WBC warns Indonesia of sanctions over ring deaths
Musthofid, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta
The World Boxing Council (WBC) is likely to sanction Indonesia over the number of deaths in the country's boxing rings.
However, a local boxing official has complained that the reports have been blown out of proportion.
The death toll in professional bouts in the country is deemed so alarming -- five in less than two years -- that it prompted the WBC and its Asia-Pacific affiliate OPBF to express its deep concern early this month.
"I think I must give an early warning for boxing authorities to heed the issues seriously in the future," Chandru Lalwani, the WBC representative in Indonesia, told The Jakarta Post on Monday night.
He also said that an explanation about the role of three organizations, each of which claimed to be the legitimate pro- boxing authority in Indonesia, would also needed.
Donny Maramis, who died from brain concussion following his knock-out defeat by Stanley Kalalo in a national featherweight bout on Oct. 27 in Manado, North Sulawesi, was the fifth fight casualty in 18 months and the fourth within just 10 months. The other fatalities included, Moh. Alfaridzi, John Namtilu, Bayu Young Iray and Dipo Saloko,
Chandru said demands had mounted among the 18-strong OPBF members that Indonesia account for the recent deaths during the upcoming WBC convention in Pattaya, Thailand, from Dec. 2 to Dec. 8.
"If the explanation is not satisfactory, they are likely to vote for possible sanctions and this must be discouraging to Indonesian boxing.
"The sanctions can be in the form of precautionary statements that Indonesian boxing is not safe. Consequently, foreign boxers would be deterred from visiting Indonesia and Indonesian boxers would be barred from overseas fights, particularly those under WBC and OPBF auspices," Chandru said.
Indonesian Boxing Commission (KTI) deputy chairman Ebet Hutagalung, said that the commission would send a team, led by chairman Anthon Sihombing, to Thailand.
Asked what it had to present to the commission, he said: "We will say that all the boxers have been medically cleared for the fights. Doctors have carried out their duties.
"What should be the main concern is the hidden factors. It appeared that the boxers had not equipped themselves with the 'black book'. There was no transparency in their boxing records," he said.
Ebet also complained of ring deaths having been blown out of proportion, which he said were the work of "my friends in the boxing community.
"I believe some friends within the boxing community indulge in speaking ill about Indonesian boxing. That's why WBC and OPBF look so eager to push forward with the issue," Ebet said.
But he would not disclose the names of persons or institutions allegedly involved.
Given rivalries in national pro-boxing, which resulted in the establishment of the Indonesia Boxing Association (ATI), fingers of suspicion could probably be pointed at this fledgling rival.
However, Chandru, who had worked for both the KTI and ATI, might also be placed on the blame list as he once hinted that whenever he talked about boxing betterment he drew suspicion from the KTI and the ATI.
"I just want to optimize my role as WBC representative. Otherwise people would blame of being idle over the issue," he said.