Rigid compliance with boxing codes urged

Rigid compliance with boxing codes urged

JAKARTA (JP): The number of deaths in boxing has sounded
alarm bells, with people in the Indonesian boxing industry
needing to give a greater commitment to safety, according to a
discussion here on Friday.

Since 1948, as many as 16 boxers have died in the aftermath of
their bouts in the ring and, to the horror of the national boxing
industry, four of them have perished within the last ten months.
The latest victim was Moh. Alfaridzi, Martinez dos Santos told
the forum held by the Indonesian Sports Journalists Organization
(SIWO).

Alfaridzi, a former amateur boxer, died from a blood clot in
his brain following three knock-downs in a fight against
Khongtawat Ora of Thailand on April 3 this year. The Bandung
native had conceded two KO defeats within a few months before the
fatal fight.

"The high number of deaths indicates a shortfall on the part
of event organizers, which includes promoters, managers, ring
attendants and even trainers, in addressing the boxers' safety,"
Martinez said.

The Indonesian Professional Boxing Commission (KTI), through
its disciplinary panel, is also deemed to be inconsistent in
asserting itself as a supervising and controlling body, he added.

Concerns about boxers' safety have grown now that pro-boxing
contests have become more popular on television.

The issues were raised as a warning for KTI, which will
convene in Semarang, Central Java, from Aug. 29 to Sept. 1.

One of the conference's objectives is to elect the
commission's new chairman.

SIWO, which is invited to the congress, will propose the
discussion results for consideration at the conference. Another
item in the proposal includes a number of criteria relating to
the chairmanship. (01)