Indonesian Lightweight Hero Tito Dies After Days in a Coma From Injuries in Title Bout
By Robert Brizel, Head Real Combat Media Boxing Correspondent
Jakarta, Indonesia (March 6th, 2022)– In the first such tragedy in Indonesia since 2013, Indonesian lightweight contender Hero Tito Purwanto, age 35, died on Thursday, March 3, 2022, at Mitra Keluarga Kelapa Gading Hospital in Jakarta, according to the family, after several days in a coma after getting knocked out in the seventh round by a one punch uppercut thrown by Jame Mokoginita at Holywings Club, Gatot Subrato, in Jakarta, on an Amir Tan Promotions card, in a vacant Indonesian Boxing Association ATI/IBA Lightweight title bout. The bout result has yet to be posted on BoxRec to its controversial ending, and was a rematch of a June 2015 bout won by Tito over Mokoginta by eight-round decision.
A 47 bout veteran since 2004, in his 16-year pro career, Tito posted a record of 29 wins, 17 losses, and two draws, with 11 knockouts. 31 of his bouts went to a decision. Tito held the Indonesian Super Featherweight title between 2012 to 2013, and the Indonesian lightweight title in 2016. Tito fought for the World Boxing Council Asian regional titles three times, and the World Boxing Association Asian regional titles twice, though he did not win any of the major five regional title bouts. Tito fought on the Manny Pacquiao versus Brandon Rios undercard in Macau in November 2013, losing a majority six round decision to future world title challenger Ik Yang.
Tito was inactive for 23 months during the COVID-19 Novel coronavirus Pandemic between May 2019 and April 2021. On April 4, 2021, Tito scored an upset in his first comeback attempt, a 10 round majority decision win over 15-0 Indonesian lightweight contender Hebi Marabu in Jakarta. On November 7, 2021, Tito won a six-round decision over 34 bout Indonesian veteran Hendy Luis in Malang. On December 5, 2021, Tito lost an eight-round decision to 9-0 Karthik Sathish Kumar of India for the World Boxing Council Asian Boxing Council Silver Lightweight title in Hyderabad, India.
Tito leaves behind a wife and two young children. Matchmaker Rosa Kusuma, who had organized a number of Tito’s fights, released a statement from Tito’s wife, Didin Nurul Wijayanti, thanking the general Indonesian public for their emotional support. “She (Hero Tito’s widow) thanks all the boxing people who always gave support and prayers for (her husband) Hero Tito. Thank you for all your kindness to us and our family,” reads the statement. Tito’s body was returned to his family in their hometown of Malang, in the East Java province of Indonesia. Tito’s passing was the 31st such loss in Indonesian boxing history. The last Indonesian tragedy was Tubagus Setia Sakti, who died the day after his bout in January 2013.
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