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fter postponing two previously scheduled bouts this year because of injury, World Boxing Association (WBA) featherweight Super Champion Chris “The Dragon” John of Indonesia has confirmed he will fight Argentinean Fernando Saucedo in Jakarta next month.

“I am definitely ready for next month’s bout. I’ve been training over the past two months. My back is healthy, and hopefully, I will maintain my condition until the fight,” Chris told a press conference Friday.

The much-awaited fight is scheduled to take place at the Tennis Indoor Stadium in Bung Karno Sports Complex, Senayan, Central Jakarta, on Dec. 4. It would be Chris’ 13th title defense.

The 31-year-old Indonesian has had to cancel his match against Saucedo twice because of a rib injury he suffered and later re-injured, both during training.

In overall standings, Chris has fought 45 times with 43 victories and two draws, while Saucedo has a record of 38 victories, four defeats and two draws. Chris has yet to fight this year due to his injury, while the 29-year-old Saucedo beat counterpart Jorge Martin Garcia in January. Both Chris and Saucedo are orthodox (right handed) fighters.

“I must say that Saucedo will be a tough fighter to handle. His stamina is his strength. Therefore, I have to be able to maintain my physical vigor to tackle his attack with a strong defense to be smart in the counter-attack strategy,” Chris said.

Chris apologized for the delayed match.

“Personally, I felt terrible for calling the fights off at that time. But my coach was really concerned about my future, therefore, he urged me to postpone the bout until I got better,” he added.

Promoter Raja Sapta Oktohari said he was honored to hold the bout.

“Chris had to cancel the fight twice, but someone has to provide the battlefield for his career. Chris has to defend his title. The match is going to be worthwhile,” Raja said.

An under card match will feature, among others, Daud Yordan of Indonesia and Damian David Marciano of Argentina, he added.

The promoter would provide US$500,000 (Rp.4.45 billion) in prize money, comprising of a $200,000 matchmaking fee for Chris and $50,000 for Saucedo, he said, adding that seats will be offered from
Rp 200,000 (US$22.2).

If both Chris and Daud win their bouts against the Argentineans, they will face each other for the Super Champion title in May 2011.

Raja said he would also organize a charity auction during the Dec. 4 bout to help ease the burden for refugees of the Mount Merapi eruption.

Chris, who starred in an energy drink commercial along with the Merapi volcano spiritual guardian Mbah Maridjan — who was killed during the eruptions — said he would visit the victims of Merapi after the fight.