Boxing fans mourn Alfaridzi's death

Boxing fans mourn Alfaridzi's death

BANDUNG (JP): Thousands of boxing fans flocked Muhammad "Alfa"
Alfaridzi's house on Jl. Cijerah, West Bandung, from dawn on
Tuesday to say goodbye to their idol who passed away after
falling into a coma for three days after he was knocked out in
his final match.

Some of the mourners were Pino Bahari, son of promoter Daniel
Bahari, chairman of the Indonesian Boxing Promoter Association
(Gaprotin) Tourino Tidar and West Java regional military
commander Maj. Gen. Zainuri Hasyim.

Alfaridzi's parents Josis Siswojo and Imas Yuyu collapsed
during the funeral while others failed to hide their tears.

Alfa passed away on Monday at 9.28 p.m. after undergoing brain
surgery early Saturday morning. He was knocked out by Thai
Kongtawat Ora in the eighth round of a 10-round-match late Friday
in Bogor and never regained consciousness.

Josis said Alfa had given strange signs as he asked Imas last
month if he would be called as a martyr if he died in a match
because he fought to earn money for his family.

Alfa also asked his mother to buy him perfume as he wanted to
smell good after the fight.

"I had worked hard to train Alfa to become a great boxer. He
was a great boxer ... if he had to die at a young age, I think it
was his destiny," Josis said, adding that he would close down his
Anak Bandung boxing club.

Alfa's younger brother Muhammad Arief Almahdi, who ranks sixth
nationally in the junior lightweight division, opted to quit his
professional boxing career and denied reports saying that Josis
forced Alfa to fight to death.

"In the third round, Ayah (father) had asked Alfa if he wanted
to quit as his physical fitness was weakening but my brother
refused. In the seventh round, Ayah was about to ask the referee
to stop the match but he didn't do so because Alfa wanted to go
on."

Arief said Alfa suffered diarrhea two days before the match
but the ring doctor said Alfa was able to compete.

"It's not easy to cancel the match because the boxer must pay
compensation which amounts to double the cost of the match.
Besides, the cancellation should be done several days in advance
to allow Indosiar to find a substitute boxer."

Human error

"This is totally human error. I think all parties tried to
follow the rules and procedures, but still we suffered an
accident. Even a world-class referee could make a mistake,"
Tourino said, asking boxing fans not to blame the referee, who
did not count although Alfa was knocked down three times.

Tourino hoped that Alfa's death would not diminish
professional boxing development in the country, which has become
a high profile sport thanks to frequent matches broadcast on
private TV channels Indosiar and RCTI.

The National Sports Council (KONI) vice chairman, Arie Sudewo
expressed his grief over the boxer's death.

"We're really sorry about his death because Alfaridzi was a
good boxer. He built his career starting as an amateur boxer. I
hope such a sad accident will not happen again in the future."

Alfa's best friend Soleh Sundava -- who took over Alfa's belt
in the featherweight division last year -- expressed his loss.

"Alfa was a very good boxer with superior skills although he
also had weaknesses in his defense and physical fitness," he said
as quoted by Antara.

"Technically, he should have won the match but ... I think it
was his destiny ..."

"Alfa was my rival in the ring but he was my best friend. We
were in the same team during our amateur career. I have really
lost a true friend.

Good-looking Alfa was known for his smile. He started his
career as an amateur in 1989.

Boxing observer Syamsul Anwar Harahap said: "Alfaridzi's death
is an important lesson for other boxers specially the younger
generation. They must be aware of their own physical condition
before fighting."

Alfa, who was born in Bandung on Feb. 8, 1977, often won
national tournaments. In 1997, he switched to be a pro and
claimed the featherweight national champion title.

Since competing regularly in the live-broadcast matches on
Indosiar, Alfa became an idol, specially in his hometown Bandung.
(25/nvn/yan)