Chris John Holds Training to Face Billy Dib

SEMARANG, KOMPAS.com - WBA Super Champion title holder Chris John of Indonesia has started training sessions in facing TBV feather world champion Billy Dib of Australia at Marina Bay Sands in Singapore on March 31, 2012.

Head of Media and Mahkota Promotion Fathan Rangkuti said in Semarang Thursday Chris John had left for Australia this week. "He (Chris John) will hold training at Herry’s Gym in Perth, Australia, this week."

He said Chris John will be training in Australia until February 2012, and early in March return to Indonesia.

"In the middle of March he will leave for Australia, and therefore has half a month for adaptations with the fighting arena," he said.

When confirming Chris John’s opponent in his 16th fight in Singapore, Fathan Rangkuti said his opponent would still be IBF feather weight world champion Billy Dib from Australia, so that the next fight is a unification bout," he said.

The fighter dubbed The Dragon, was last defending his title and won on points against Ukrainian Stanislav Merdov at the Challenge Stadium MT Claremont, West Australia, on November 30, 2011.

With the victory Chris John had a record of 46 victories (22 with KOs) and three times even with a total of 383 rounds. In the 15 defending bouts, five were mandatory fights against Jose Che Rojas (Venezuela), Juan Manuel Marquez (Mexico), Derrick Gainner (US), Hiroyuki Enoki (Japan), and Roinet Caballero (Panama).

Then 10 handpicked fights, and two fought against the same fighter, Jose Cheo Rojas (Venezuela) and Rocky Juarez (US). The fight in Singapore would be the first for Chris John during his WBA feather world championship (since 2003) as on most occasions he fought in Indonesia, Australia (2), Japan (3), and the US (2).