Amateur, pro boxers to unite

Amateur, pro boxers to unite

JAKARTA (JP): National amateur and professional boxers have
agreed to band together in one association in a bid to improve
the standard of national boxing.

The Indonesian Boxing Commission, the professional boxing
controlling body, and the Indonesian Amateur Boxing Association
are now completing discussions over a united body.

"We have reached agreement over the details of the proposal. A
special team involving both parties is expected to finalize the
format of the new body soon," chief of the boxing commission, AM
Hendropriyono, said in a meeting with National Sports Council
Chairman Wismoyo Arismunandar yesterday.

Wismoyo welcomed Indonesia's new World Boxing Federation
welterweight champion Suwito Lagola in a rare meeting yesterday.
The council is responsible only for developing amateur sports.

Hendro said that the unification will mark a new era in the
country's boxing world.

"We have long awaited the unification. National boxers will
start their careers from amateur and can support their living
through this sport in professional competition," Hendro said.

The commission has ruled that a boxer should have experience
in amateur boxing before turning professional.

Suwito of Medan, North Sumatra knocked out Filipino defending
champion Roland Magahin in the 11th round of their title match
over the weekend. He became the third Indonesian to wrest a world
championship belt after Elyas Pical and Nico Thomas, both
affiliated with the International Boxing Federation.

Promoter Dewi Budiarti said she had no plan to bring Suwito to
a more prestigious world championship match in the near future,
noting that she is preparing another boxer, Ajib Albarado, to
fight for a WBF bout against American title holder Kenny Vice in
Surabaya in two months time. (amd)