Niken Prathivi, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta
Chris John's title defense against Australian Jackson Asiku will go ahead Sunday as planned, according to an official of the state ministry for sports affairs.
An agreement between the champion's camp and promoters made resumption of the match possible.
"Problems have been resolved. All parties have agreed the show must go on," Haryo Yuniarto, a member of the ministry's supervisory and controlling board for professional sports, told The Jakarta Post on Wednesday.
Chris John's trainer and manager Craig Christian had threatened to cancel the bout, citing a violation of his contractual payment by promoters, who include official broadcaster RCTI.
At a joint media conference Wednesday, promoter Soeryo Goeritno and a representative from RCTI denied the allegations.
"We don't have any problem with the payment. You can see the money right here," Soeryo told reporters, showing off banknotes allegedly to the amount of US$40,000.
Christian claimed he was only offered US$40,000 instead of the US$65,000 agreed upon in his contract as a first installment.
At a press conference Tuesday, Christian revealed he would receive a total of US$130,000, as stipulated in the contract, to be paid in two terms: 50 percent one week before the match and 50 percent one week after the match in the form of a cashable bank guarantee. According to the contract, the Indonesian boxer's camp is obliged to pay contender Asiku US$20,000.
On Wednesday, Soeryo and the RCTI representative announced they were committed to the match.
Holding up banknotes and the bank guarantee said to be worth US$25,000, RCTI managing director Oerianto Guyandi said, "In fact, we're ready to run the show."
Sunday's match, which will be the Indonesian champion's 10th title defense since June 2004, will be held at the Dunia Fantasi amusement park in Ancol, North Jakarta.