Hendropriyono urged to stay as KTI chief

JAKARTA (JP): A leading national fight promoter has asked Indonesian Pro-boxing Commission (KTI) chairman A.M Hendropriyono to reconsider his intention to step down from the top post of the organization.

"We still badly need such a figure with strong leadership great integrity and wide vision as Pak Hendro at the helm of KTI," promoter Anthon Sihombing said yesterday.

He said Hendropriyono could cooperate with everyone, and has proven beyond doubt that he has great dedication to the development of professional boxing in the country.

"I think instead of Pak Hendro, it is some certain individuals in the KTI executive board who must resign because they cannot work with the commission's chief," Anthon said.

Army Lt. General Hendropriyono, a former Jakarta Military Chief, expressed his wish to resign two weeks ago.

Rumors have it that the main reason behind Hendro's intention to leave KTI was State Minister of Youth Affairs and Sports Hayono Isman's wish that KTI and Pertina (Indonesian Amateur Boxing Association) be merged.

Anthon said if Hendropriyono does resign, he would be "the saddest man in Indonesia." "This means that the Suwito Lagola-Frans Pena fight next March for which I will be the promoter will be my last job as a fight promoter," Anthon said without elaborating.

Suwito, the Indonesian WBF (World Boxing Federation) welterweight champion, is scheduled to make his first defense of the title he won from Jaime Perma of the United States on Sept.30 against another American, Frans Pena, here on March 17.

But Anthon believed that Hendro's intention to step down would not be accepted by most participants attending the KTI Congress here on Dec. 16. (bas)