New boxing chief wants to make peace<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): Sang Nyoman Suwisma officially began his four-
\nyear term as chief of the Indonesian Amateur Boxing Association
\n(Pertina) yesterday with his sights set on an unprecedented
\nreconciliation with the professional boxing body.<\/p>\n
Suwisma said after his induction in a ceremony presided over
\nby National Sports Council chairman Wismoyo Arismunandar that an
\ninformal meeting between the executives of the two boxing
\norganizations would be held soon as an initial move to unify the
\ntwo.<\/p>\n
"The meeting will serve as an open forum where we can
\ncommunicate our expectations and set our common goals in boxing.
\nWe can discuss or even criticize each other for the sake of
\nnational boxing development," he said.<\/p>\n
Both Pertina and its professional counterpart, the Indonesian
\nBoxing Committee (KTI), have actually been engaged in a series of
\ntalks about unification efforts but with no clear outcome.<\/p>\n
KTI chairman A.M. Hendropriyono was the last to encourage
\nnegotiations between the two boxing bodies.<\/p>\n
Suwisma backed up his words by giving former professional
\nboxer and promoter Boy Bolang a post in the advisory board of the
\namateur boxing organization.<\/p>\n
Boy fully backed his new boss' plan, saying he would do his
\nbest to help Suwisma.<\/p>\n
Wismoyo also lent his support to the unification plan. He said
\nboth the professional and amateur boxing bodies needed a new
\nboost now that Indonesian boxers from the two divisions had fared
\nbetter recently.<\/p>\n
He has repeatedly said that boxers must undergo exposure in
\namateur bouts before turning professional.<\/p>\n
Suwisma expressed his optimism yesterday that his dreams would
\ncome true, although he admitted he could not be deeply involved
\nin the unification talks due to his military job as chief of the
\nTanjungpura Military Command overseeing Kalimantan. He is based
\nin Banjarmasin, South Kalimantan.<\/p>\n
"I will monitor all activities of Pertina from Banjarmasin. I
\nfully trust my staff because they are already mature in the
\nboxing world. But the decision will come from me," he said.<\/p>\n
"A war leader does not necessary go to the battlefield, does
\nhe?" he added. (emf)<\/p>",
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