WBC warns Indonesia of sanctions over ring deaths

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.