defied his age disadvantage to
tame teenager Jodsingh Sarina of Thailand in a close trade of
punches in the smoky Senayan basketball arena.

Nico dominated the first nine rounds of the bout. He displayed
his masterful body throughout the last three rounds and won the
bout with a unanimous decision.

A boisterous victory procession turned into a family gathering
when Nico met his wife, Farida, and their two-year-old daughter
Davita, who sat restlessly throughout the 12-round bout.

"Thank God my husband won," Farida said briefly, her face
expressing more than she could tell. Devita, who was packed into
the arena with 3,000 others, kept crying while her parents were
congratulated by fans.

"We want a better life after this glorious day. I realize that
boxing ring is the only place where we can make a living," said
Farida. "First of all, we need our own house," she added.

Nico and his family of four live in a rental house in Kebon
Kopi, Bintaro, South Jakarta. "I'm not expecting a helping hand,
but I will entirely thank those who want to provide me with a new
house," said Nico, who has maintained a commendable record during
his amateur career.

Both Nico, OPBF challenger number two, and Jodsingh, OPBF
number one contender, each earned US$25,000 for the title fight.

World title

The victory puts Nico one step closer to reclaiming a world
title, but many believe that he is already slower than during his
heyday.

"Age is no longer a valid gauge to predict a boxer's career,"
Nico, who left the ring with a cut on his cheek bone, stated. "I
still have something to say in the boxing world."

"My commitment to become a responsible father has driven me to
step into the ring," he said.

It took him two years of hard-fought struggling to come out of
his frustrating years when he kissed the canvas during his
International Boxing Federation challenge in Bangkok in 1993.

Nico enjoyed the ecstasy of victory at home six years ago when
he became the second Indonesian to win a world title after fellow
Maluku-born Elyas Pical. The celebration, however, proved short-
lived as Nico was knocked out by Filipino Eric Chavez in his
maiden title defense attempt.

Promoter Tourino Tidar promised to bring Nico back into the
world championship track. The pugilist, however, will first have
to prove that he deserves either a World Boxing Association or
World Boxing Council title fight in a mandatory fight against
OPBF number one contender in three months' time.

However, Nico, as the holder, will be facing much higher
stakes in the next OPBF championship match. (amd)