Petinju yang dijuluki The Dragon, akan mencoba mengembakikan kebanggaan nasional dengan mengahadapi Juara IBO, Simpiwe Vetyeka, ynag sebelumnya petinju asal Afrika Selatan tersebut merebut sabuk juara IBO dari tangan Daud Yordan lewat kemenangan TKO pda ronde ke-12 pada bulan April lalu, jadi sekarang waktunya tepat untuk membalaskan kekalahan Daud Yordan, dan merebut kembali gelar tersebut.
Dalam laga menghadapi Vetyeka ini, Chris John juga akan mencoba membuat sejarah dan memecahkan rekor Eseubio Pedroza yang bertahan lama yakni mempertahankan sabuk WBA Super dalam 19 kali pertarungan.
"Dengan dedikasi, tekad dan disiplin, saya tidak akan membiarkan publik saya kecewa, dan pada 6 Desember, Indonesia akan bangkit lagi," tegas Chris John, yang kini telah berusia 34 tahun, sebagaimana dikutip Boxing Scene.
Namun, Chris John harus tetap mewaspadai Vetyeka, pasalnya petinju berusia 32 tahun itu ingin menghentikan rekor Chris John, yang telah mempertahankan sabuk juaranya selama 18 kali. "Saya memiliki kemenangan di Amerika, Meksiko dan menghentikan Daud 'Cino' Yordan di kandangnya sendiri, jadi Australia mempersiapkan pameran tinju lain," tutur petinju berjuluk V12.
Menjelang pertarungan tersebut, Chris John, yang belum pernah tersentuh kekalahan, memiliki bekal 48 kemenangan (22KO) tanpa kekalahan. Sementara, Vetyeka telah membukukan 25 kemenangan (15KO) dan dua kali kalah.
Menurut rencana, kontes pertarungan ini akan disiarkan secara langsung oleh RCTI pada pukul 21.00 WIB.
WBO featherweight champion Chris John of Indonesia whose abrupt withdrawal of his sponsor threatened the cancellation of his WBA featherweight title defense against IBO champion Simpiwe “V12” Vetyeka of South Africa in a unified title bout at Metro City in Perth, Australia, on Friday went through with the bout but quit in the 6th round.
Boxingscene.com reported that Vetyeka dominated the Indonesian champion and put the pressure on him in the 5th round, continued to batter him in the 6th before dropping him in the dying seconds of the round forcing John’s corner to tell referee Gustavo Padilla he was in no position to continue.
It was John’s first defeat after 48 wins and 3 draws with 22 knockouts. The new champion Vetyeka who unified the IBO and WBA 126 pound belts, improved to 27-2 with 15 knockouts.
Earlier, John said “I have prepared well for the fight. I’ve gotten my techniques down, I’m physically ready and I have been sparring well. I have been training really hard the past two months. I just have to maintain my weight.”
John, nicknamed “The Thin Man” was making the 19th defense of his title which included a win over Mexico’s Juan Manuel Marquez.
In an undercard fight, fellow Indonesian IBO lightweight champion Daud Yordan won a twelve round split decision over Shipo “Tsunami” Taliwe, also from South Africa.
The fight card was once under threat of being canceled due to the abrupt withdrawal of the fight’s main sponsor in the wake of strained political relations between Australia and Indonesia.
Chris’ manager, Craig Christian, said he was concerned with the issue. “We are currently looking for a new sponsor for him [Chris],” Christian said.
Jakarta’s Tempo newspaper reported that Golden Eagle Coffee decided to step out from the sponsorship on Monday, causing Chris John to have USD250,000 short. With the sponsor withdrawal, Chris John re-opened sponsor bidding worths US$100,000, closing on December 3 at 12:00 Perth time.
John was quoted as saying "I have spent years practicing in Australia and I was always welcomed here. I wish both nations can resolve the political conflict and return to cooperation."
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