Nurhuda's fails to grab Vuyani Bungu's belt
Nurhuda's fails to grab Vuyani Bungu's belt
JAKARTA (JP): This year's Idul Fitri was perhaps the most dismal ever for Indonesia's junior featherweight Mohammad Nurhuda.
While his family celebrated the end of the Ramadhan fasting month at home, Nurhuda, out in Africa, not only broke into a sweat, but had his heart broken in the bargain. Despite his all- out efforts, South Africa's Vuyani "The Beast" Bungu, whose crown he craved so much, outpunched him to earn a unanimous points victory.
"It will be a very special bout for me, and I'm seeking a victory to add to the Idul Fitri celebration," Nurhuda told reporters before leaving for Pretoria's Caraosel Casino Hotel, where he would receive the highest remuneration of his career at Rp 85 million (US$38,500) for the 12-round match.
Nurhuda's toughness took him through the 12 agonizing rounds, but meant little as two of the International Boxing Federation (IBF) judges scored the match 119-109 and the third scored it 118-110 for Bungu.
The holder of the IBF world junior-featherweight title was described by AFP as speedier, more versatile and more powerful, though he failed to knock out Nurhuda.
Nurhuda's pluckiness and resilience proved insufficient against the South African's straight punching, which was more efficient than the East Javanese fighter's approach.
Nurhuda, who went to Mecca on the haj pilgrimage several years ago, faced trouble at the end of the fourth and ninth rounds due to Bungu's high-speed left jabs and hooks to the head.
"He was a tough guy. I tried to knock him out, but he was always there," said Bungu in tribute of Nurhuda at the end of the entertaining bout.
For Bungu, this was his second bout in defense of the title which he won from American Kennedy McKinney last year.
Late last year, Bungu successfully defended his title for the first time against Puerto Rican Felix Camacho.
Bungu's promoters were quoted by AFP as saying in pre-fight interviews that a win over Nurhuda could lead to a unification bout with World Boxing Association (WBA) titleholder Wilfredo Vasquez of Puerto Rico.
Bungu now has 26 wins and two losses, while Nurhuda has been beaten four times in 35 outings.
Had Nurhuda won, he would have been the third Indonesian to wrest a world boxing crown after three-time junior bantamweight champion Ellyas Pical and brief mini flyweight title holder Nico Thomas. (arf)