April 04, 2012
The ghosts of Indonesian boxing’s past came out on Wednesday as super featherweight Muhammad Des Afrizal died from a brain injury he suffered while trying to defend his title.
Afrizal, also known as Afrizal Cotto, passed away on Wednesday morning after sustaining a brain hemorrhage during a national championship bout in Jakarta on Saturday. He was 30 years old.
“This is a tragedy in our boxing history,” Indonesian Boxing Commission (KTI) chairman Anton Sihombing said. “We have to do our best to prevent a reoccurrence in the future.”
The West Sumatra native was rushed to hospital after the fight, where had lost the KTI super featherweight title to Irvan Barita Marbun. The bout took place at Indosiar’s television studio in West Jakarta.
Afrizal was knocked down in the third round, but he got back up and kept fighting. Irvan won by unanimous decision after 12 rounds. After the bout, Afrizal managed to walk out of the ring, but he lost consciousness in the locker room and was immediately rushed to nearby Royal Hospital.
As his condition worsened he was transferred to UKI Hospital in East Jakarta, and he received brain surgery there on Sunday.
But he never woke back up, and on Wednesday at 5 a.m. he died from a subdural hematoma, a collection of blood on the surface of the brain.
UKI doctor Tommy Halauwet said his team had done its best.
“But the injures were quite severe. He couldn’t be saved,” Tommy said. He criticized KTI, saying this wasn’t the first time something like this had happened.
Some said the incident could have been prevented.
Martinez Dos Santos, a boxing commentator who watched the fight, said officials should have intervened.
“Afrizal was knocked down in the third round and from that point on it was a one-sided affair,” Martinez said. “It got worse in the 10th round; Afrizal could barely defend himself. The referees should have put a stop to it then.”
Afrizal is Indonesia’s 28th boxing casualty since 1948. The last fatality was Anis Dwi Mulya in 2007.
In early 2002, the World Boxing Council banned Indonesian boxers from fighting in WBC-sanctioned bouts outside the country following a series of deaths in 2001. The ban was lifted in July 2002 on the condition that Indonesia impose safety rules and form a commission to monitor matches.
Afrizal’s manager Azhar Latif said his client’s remains were flown to his hometown of Padang, West Sumatra, on Wednesday afternoon.
“He was a good friend and a great boxer,” Azhar said. “This is a great loss for us at PDAM Padang Gym.”
Azhar continued: “He was getting married on April 15. That’s the saddest thing.”
Azhar demanded that KTI investigate the incident.
“Someone has to take responsibility for this,” he said.
(according to the JG)
do 5 apr 2012 - 1:51