Suwito-Pena bout set for March 17
Suwito-Pena bout set for March 17
JAKARTA (JP): Indonesia's World Boxing Federation (WBF)
welterweight champion Suwito Lagola will put his title on the
line when he fights fifth-ranked challenger Frank Pena of the
United States here on March 17.
The scheduled 12-round bout, due to be staged at Hotel
Indonesia, will be Suwito's first defense of the title he wrested
from Jaime Lerma, also of the U.S, here on Sept. 30.
"Suwito will collect a purse of US$15,000 against $8,000 to be
received by Pena for the fight," Indonesian promoter Anthon
Sihombing said yesterday.
Anthon, who was also the promoter of the Suwito-Lerma title
fight, said he would soon send 30 percent of Pena's payment to
the challenger as a guarantee that he would abide by the
provision of the contract signed last month in the United States.
The promoter said if Suwito wins over Pena, the champion would
have a chance to fight for higher stakes in the more prestigious
World Boxing Organization (WBO).
"Chances are that Suwito will automatically become the top
challenger to the WBO titleholder if he beats Pena. Suwito is
tremendously talented, and I'm pretty sure he has the potential
to dethrone the WBO champ," Anthon said, full of praise for the
bell-to-bell 24-year-old puncher. Suwito is known for his
powerful piercing jabs, devastating hooks and unwavering never-
say-die fighting spirit.
He said he had sent Suwito's detailed fight records, including
a video of his fight with Pena, to the WBO in an effort to
convince the organization that his boxer has met all the
requirements to mount a respectable challenge to the WBO
champion.
"So far, WBO officials know little about Suwito. They think he
is just an obscure fighter. They also have expressed doubt about
his true boxing quality, saying his upset victory over Lerma was
greatly helped by a hometown decision.
"I hope the video serves as an eye-opener to the Doubting
Thomases in the WBO that the win was not a fluke, and by all
means Suwito deserved it. In short, Suwito is not a pushover,"
Anthon said.
He said in preparation for the fight, Suwito would be sent to
Thailand in January for a series of sparring bouts with Thai
boxers, who are widely known for their ability to absorb heavy
punches. (bas)