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AKARTA: Indonesian world champion boxer, featherweight Chris “The Dragon” John, has been awarded a Lifetime Achievement designation by the World Boxing Association (WBA) due to his consistency over the past nine years.

Chris received the honor during the WBA Gala Dinner in Panama City on Feb. 29.

“I am extraordinarily honored to be presented with the award which is an achievement that is not only mine, but also belongs to my team and the people of Indonesia,” said Chris during his meeting with Youth and Sports Minister Andi Mallarangeng in the latter’s office in Jakarta on Monday, as quoted by Antara.

Chris said that he would still fight on to achieve more in the future. “But the [upcoming] bouts will only happen with solid agreement with my manager, coach and promoter.”

Andi said that he hoped the award would have a favorable influence for all boxers in the country. “I expect that we will have more ‘Chris John’ in the future.”

Chris has successfully retained his title 15 times. The Banjarnegara, Central Java-born boxer attained the title for the first time in 2003 when he outwitted Colombian Oscar Leon in Bali.

Since then, the 32-year-old Chris has been fighting various boxers, including American Rocky Juarez at the MGM Grand Resort and Casino in Nevada in 2009 to grab his super featherweight title.

From a total of 48 bouts, the father of two daughters has won 46 (22 KOs) fights and two draws.

Chris also collected a gold medal from the Southeast Asian (SEA) Games in Jakarta in 1997 and a bronze medal from the SEA Games in Kuala Lumpur in 2001.

Chris is scheduled to fight Japan’s Shoji Kimora to retain his title for the 16th time at Marina Bay Sands in Singapore on May 5.

Promotor Raja Sapta Oktohari said that Chris would fly for intensive training in Australia after the bout’s press conference in Jakarta on Thursday.