Indonesian boxers full of big ambition, but paid very little

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.