JAKARTA: Undefeated World Boxing Association featherweight champion Chris John of Indonesia yesterday retained his title in a technical draw after a headbutt left a deep cut over his right eye.
The bout with Japan’s Satoshi Hosono at the indoor tennis stadium in Jakarta was stopped by the referee at two minutes and 12 seconds into round three after a head butt by Hosono left John with a bloody gash over his right eye.
John, 33, defended his title for the 18th time after a tie was declared. With the latest result, his record stands at 48 wins, three draws and no losses -- putting him within reach of the benchmark set by Mexican great Ricardo Lopez, who retired undefeated with 51 victories.
“Honestly, I’m not satisfied with my performance. But I suffered a serious injury that forced me to stop,” he told the stadium packed with cheering Indonesian fans.
“I hope to compete again to satisfy my fans in Indonesia,” he added.
Yesterday’s result left Hosono, ranked sixth in the WBA, with 23 wins, including 17 KOs against two defeats and a draw.
In a more exciting bout, Indonesia’s second biggest boxing star Daud Yordan lost his International Boxing Organization featherweight title to underdog Simpiwe Vetyeka from South Africa.
On Saturday, Cuba’s Guillermo Rigondeaux beat Nonito Donaire by a unanimous decision to retain his WBA junior featherweight world title and hand the Filipino his first loss in 12 years.
Two-time Olympic gold medal winner Rigondeaux recovered from an earlier knockdown to win the 12-round bout at Radio City Music Hall on all three judges’ scorecards, 114-113, 115-112 and 116-111. AGENCIES
