WBC alarmed by high death toll in Indonesia boxing

WBC alarmed by high death toll in Indonesia boxing

Musthofid, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta

The World Boxing Council (WBC) expressed its deep concern over
poorly organized boxing contests in Indonesia, which have
resulted in a series of fatalities over the past 10 months.

The professional organization also called for a meeting with
the country's boxing representatives to cope with the issue.

The post-fight death toll has been so alarming that the WBC
described it as "harming the world image of boxing."

Donny Maramis, who died from brain concussion following his KO
defeat by Stanley Kalalo in a national featherweight bout on Oct.
27 in Manado, North Sulawesi, became the latest victim.

Donny was the fifth fight casualty in 18 months after Moh.
Alfaridzi, John Namtilu, Bayu Young Iray and Dipo Saloko, or the
fourth within just 10 months. Ring organizers have been blamed
particularly for negligence in following the medical regulations.

"We must do something in Indonesia. It's absolutely
unbelievable that there have been four deaths in only 10 months
in this country," WBC President Jose Sulaiman said, as quoted by
his Indonesian representative Chandru Lalwani here on Monday.

The issue with respect to Indonesian boxing was raised by WBC
in its return letter to the OPBF (Oriental Pacific Boxing
Federation) early this month.

Adding to the woes of the country's proboxing businesses,
which have these days gained nationwide promotion through private
TV stations, were Nyong Manopo, Midun and Maxi Kelan, the three
having sustained permanent brain damage.

Chandru said that the issue would be discussed at the WBC
convention, scheduled for Dec. 2-8 in Pattaya, Thailand.

"The WBC hopes representatives either from KTI or ATI will
attend the meeting to explain what is happening within boxing in
Indonesia," Chandru said.

He was referring to Indonesia's two rival boxing governing
bodies. KTI is the Indonesian Boxing Commission, and ATI, which
was established only last year, is the Indonesian Boxing
Association.

They are expected to meet with medical board members, ring
official committee leaders and senior WBC administrators.

"We shall see if efforts should be made to minimize the
likelihood of the same incidents occurring in the future. But we
will have to get their (KTI/ATI) input first, before making any
decisions," said Chandru, himself a former official of ATI.

The Indonesian representatives will have to give an account of
how boxing contests are held in relation to the world's boxing
codes, especially refereeing, medical regulations, boxing
licenses and boxers' provision of the "Black Book" (fight
records).

The 39th WBC convention will generally shed light on the
medical workshop, ring officiating and trainers' clinics, with
representation expected from around 160 countries.

The convention was slated to be held in Jakarta from Nov. 11
through Nov. 17 but Indonesia pulled out because of the conflict
between the two controlling bodies.

Pro-boxing fatalities

(Boxers, Date, KO):
Dipo Saloko, June 2000, 5th;
Bayu Young Iray, Sept. 2000, 6th;
John Namtilu, Feb. 2001, 4th;
Moh. Alfaridzi, April 2001, 8th;
Donny Maramis, Oct. 2001, 7th.