Lesson from pugilist's death

Lesson from pugilist's death

From Pikiran Rakyat

As a fan of the Indonesian Professional Boxing Exhibition, I deeply rue the death of our beloved pugilist Alfaridzhi. Despite the fact that death is by the will of God, the calamity that befell Alfa could have been avoided through the roles of the ringside doctor, the manager, the coach and the referee.

The referee, the coach and the doctor should have stopped the game when the boxer became unsteady on his feet after the second round and before he was totally overwhelmed in the eighth round. Alfa was knocked down several times but managed to get back on his feet and face his rival. However, all he did was save face.

As a layman in boxing, I was deeply concerned about the jeering that occurred during the bout and wondered why the referee did not immediately put an end to the game or intercept Alfa's opponent in the eighth round when he was being cornered and received heavy blows. However, he did not collapse since the rope supported him. It was here the referee should have used his discretion.

This disaster should not have happened to Alfa and should catch the attention of the boxing authority in this country. In the United States, hardly do we hear about a pugilist dying a useless death owing to the carelessness of the people around him.

We are very proud of and happy with the live broadcasts from Indosiar and RCTI. Millions of people enjoy the programs, which are naturally expected to encourage the local boxing world. Indosiar makes money from advertisements, and boxing flourishes. But to prevent such an incident from recurring, the technical qualities of the referee, the doctor and the coach should not be ignored.

It is perfectly true that each profession has its consequences, but deaths can surely be minimized. I express my sincerest sympathy over his death. May the bereaved be strong in facing their loss.

RANA RUSMANTANA

Bandung