Chris' title bout may snag over pay

Niken Prathivi ,  The Jakarta Post ,  Jakarta   |  Wed, 07/23/2008 10:53 AM  |  Sports

Chris John's title defense against Jackson Asiku of Australia is scheduled for Sunday, but the WBA featherweight bout now faces cancellation over match contract problems.

Chris' trainer and manager Craig Christian told reporters Tuesday the match promoters had violated the contract.

"They are obliged to meet the payment schedule exactly as stated in the contract, which has been signed by them, me and Chris John.

"But in fact, they have violated the contract," said Christian.

The match, which would be the Indonesian champion's 10th defense since June 2004, has been scheduled for Sunday at the Dunia Fantasi amusement park in Ancol, north Jakarta.

Christian said the contract stipulated Chris would receive US$110,000 in total, paid in two terms: 50 percent as down payment one week before the fight, and the rest in the form of a bank guarantee that could be cashed a week after the match.

In fact, they were offered $45,000 on Monday instead of $65,000, Christian said.

"It's not what was stated in the contract. So we gave the money back to them. I'm really, really disappointed they didn't honor the contract," Christian said.

Christian said he would rather take Chris' bout outside Indonesia.

In March 2007, Christian faced the same problem with promoter Albert Papilaya in the boxer's title defense against Jose Cheo Rojas.

Haryo Yuniarto, a member of the Indonesian supervisory board for professional sports, said he would turn to the state ministry for sports to save the match from cancellation.

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