The Governor of Central Java, Ahmad Luthfi, officially opened the National Boxing Championship competing for the Central Java Governor's Golden Belt and the Indonesian Boxing Association (ATI) Golden Belt at the Sahid Jaya Hotel, Surakarta, on Saturday (4/7/2026). This step is a strong signal of the Central Java Provincial Government's efforts to restore the glory of boxing, which once produced world-class boxers.
In his speech, Luthfi emphasized that the event was not just a competition, but a momentum of revival for local athletes. He highlighted the great potential of the province, ranging from the availability of training gyms to the abundance of potential young boxers who need a platform to hone their skills and build a disciplined character.
Furthermore, Luthfi asked the Central Java ATI management to be more aggressive in organizing competitions in various regions. He encouraged collaboration with local regional heads so that boxing matches can be held sustainably. According to him, this synergy is important to popularize boxing again as part of a lifestyle while supporting the sport tourism sector.
Responding to this support, the Central Java ATI Regional Leadership Council, Asri Purwanti, welcomed the provincial government's involvement. She acknowledged that real support from the Governor is the main key to raising Central Java's name again in the national boxing arena. Asri is determined to make this event an entry point to recruit superior talents capable of following in the footsteps of legendary boxers like Chris John.
Moving forward, the Central Java ATI plans to build networks with various institutions across all regions. This strategic step is expected to create a healthy and regular competitive climate, so that Central Java is not only a good host, but is also able to produce tough fighters who are competitive at national and international levels.
