Singapore to stage first title fight in 17 years

SINGAPORE, Oct 20 (Reuters) Singapore is set to host its first boxing world championship title fight in 17 years, when South African Soloman Egbarime takes on Dondon Sultan of the Philippines in a World Boxing Foundation (WBF) welterweight bout next month.

The 12-round battle is slated for Nov. 25 at the Suntec International Convention&Exhibition Centre.

Boxing made a successful return to the city-state in June when Singapore hosted a Pan Asian Boxing Association fight in a corporate event billed ''Black Tie Fight Night''.

That had been the first professional bout to be staged in Singapore since 1989 when Indonesian flyweight world champion Alie Bikou took on Texan challenger Mike Phelps at the World Trade Centre.

Promoter John Leung said getting the public interested in boxing was one of the challenges his company faced.

''It was good to get the corporate guys in at the ''Black Tie Fight Night'', but for the greater good of the sport, it is important that we make the next event accessible to the public,'' he said.

''Boxing is a global sport and cannot be exclusive. We have dreams to put money back into amateur boxing and perhaps by 2012, Singapore will feature a boxer at the Olympic Games.'' Singapore Sports Council's chief of high participation Daniel Metcalfe told the Today tabloid: ''Any world championship of any sport is welcome.

''I think it's fantastic that they have a grand ambition in place, instead of some wishy-washy plan that people won't remember.'' REUTERS AY HS1041