Indonesian boxer Daud Yordan, left, with his brother Damianus Yordan, who is also his trainer. (JG Photo/Putra Permata Tegar)
Jakarta. A good opportunity comes rarely and when it comes, you don’t want to miss it. Indonesian boxer Daud Yordan knows this very well.
Last month, Daud indicated that he was ready to give up his International Boxing Organization lightweight title to pursue the World Boxing Organization championship belt. But now he is in two minds after he received an offer to fight for the World Boxing Association title.
Daud claims that he received an e-mail from boxing promoter Stephen Vaughan, who offered him a bout against current WBA lightweight champion Richar Abril of Cuba.
“Of course, it’s a great opportunity for every boxer, including me. He said in his e-mail that he would let me to set the date and location for the fight,” Daud told the Jakarta Globe on Thursday.
“It’s either in March or April and the location will be in England or Indonesia. It’s up to me.”
It’s definitely great opportunity for Daud, who has been trying to rejuvenate his career with a move to the WBO.
After winning the IBO lightweight title by defeating Daniel Eduardo Brizuela of Argentina in July 2013, his career seemed to be stuck as he found it difficult to find an opponent. He defended his title five months later when he beat Sipho Taliwe of South Africa in a split decision.
Daud went one year without single fight and he and his team finally decided to cross over to the WBO. His promoter, Raja Sapta Oktohari, came up with a road map to bring him to the WBO lightweight title.
The knockout against Filipino Ronald Pontillas in their interim WBO Asia Pacific lightweight bout in the West Kalimantan city of Pontianak in December paved Daud’s way to the WBO ranking. And now, he’s given another way to the fame and fortune.
As his promoter had prepared a plan, already the 27-year-old boxer said he needed to talk with his team first before making any decision.
“I have a promoter, a trainer and a team. Before the e-mail arrived, we have set the WBO world championship as our target. So I have to talk with them first,” Daud said.
“I have neither refused nor accepted the invitation. One thing I can say is I need time to discuss all possibilities before taking a decision.”
The 32-year-old Cuban has a record of 19 wins, with eight knockouts, three losses and one draw. He won the WBA title in 2012
despite losing to American Brandon Rios in a split decision as Rios was overweight.
Abril has defended his title twice with unanimous decision wins over Ugandan Sharif Bogere in 2013, followed by a majority decision win over Edis Tatli of Finland in 2014.
Daud said he watched some of Abril’s fights and he would not be afraid to fight him.
“I think he’s just ordinary boxer. I haven’t seen something special about him. But with the fact that he’s the WBA champion, he must be good,” Daud said.
Without any fights scheduled, Daud has already returned to his training regime as he wants to be ready for any fight.
The post Daud in Two Minds as WBA Title Bout Looms appeared first on The Jakarta Globe.