Boxer dies, second fatality in a month

Agus Maryono and Zakki Hakim, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta/Purwokerto, Central Java

Jack Ryan, a local boxer who had been in coma after his non-title boxing bout on Saturday, died from a brain hemorrhage early on Thursday to add to the grim list of fatalities in Indonesian professional boxing.

The 21-year-old Jack, from the Jakarta-based Rajawali Boxing Center, became the second boxer to die after a ring fight in a month and the ninth in the last four years.

Last month, Antonius Moses Seram died after getting decked by Thailand's Kaichon Sor Vorapin. He was also in a coma before he died a week later on Jan. 20.

Jack Ryan died in Margono Soekarjo hospital, Purwokerto, and was taken to his hometown of Sleman, Yogyakarta, where he was buried.

He fought an eight-round lightweight fight with Samsul Hidayat at the Satira Sports Hall, Purwokerto.

Shortly before the end of the last round, he received a flurry of punches and was defenseless before the referee stopped the fight and awarded a TKO to Samsul.

According to Jack's coach Toga Pakpahan, entering the sixth round, Jack received several blows to his head and started to complain about pain. But he insisted on continuing the fight and threw some good punches in the seventh round.

He never finished the eighth round. Immediately after the match, Jack began screaming and trying to flee from his handlers and trainers who were attending to him. He then vomited and went into a coma, from which he would never regain consciousness.

According to Mohammad Tarhib, a doctor at Margono Hospital where Jack was treated, the brain hemorrhage was definitely from a blow or a series of blows to the head.

It was revealed later that Jack was not actually fit for Saturday's fight.

"Jack told me that his blood pressure before the fight was much lower than normal," Toga said and added that because there was no notification from the doctor he did not stop Jack from fighting.

The fatality list continues to grow and includes noted boxers Donny Maramis, Moh. Alfaridzi, John Namtilu, Bayu Young Iray and Dipo Saloko.

The high number of the deaths brought in December 2001 a suspension from the World Boxing Council, which banned Indonesians boxers from fighting in WBC-sanctioned bouts outside the country.

The ban was lifted in July 2002 on condition that Indonesia form a boxing commission to monitor fights that impose WBC safety rules.

The Indonesian Professional Sport Monitoring and Supervisory Board (BPPOPI) has formed a team to investigate Moses death. The result have yet to be announced.

ibox

Fatalities in Indonesia professional boxing since 1990

Year Victim

1990 Bongguk Kendy 1993 Yance Samangun 1995 Akbar Maulana 2000 Dipo Saloko 2000 Bayu Young Iray 2001 John Namtilu 2001 Donny Maramis 2001 Moh. Alfaridzi 2003 Bones Fransiscus 2003 Mula Sinaga 2004 Antonius Moses Seram 2004 Jack Ryan