Indonesian boxers full of big ambition, but paid very little

Musthofid, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta

Newcomer Edo Anggoro was shadow boxing and relentlessly delivering potentially lethal jabs at an invisible target only he could see to test his own power. He alternately threw the right and then the left, his body was bent low and his head was bobbing and weaving like a mini version of Smokin' Joe Frazier.

Edo was in a changing room at a private television station, Thursday, around midnight. The 18-year-old professional boxer was warming up for his ring show. It would be his fourth fight but the first one to be televised.

"Ten minutes. Be ready in ten minutes," a member of his camp told him.

Edo looked up, donned his hooded robe and continued the exercises while his trainer gave him some last-minute instructions. Later, a television crew entered the room, telling him he was on. It was showtime.

The boxer pounded his fists together to psych himself up and jogged out of the ante room ready for battle.

Less than an hour later, Edo and his entourage, from the Amphibi Boxing Camp, were back in the dressing room shouting and jumping for joy, elated. He was declared the winner over his opponent Joe Japata, from the Texmaco Bulungan training camp, in a junior flyweight nontitle bout.

"His punches were pretty hard. Luckily I remained standing," Edo proudly said. "It was the first time I had fought eight rounds. I did six rounds before," he added.

Televised boxing contests have been on primetime here for the past three years. Boxing enthusiasts can flip on their television sets every Thursday and Friday on Indosiar, and every Tuesday on RCTI to watch the fights.

Despite the high number of matches on television, which could be a good omen for lucrative boxing entertainment, the boxers do not seem to get their fair share of the profits.

"I was paid Rp 600,000 (US$59) for the fight," Edo told The Jakarta Post, but only after he received permission from the person beside him to reveal his pay.

"I'm still fighting to improve my national ranking. I will probably get better pay if I improve my ranking," said Edo, who kept a perfect record for his fledgling pro career -- four wins no defeats, no draws.

Gugun Gumelar, who prefers to use his newly-adopted nickname Gun Tinular for ring fights, admitted to being paid Rp 800,000 during his fight the same evening.

But even that sum had to be divided by 25 percent for his manager and 10 percent for the trainer. Gugun, 19, was defeated on points by Yopie Benu in the flyweight category.

Elly Pical, Indonesia's first world champion, was the highest paid boxer in the country. During his heyday in the 1980s he could earn up to Rp 30 million per fight, which was a handsome payday -- approximately US$ 13,000 -- back when the rupiah was stronger against the dollar.

People might be astonished at the low pay that boxers get while literally risking death in Indonesian boxing matches which have recently shocked the sports world with five ring deaths in the past 18 months.

It was a similar story for Armendo de Araujo, whose date with Julius Baga in the featherweight bout was the main event during the evening's made-for-television boxing show.

Armendo, 23 years old and hailing from East Timor, was notified about his fight only two days before the fight. He stepped into the ring as a last minute replacement for Aromamis, who was ill.

Boxing in the main event, Armendo was paid a higher sum than the fighters in the preliminary bouts with a payday of Rp 1 million (just under $100).

These professional athletes could have complained about the pay, but the consequence would probably be that promoters and managers would never give them another fight. So, their ambition for a better future obviously forces them to abandon expectations of better pay now.

"I'm not too bothered. For me money is no problem. I want a title. This is not a short-term business," Edo said.

Edo's explanation was understandable. He admitted he had already been spoiled by his rising star status.

"Never before have I slept in luxury hotels, nor have I ever been aboard a plane. Now, I have experienced both of those things," he said proudly.

Edo, Gugun, Armendo, and many more, admit to feeling appalled by the vulnerability of the boxing contests in the country and the low pay.

Despite their relative success in their sport, they were all unaware of the affect that the World Boxing Council's six-month suspension imposed on Indonesia, might have on the development of boxing. They said it would not affect them or deter them from boxing in the future.

"I am aware of the dangers, but, because this is a profession, I don't feel it is a burden," Armendo said. "I can't run away from boxing. It is my hobby as well as my job," he added.

"My mother told me to 'stand up on your feet while you can'," Edo said.