Former World Boxing Champion, Dobrak Arter, Now Works as a Parking Attendant

Kapanlagi.com - Does the name Wicahyono sound familiar to KLovers? Yup, he is a former professional boxer with the popular name Dobrak Arter. Who would have thought? Now he is a parking attendant, even though when he was still active as a boxer, he had become an international boxing champion.

"This is what I do. I work here for two days, on Tuesday and Wednesday," said Dobrak Arter at the parking location on Gajah Mada Street in Malang City, Wednesday (9/3).

Dobrak Arter admitted to working at two other parking locations on Ir Rais Street and Majapahit Street with a rotating schedule. He also sometimes helps with project security.

"Previously, I guarded the construction of the eastern Malang station, then the Kalpataru Hotel and now I guard the parking lot," he said.

1. From Boxer to Parking Attendant

Kapanlagicom/Darmadi Sasongko

Once, Wicahyono approached a motorcyclist who had just arrived at a coffee shop on Gajah Mada Street in Malang. Friendly greeting, he quickly adjusted the position of the helmet and straightened the motorcycle parking.

The athletic man with a black jacket and hat occasionally chatted with his two friends sitting on wooden chairs. Three small chairs lined up, one of which was used as a table for coffee and cigarettes.

While watching the motorcycles come and go, Wicahyono sat on the sidewalk facing his two friends. They chatted casually, but Wicahyono would quickly leave the conversation when he saw a motorcycle coming or going.

2. The Beginning of Becoming a Boxer

Dobrak Arter learned boxing from his family, as five of his seven siblings were involved in the boxing world. Arter's name itself is an abbreviation of Arek Terminal.

In 1993, Dobrak, who was of Ambonese descent, joined the Sawunggaling Boxing Camp in Surabaya. Promoter Aseng Sugiarto then brought him into the professional boxing ring.

3. Achieving Many Victories

Kapanlagicom/Darmadi Sasongko

A series of matches led him to become a champion from the flyweight class to the lightweight class. He has been a champion at the national, WBF, and IBO levels.

"I once fought in the WBF (World Boxing Federation) Intercontinental in Surabaya and the Pan Asia Pacific, but I forgot the year," said the man born in Malang on June 5, 1974.

He also won the junior lightweight gold belt of 58.9 kilograms in a professional boxing match at Inra Super Fight 2010, on Wednesday (April 21, 2010) evening at GOR Hayam Wuruk, Surabaya.

4. Economic Needs

He became a parking attendant because it was a necessity for his economic needs. Therefore, Dobrak Arter had to work hard. Being a parking attendant was far from a decent life, but there was no other alternative.

The parking attendant became the source of income for his family. Meanwhile, his wife, Kusuma Dewi, was already very busy with household chores taking care of their two children.

"That's why I had to think hard and work hard to have an income. I went around looking for ways to make money, no matter how much it was. The important thing is that I didn't cheat," he explained.

5. A House Far From Luxury

Kapanlagicom/Darmadi Sasongko

Dobrak lives in a simple house with his wife and two children behind Pasar Kasin Kota Malang. His two children are still in the 3rd grade of elementary school and 3rd grade of junior high school respectively.

"The income of a parking attendant cannot be predicted, sometimes it's not more than Rp80,000 a day, sometimes only Rp40,000," he explained.

6. Still Proud

Dobrak admits that he didn't earn much during his time as a boxer, even though he had an international reputation. However, he is still proud to be a boxer. In his free time, Dobrak Arter also still engages in physical training by running and gathering with other athletes.

"I once filled out a form to receive a house from the Minister of Youth and Sports three times, but it didn't come through. They gave me the form, but it didn't work out," Dobrak said.

7. Caring for Former Athlete

Kapanlagicom/Darmadi Sasongko

Despite living a life of scarcity, Dobrak Arter still donates his income to former boxer Marvin Harsen. The income from two days of parking duty every week is donated to his sick and blind friend.

According to Dobrak, Marvin's condition is such that he can no longer walk or see, and he lives alone. This is what prompted him and some boxing athletes to set aside some of their earnings for Marvin's living expenses.

"My friends and I look for parking spaces, I watch over them, and some of the earnings go to him for his daily meals," he said.

8. In Need of Help

Boxers exchange information through their community to find jobs, such as security or parking attendants. Therefore, many former athletes need attention.

Dobrak admits that he does not yet have a suitable private home for his family. The house he currently lives in is rented on a monthly payment basis. His income as a parking attendant is not enough to buy a house.

9. Not Just Breaking

Eko Nurcahyo, Secretary of the Indonesian Professional Boxing Commission (KTPI) in Malang City, revealed that some former boxers have had an unlucky fate. Despite achieving international-class achievements, their economic lives are quite concerning, including their lives in old age.

"Unlucky compared to the achievements they have made," he said.

Eko cited the example of a former world champion boxer who is now forced to become a masseur. A boxer also became blind or visually impaired. Eko also said that becoming visually impaired is because of boxing.

(kpl/dar/dyn)