La Paene joins Extra Joss boxing camp

JAKARTA (JP): Only four days after leaving amateur boxing and the Southeast Asian (SEA) Games training camp, flyweight boxer La Paene Masara embarked on his professional career on Monday by joining the Extra Joss boxing camp in Cilandak, South Jakarta.

The camp manager, Waris, said Extra Joss, an energy drink produced by PT Bintang Toedjoe, offered the boxer a job and a residence.

"The contract does not cover a certain period. As long as he still wants to train and compete, he can join us here. His job application is still being processed. The company has to consider La Paene's experience and other specific requirements. The company also has given him a house in Cilandak," he said.

Waris said it was La Paene's own decision to join the camp. He also said he had La Paene's resignation letter to the Indonesian Amateur Boxing Association (Pertina)'s Jakarta chapter.

La Paene is scheduled to make his professional debut next month. Two private TV stations, Indosiar and RCTI, broadcast live professional boxing matches every week.

"He will be paid after he fights. The amount of compensation will be decided by the promoter. I'm looking for a promoter for him, but he might not appear every week. It will depend on his physical condition," Waris said.

La Paene's new coach, Boy Kelung, said the boxer must train hard to survive in pro boxing.

"He has to be active. When he was still an amateur boxer, he could skip training whenever he wanted to, but starting now he must be more diligent. An amateur boxer needs speed, but a professional boxer must have good timing.

"Though he will have a new job soon, he must concentrate on his training," he said.

Boy, who is also in charge of the technical division at the Jakarta chapter of Pertina, confirmed that nobody interfered in La Paene's decision to join the Extra Joss boxing camp.

He also said he was positive La Paene would attract numerous promoters. "He has quite a good reputation and also a big name."

La Paene left amateur boxing on Thursday after Pertina failed to fulfill its promise to provide him with a job. He had been asking Pertina and its Jakarta chapter for the past four years to secure him a job to allow him to support his wife Nuraini and their two children.

His demands, however, went unanswered. As a result he followed the lead of Hermansen Ballo and quit the Games training program without first notifying Pertina.

La Paene's highest achievement to date was reaching the quarterfinals of the 1996 Olympic Games in Atlanta. He also won gold at the 1997 SEA Games in Jakarta and a bronze medal two years later at the Brunei SEA Games. (ivy)