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)