Tourino resigns from boxing committee

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)