Sports minister wants boxing to continue
Sports minister wants boxing to continue
JAKARTA (JP): Minister of Youth Affairs and Sports Hayono
Isman shrugged off yesterday calls for an end to boxing in
Indonesia following the a death of a boxer last week, saying that
the sport would continue.
"Don't seek a scapegoat for the accident. We know boxing is as
risky and tough as parachuting, white water rafting and other
dangerous sports," Hayono said during a meeting with chairman of
the Indonesian Boxing Commission, Hendropriyono, yesterday.
But Hayono did ask the commission to improve its safety
procedures in an effort to reduce the number of accidents during
matches.
Hendropriyono met Hayono to discuss the ill-fated bout in
which boxer Akbar Maulana lost his life last Friday.
National junior featherweight contender Akbar, 23, died 10
hours after undergoing surgery to remove a blood clot from his
brain. He fell unconscious after being knocked out by his
opponent, Bugiarso, in the 12th round of their title fight.
Akbar was the ninth fatality in the country's boxing history,
which began in 1959.
The Indonesian Medical Association (IDI) has, since 1983,
joined the World Medical Association in calling for the sport to
be banned.
"I'm very concerned about the accident," said Hayono, but
added that he found nothing wrong with the safety procedures
followed in professional boxing matches.
"The only problem is that the human resources do not implement
the measures as expected," Hayono said.
Hayono, who was accompanied by staff member Imam Suyudi during
the meeting, criticized pugilists who, for various reasons,
refused to compete in amateur competitions before turning
professional.
"Amateur competitions serve as a grounding for professional
boxers, a means for them to improve their physical endurance and
skills," Hayono said. He asked promoters to exclude boxers who
wanted to start a professional career prior to accruing an
amateur record.
Hendropriyono echoed Hayono's concern regarding Akbar's death,
but said that the accident was outside anyone's control.
"I'm not going to blame the referee for not stopping the bout
earlier. We never know precisely the level of a boxer's physical
fitness in such a fierce bout," he said.
Hendropriyono, a former Jakarta Military commander, added his
voice to those resisting the IDI's position that boxing be
banned. "It's better if we join forces to improve the quality of
safety of our national boxing," he said.
He also said that the boxing commission would soon hold a
public discussion on the topic of safe bouts. (amd)