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.