WBO featherweight champion Chris John of Indonesia will face IBO featherweight champion Simpiwe “V12” Vetyeka of South Africa in a unified title bout in Perth, Austalia, on Friday.

“I have prepared well for the fight. I’ve gotten my techniques down, I’m physically ready and I have been sparring well. I have been training really hard the past two months. I just have to maintain my weight,” Chris said in a release. He was reportedly undergoing training at Harry’s Gym in Jakarta.

If successful, Chris will defend the title he first won in 2003 for the 19th time.

In an undercard fight, fellow Indonesian IBO lightweight champion Daud Yordan will be challenged by Shipo “Tsunami” Taliwe, also from South Africa.

The bout was once under threat of being cancelled due to the abrupt withdrawal of the fight’s main sponsor in the wake of straining political relations between Australia and Indonesia.

Chris’ manager, Craig Christian, said he was concerned with the issue. “We are currently looking for a new sponsor for him [Chris],”  Christian said.