Tourino resigns from boxing committee

JAKARTA (JP): Verbal punches are flying around Indonesian professional boxing this week as a dispute between two leading promoters is becoming mired in conflict and recrimination.

Tourino Tidar is so unhappy over the poor attitude of the members of the Indonesian Boxing Committee (KTI) that he has decided to resign from the committee.

In a letter to the KTI's caretaker chairman, Tri Tamtomo, Tourino said he no longer trusted the committee.

"I no longer trust KTI, particularly Chandru Lalwani (vice chairman) and Willy Lasut (coordinator). They have disgraced me and I will certainly take them to court," Tourino said, as quoted by Antara Tuesday.

Tourino's harsh statement and his withdrawal from KTI mark the peak of his disappointment over the poaching of his boxer Nico Thomas by Willy, who got the full support of KTI members to do so.

The tug-of-war over Nico started when Willy contracted the OPBF champion from the Tonsoc camp to fight in Japan against Japanese challenger Urif Tukimatshu without permission from Tourino and Tinton Suprapto, the camp's manager. Tourino previously had full rights to Nico.

Tourino reminded Chandru not to sign the contract without the permission of Tamtomo. Chandru eventually signed the contract on Dec. 12 last year.

The fight was scheduled to be held on Feb. 22 in Tokyo.

According to Tourino, he requested that the fight be held in Jakarta and that he could pay Nico US$8,000 and challenger Tukimatshu $6,000. Japanese promoter Sukhi Murayama also agreed to pay the same amount, Tourino said.

"Chandru agreed to my payment and proposed that I should write a contract stating I was able to hold the fight in Jakarta. He even asked me for a bank guarantee for the payment of the two boxers. Eventually, Chandru and Willy decided that the match be held in Japan," Tourino said.

Tourino was unaware that Willy had given Nico additional money as a down payment for the bout. "This occurred when the case was in process. It seems that Chandru was protecting Willy."

Conversely, Tourino was convinced that the fight in Japan was set up between Chandru and Willy, and that Tamtomo did not know of their action.

"I am most certain that Nico was not paid $8,000. He was probably paid more. The additional payment may well have been pocketed by Willy," Tourino said.

Although Tourino realized that it was impossible to hold the Nico-Tukimatshu fight in Jakarta, he said that he would not give up and insisted the fight still be held in the Indonesian capital.

"I want to see the reaction from KTI since I have already submitted all the conditions requested. I will wait for one week. If my proposal is refused than I will know that the Tokyo match was a set up," Tourino said.

The promoter also requested a written guarantee from his Japanese counterpart that he refused to let the bout be held in Indonesia. "If there is no proof, this means that all this was a bluff."

Finally, Tourino again reiterated that he will still take the case to the court and that he has contacted OC Kaligis, a well known lawyer. "Kaligis told me that this case is not only a civil case but a criminal case as this involves my reputation. The lawyers will certainly seek a fair trial." (lnt)