Local newcomer outpoints Asian champion
By Johannes K. Simbolon
JAKARTA (JP): Little-known Indonesian light welterweight Meckson Barataman had local fans on their feet yesterday after upsetting Asian boxing champion Reynaldo Galigo of the Philippines in five scintillating rounds.
Making his SEA Games debut, the 23-year-old pummeled his way to a 13-10 victory on points against Galigo, a gold medalist in the Tehran Asian boxing championship a few months ago and a member of his nation's Olympic team in Atlanta last year.
Both fighters went blow for blow in the first four rounds. But Meckson managed to corner Galigo several times in the last round, bringing the almost 100 local boxing fans to hysteria point in the Soemantri Brojonegoro sports hall.
Galigo's camp was outraged by the their boxer's defeat.
"The decision is bullshit," said Philippine boxing head coach Rogellio Fortalezza, claiming the judgment was unfair because his fighter had come close to knocking Meckson down several times.
Fortalezza had earlier told The Jakarta Post he believed his team could take all the gold medals if refereeing was fair.
He had picked Galigo as one of the top candidates for gold.
The Indonesian did not want to say much after the match, preferring to pray in the locker room.
He next faces Thai Komgrit Nanakon, a points winner over Malaysian Jefry Simson yesterday.
Meckson said he was confident of beating Nanakon.
Indonesian featherweight Rico Maspaitella had no trouble against Brunei's Roslani Hj. Piut. The referee stopped the contest in the second round.
Thailand, which is seeking to take the lion's share of boxing medals, had a perfect day with victories for Songsak Kantao (pin class/45 kg), Pramuansak P (fly/51kg), Somchai Nakbale (feather/57kg), Komgrit and Pornchai Thongburan (light middle/71).
The technical president of the Amateur Boxing of Thailand, Maj. Gen. Taweep Jantararoj, said his contingent was optimistic of grabbing five to six of the 11 gold medals in the Games, despite the absence of Atlanta Olympic gold medalist Somlak Hamsing and bronze medalist Wychai Kadpho.
"This is a small game," he said of the decision not to field the two.