I don't want to keep making my mother cry by constantly worrying about her child

Under the Flyover at Pasar Rebo, East Jakarta, the afternoon cadence of fists striking a punching bag echoed from beneath the bridge. The area, once infamous for clashes, now hosts youths on a ring training in boxing. Bintang, 22, a resident of Depok, says the change has been life‑altering. He acknowledges he spent much of his youth involved in street fighting. Now, his routine changes to boxing practice after work. “I don’t want to fight any more,” Bintang told Kompas.com on Monday, 18 May 2026. He recalls a time when life was dominated by activities that he believes brought little good. Fights and late-night hangouts became part of daily life since junior high school. “I was close to fighting from junior high. The activities — sorry — more negatives. Perhaps I can’t spell it out fully. There were many negative activities,” he said. He says the decision to change arose gradually from within. The circle of friends began to change, shaping his rethink about his life path. “More to personal awareness. How long will I carry on like this? Then many friends, for example Bang Fale who recently won in Bogor. That’s one of my motivations to join boxing. There’s also Bang Yunus and others,” he added. Yet behind it all, one reason stood strongest: “I don’t want to make my mother cry by constantly worrying about her child,” Bintang said. In the last three months, he feels his life has started to change. He is physically healthier, and his emotions are less easily provoked than before. Where anger used to be vented through street fights, he now channels that energy into hitting the punching bag or sparring in the ring.