Boxer La Paene aims for national title
Boxer La Paene aims for national title
JAKARTA (JP): Only two months after turning professional,
boxer La Paene Masara has set an ambitious target to be the
national champion by the end of this year.
"I want to be the national champion. Hopefully, in my sixth
bout, I'll challenge current 49-kilogram champion Vecky Tahumil,"
he told reporters on Wednesday.
La Paene left amateur boxing in February to earn more money.
He joined Extra Joss boxing camp in Cilandak, South Jakarta, and
has competed in the six-round, non-title bout in the Sabuk Emas
program broadcast live by private-owned RCTI.
His third performance, which will be held in eight rounds, is
set for May 15.
La Paene, who has no rank, must fight in 12-round bouts to
obtain national ranking.
He also sets a higher target of winning an OPBF (Oriental
Pacific Boxing Federation) title next year.
"An OPBF title is more prestigious than PABA (Pan Asia Boxing
Association) or IBF (International Boxing Federation) Continental
and it also offers more money. But there is tough competition
between Asian boxers to earn such a title. Insya Allah (God
willing), I could fight for it next year. It depends on my
performance this year."
La Paene said he received good returns in the televised
professional bouts.
"I get 70 percent of the commission while the manager, trainer
and boxing camp get the rest of it. I also get Rp 1 million
(US$84.5) from Extra Joss boxing camp for one bout.
"Money is a sure thing in professional boxing. I asked some of
my colleagues who attended the training program for the Southeast
Asian Games. They told me that they had not received their
allowances.
"Poor boxers! It's not a big problem for a young boxer, but
for those who have a family, money is a big thing," said the
father of two.
La Paene won by points against ranked 13th Yanto Saga of
Demak, Central Java, in Tuesday's match. He pocketed Rp 3.5
million from the non-title bout.
"I might get a raise in my next bout."
La Paene's coach Boy Kelung targeted his boxer to grab the
national champion title in September.
Boy also said that Vecky, formerly an amateur boxer, would not
pose a big threat to La Paene, because the latter managed to
floor Vecky in the national amateur boxing championships in
Manado, North Sulawesi, in 1994.
In contrast, Vecky has never competed in the Olympic Games
during his amateur career while La Paene's highest achievement
was reaching the 1996 Atlanta Olympics quarterfinals.
"La Paene outshines Vecky in technical skills and experience.
Vecky might have a better opportunity because he had experience
in performing in 12-rounds," Boy said.
Other potential contenders for La Paene are number one boxer
in the junior flyweight division Falazona Fidal and runner up
Damianus Jordan. Both are former amateur boxers.
La Paene said that knocking out a former amateur boxer was
more difficult than those without an amateur background.
"I would be more relaxed if I met a professional because he
would only depend on his punch and power. But a former amateur
boxer has comprehensive technical skills thus he is more
difficult to tame," he said. (ivy)