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Chris John forfeits world title
A fight to decide the World Boxing Association featherweight title was canceled when champion Chris John of Indonesia and contender Jackson Asiku of Australia failed to show up to their weigh-in
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A fight to decide the World Boxing Association featherweight title was canceled when champion Chris John of Indonesia and contender Jackson Asiku of Australia failed to show up to their weigh-in.
The fight was scheduled to take place Sunday in Ancol, North Jakarta.
There were no official explanations offered from either of the boxers' camps although an earlier report by medical official Dr. Haryono showed that Chris John weighed 61.5 kilograms, more than the featherweight limit of 57.1 kilograms.
"According to WBA regulations, if a boxer remains overweight at the time of the scheduled weigh-in, they will be given two hours to lose the weight," WBA supervisor Alan Kim told reporters.
"In this case, the scheduled weigh-in time was four p.m., they couldn't make it. And now it is already passed six p.m., so I declare tomorrow's (Sunday's) match canceled and the world featherweight title vacant," he said.
Fight promoter Soeryo Goeritno said: "I feel betrayed by their absence, especially by Chris' camp."
Chris had earlier threatened to the cancel the bout, citing a disagreement on payment issues with promoters, including official broadcaster RCTI.
"I told them earlier that I, as promoter, am ready to support this showdown, as well as RCTI, which has agreed to air the match live. But I think it has all come to nothing," Soeryo said.
Indonesian WBA representative Tourino Tidar said they would try to lobby the WBA to allow the Indonesian boxer another chance to reclaim the title.
"I will talk with him (Kim) tomorrow about whether we can postpone the fight until November. This would give Chris John a chance to win his title back," Tourino said.
