Ballo targets second gold from Brunei Games

JAKARTA (JP): "What do you want this year, Ballo?"

"A gold medal, definitely. I won the gold two years ago and I intend to defend my title," answered boxer Hermansen Bertholens Ballo during a break in training at the Ragunan Sports School in South Jakarta.

Ballo -- who was born in Kupang, East Nusa Tenggara, on Feb. 26, 1971 -- sees Thailand's Pramuansak Phosuwan as his toughest rival at the upcoming Southeast Asian (SEA) Games.

Ballo lost to the Thai boxer in the 13th Asian Games in Bangkok last year and still feels the sting of the defeat.

"We will fight in a neutral country and I have a chance to avenge my defeat to him," he said.

Ballo, who began his boxing career in 1991, did not want to comment on the Indonesian Amateur Boxing Association, which did not provide him the opportunity to train overseas for the Games.

"I have no comment. The most important thing is that I train harder and harder each day. I don't think I need overseas training or a sparring partner," he said.

Little Ballo followed in the footsteps of his step-brother Yones, a boxing champion in Kupang in the 1980s. Ballo has been boxing for 15 years and has long been recognized as a quality fighter.

He was the 1991 National Junior Championships runner-up. His first international achievement was winning the silver medal at the 1993 President Cup. Ballo also won the bronze medal at the 1994 Hiroshima Asian Games.

Ballo said he has continued to develop his talent in the sport and it has become a part of his life.

"I love the sport and I am willing to sacrifice anything to achieve my goals," said the seventh of nine children.

Ballo said he was not afraid to face a much stronger fighter in the ring.

"I would be proud to challenge a world champion in the ring and I would be even prouder if I could beat him. If I lost to him, at least I could learn something from my defeat," he said.

Ballo -- who loves soccer, basketball and listening to music -- said his only entertainment during training at the Ragunan Sports School was watching soccer games at the school.

"It kills our boredom. We are not allowed to go out and hang around outside the camp, so watching soccer and TV is the only entertainment we have."

His target in every competition is not only a victory but to raise Indonesia's red-and-white flag.

Ballo's main ambition now is to win the gold at the 2000 Olympics in Sydney. In the 1996 Olympics in Atlanta, Georgia, Ballo only reached the third round of the competition. Next year he hopes to improve on this showing. (yan)