Conspiracy Is Suspected, The Papua PON Heavyweight Boxing Final Is Considered Invalid

Erico Kevin K. Amanupunjo (Papua) vs. Willis Boy Riripoy (Central Java) (Photo: PB PON XX PAPUA 2021/Silvester)

JAKARTA - The final 81-91 kg heavyweight boxing PON XX Papua between Erico Kevin K. Amanupunjo (Papua) vs. Willis Boy Riripoy (Central Java) is considered invalid. The fight that took place at the Cenderawasih Gymnasium, Jayapura on Wednesday ended in chaos.

This was conveyed by the head of the Pertina Papua Provincial Government, Ricky Ham Pagawak (RHP) at the Cenderawasih Sports Center, Jayapura, on Thursday night. According to RHP, the provincial administrator of Pertina Papua and General Chairperson of PP Pertina Komaruddin Simanjuntak have held a meeting to resolve the issue.

Komaruddin suggested that this issue be resolved between the Regional Government of Papua and the Regional Government of Central Java. Therefore, continued RHP, he immediately contacted the Governor of Papua, Lukas Enembe, to convey this problem.

As a result, the Governor of Papua ordered Plh. Papua Secretary Muhammad Ridwan Ruikutun, to discuss with representatives of the Central Java Regional Government, who are still in Jayapura.

“Me and Mr. Runomori immediately went to the Central Java Regional Government inn. It turned out that there was a Deputy Governor of Central Java, but he was not willing to accept us. This means that we judge that this case is part of a conspiracy that has been arranged, to defeat us, specifically in boxing," said RHP as quoted from the official website of PON Papua.

RHP explained that it openly conveyed the results obtained in the heavyweight match were invalid.

"Medals prepared for the heavyweight class are being held until we sit down together to prove that Central Java actually won, for what reason, or because there were other elements," he said.

Daily Chairperson of the Papua Province Pengprov Pertina Rahmad Marimbun said that if this matter was not immediately resolved, then his party would file a complaint with the Indonesian Sports Arbitration Board (BAORI).

Meanwhile, Secretary of the Papua Province Pengprov Pertina Septinus Jarisetouw said the XXPapua PON boxing match was extraordinary. His party as the committee has designed all matches to run well.

"It's just that the problem for us that causes chaos is the match apparatus, namely the referee or judge. It's a classic game from game to game, referees or judges always create problems," he said.

"If I see referees/judges are not professional, even though they have 1 star AIBA. But they do not have the ability to lead the game. A lot of athletes make mistakes, but they don't give a warning, causing a skewed assessment," he said.

It is known, the riot started during the match at the end of round 3. An Erico right hook hit Willis causing Willis' right temple to tear. Referee Royke Waney from North Sulawesi temporarily suspended the match and asked the ring doctor to examine Willis' laceration.

Because the torn wound endangered Willis, the ring doctor gave a code so that the match was stopped or Erico won the RSC (Referee Stops Contest). Surprisingly, a few seconds later the referee raised Willis' hand as the winner.

This made the Papuan camp not accept what had led to chaos. Until now there has been no decision on the winner of the heavyweight boxing PON XX Papua.