Suwito vows to tighten grip on WBF title

Suwito vows to tighten grip on WBF title

JAKARTA (JP): The newly recrowned World Boxing Federation
welterweight champion Suwito Lagola is looking ahead to several
title defense bouts before moving to a more prestigious world
fight.

Suwito said after his unanimous points decision win over
American defending champion Jaime Lerma in a bruising 12-round
match Monday that he was keen to learn a lot more before
challenging a champion from the world's established boxing
bodies: the World Boxing Council (WBC), the World Boxing
Association (WBA) and the International Boxing Federation (IBF).

"I don't think anything special of my victory. I was only 75
percent fit for the bout and my opponent was not as good as I had
thought," said the 26-year-old Suwito.

Suwito clinched his crown for the first time with a 10th round
technical-knock-out win over Filipino title holder William
Magahin in October last year. The Indonesian had the title
removed after refusing a rematch.

Lerma knocked Magahin out to take the title last January. The
Texan's fight against Suwito was first scheduled for July 18, but
was delayed three times.

Promoter Anthon Sihombing agreed with Suwito. "I'm not going
to be in a hurry to give Suwito a shot at either the WBC, WBA or
IBF versions. I first want to make an assessment of this
performance," said the promoter, who admitted suffering Rp 400
million (US$171,600) in financial losses. Only half of the 1,000
seats at Monday's fight at the five-star Sahid Jaya Hotel were
filled.

Chairman of the Indonesian Boxing Commission, Hendropriyono,
shared Sihombing's view that Suwito should be given more time to
polish his skills before moving up to the more prestigious bouts.

A spirited Suwito delighted his fans with masterful
combinations which never stopped pummeling Lerma's double-cover.
Suwito just missed with his heavy blows that floored Magahin last
year and wasted a number of chances to land finishing punches in
the last five rounds. (amd)