Boxing: Indonesia probes boxer’s death

Muhammad Afrizal, 30, died of a brain haemorrhage on Wednesday after a featherweight fight.

JAKARTA:
Indonesia has ordered an investigation after a boxer who was to be married in less than two weeks died of head injuries after a professional fight, said the sports minister. Muhammad Afrizal, 30, died of a brain haemorrhage on Wednesday after a featherweight fight over the weekend. “Boxing is an extreme sport, that’s why all the rules must be strictly applied,” said sports minister Andi Mallarangeng. “I have ordered BOPI [the professional sports body] to investigate whether all rules were properly applied during the fight.”


Published in The Express Tribune, April 6th, 2012.