WBA hosts WBA convention

Wahyoe Boediwardhana, The Jakarta Post, Denpasar, Bali

The 82nd convention of the World Boxing Association has begun on Tuesday in Bali, with its Indonesian affiliate saying it would use the opportunity to push for the country's prospect boxers to move up to the international scene.

WBA President Gilberto Mendoza, accompanied by Minister of Manpower Jacob Nuwa Wea, officially opened the two-day convention at the Discovery Kartika Plaza in Kuta, to where 50 of 120 member countries have sent their representatives.

Participants have converged on Bali from Argentina, Australia, Brazil, Colombia, Czech, Germany, the Honduras, Japan, Mexico, the Netherlands, Nicaragua, Panama, Spain, Sweden and Thailand.

Eddy Pirih, an official of the WBA-affiliate Indonesian Boxing Committee (KTI), hoped that they could use the occasion to lobby boxing promoters.

"We will ask that they pay attention to the skills of our boxers and give them the chance to fight in the international arena," Eddy said after the opening ceremony.

Eddy, himself a promoter, said the annual convention would shed light on professional boxing rules, as well as discuss the agenda for the next meeting, the venue of which has yet to be decided.

The Bali meet could have seen the arrival of renowned, world- class promoter Don King, but he did not join the convention because of a U.S. government advisory against traveling to Indonesia.

The two title fights for Thursday and Friday were scheduled on the eve of the convention.

Daudy Bahari of Indonesia and Kiatchai Coin of Thailand will fight on Thursday for the Pacific Asia Boxing Association (PABA) junior welterweight title, while Indonesian featherweight Chris Jhon will fight for the WBA crown on Friday against Oscar Leon of Colombia.

Pino Bahari, the match organizer, said the WBA title was up for grabs after incumbent champion Derrick Gainer of the U.S. signed up for the International Boxing Federation (IBF) championship.