Promoter Boy Bolang passes away at 56

The Jakarta Post, Jakarta

The local sports world is mourning the loss of professional boxing promoter Boy Bolang after he passed away on Friday at 5:33 p.m. from complications resulting from multiple strokes.

The 56-year old promoter, and national gold medalist, was hospitalized at Pertamina Hospital in South Jakarta after falling into a coma last week.

It was Boy's third stroke, who became famous for putting Indonesian boxer Ellyas Pical on the world stage, winning the IBF flyweight world championships title in 1985.

Boy was born on Jan. 12, 1948 in a family of boxers. He started boxing seriously at 14 with his father, Yohanes Bolang, and older brother Johny Bolang as his coaches.

In 1973, he won a gold medal in the eighth National Games and held the national championships middleweight title for three year.

Boy started his career as a professional promoter in 1977.

Syamsul Anwar, a close friend and fellow boxer, said that Boy could never run from his passion for boxing.

"He has this special gift to influence others to fall in love with boxing in a matter of hours," he told The Jakarta Post.

Syamsul added that no other promoter in the country had equaled Boy's accomplishments.