Youth and Sports Minister Imam Nahrawi (left) shares a light moment with Ellyas Pical, the first Indonesian boxer to win a world title in the junior bantamweight category from the International Boxing Federation (IBF), during a visit to Ellyas\' house in Kunciran, Tangerang, Banten, on Friday (10/3). The visit aimed to offer support to Ellyas, who has recently returned home from the hospital after being treated for a heart attack.
Ellyas Pical spoke of his desire to continue to carry out his activities to his guests, celebrity Olga Lydia, film director Robby Ertanto and Youth and Sports Minister Imam Nahrawi, who visited his house on Friday afternoon.
The former International Boxing Federation (IBF) junior world bantamweight champion is now nearing the 60 years of age and hopes to play in a movie. Olga Lydia came to Elly’s house to begin filming a biographical movie about his life story.
“I can still play in a film. Please pray that I stay healthy so that I can be in a film,” Elly said haltingly.
“My left hand can still send someone to the grave. The right hand only to the hospital,” joked Elly about his punching power.
With his hands, Elly knocked down Chun Ju-do, a junior world bantamweight champion from South Korea in the eighth round of IBF world title third place play-off on May 3, 1985.
Elly seemed excited when talking about his heyday in the ring between 1985 and 1989. Yesterday afternoon, at the terrace of his house, Elly tried to show his strength to defy his aging condition.
Elly is in a recovery period after suffering a heart attack recently, only a few weeks before his birthday on March 24. A ring repair surgery at the Harapan Kita Hospital brought hope to Elly’s recovery.
“I still need to take care of myself and not get too tired and stay on top of a healthy diet,” Elly said.
He has tried walking as exercise even if it is only getting in and out of his home or walking on the small streets in front of his house in Duta Bintaro, Tangerang.
Rina Siahaya Pical, Elly’s wife, said that her husband had never fallen ill. It is only now that Elly is suffering from a serious health condition, which has forced him to rest.
The boxer, who did not finish elementary school, has had highs and lows throughout his life.
Since 2007, Elly has been working as an administration staff member at the National Sports Council (KONI) office. He previously worked as a security guard. His work at KONI serves to provide him with an activity in his old age. His wage as an honorary staff member, according to Rina, is less than Rp 2 million a month. Elly goes to work and back home on an angkot (public minivan). Two years before he fell ill, Elly had briefly worked as a mixed martial arts and boxing coach at a gym to earn additional income and to keep himself busy.
Elly is fortunate to have the cost of his heart surgery paid for by the Healthcare and Social Security Agency (BPJS). Elly’s treatment has been compensated by the Youth and Sports Minister as well, but he does not want to disclose the amount. “We are grateful to be able to live life, even if in a simple way,” Rina said.
