Suwito loses world boxing title

Suwito loses world boxing title

JAKARTA (JP): Suwito Lagola has lost his World Boxing Federation welterweight title after his manager canceled a rematch against William Magahin of the Philippines.

The Chairman of the North Sumatra chapter of the Indonesian Boxing Commission Robert Siregar said yesterday that newly crowned Suwito was a victim of an irresponsible manager.

"Poor Suwito! He is a victim of people who are only interested in their own pockets," Robert was quoted as saying by Antara in Medan, North Sumatra, yesterday.

Suwito's manager was reported to have unilaterally canceled his contract with the WBF for a rematch, scheduled for Jan. 21, between Suwito and Magahin.

Antara failed to name either Suwito's manager or the reason why he canceled the contract.

As a result, WBF representative for Asia-Australia region Jack Renni reportedly issued a letter to the Indonesian Boxing Commission's headquarters here, dated Jan. 5, stripping Suwito's title for not complying with the contract.

If Suwito had really been stripped of his title, Robert said, his manager was certainly to blame. "He (Suwito's manager) should have contacted us or consulted with us for the scheduled rematch. We never knew there will be a rematch. Neither did we know about the stripping of Suwito's title," Robert said.

Suwito filled the vacant world title after knocking Magahin out in the 10th round of a scheduled 12-round bout on Oct. 21 last year in Medan. (arf)