| |
|
WBO Exec Off to Korea Following Choi's Death
By Salven L. Lagumbay PhilBoxing.com Thu, 03 Jan 2008
WBO Asia Pacific Chairman Leon Panoncillo is leaving for South Korea to personally attend Yo-Sam Choi's burial and extend his organization's condolences for the boxer's fate.
Choi, who had been in a coma since successfully defending his WBO Intercontinental flyweight crown on December 25th in Seoul, South Korea, passed away at around midnight Wednesday after being removed from a life-support device.
"We deeply mourn his passing, and we are extending our deepest condolences to the family. This is something we don't want to happen to any boxer, but things like this happen in the sport," said Panoncillo in an interview.
The fighter was declared brain dead on Tuesday by the Seoul Asan Hospital after two examinations by a nine-member panel.
Choi (32-5, 19 KOs) was the former WBC light flyweight title holder who won the crown from Saman Sorjaturong in October 1999 and defended it four times before losing it to Jorge Arce.
Panoncillo added that more safety measures should be undertaken by boxing authorities, indicating that the boxers' safety should be the paramount consideration at any given time.
Click here to view a list of other articles written by Salven L. Lagumbay.
Recent PhilBoxing.com In-House articles:
THE PAST WEEK IN ACTION 25 JANUARY 2026: Raymund Muratalla Edges Andy Cruz; Walsh Outpoints Ocampo By Eric Armit, , Mon, 26 Jan 2026MFPI 5th Mindanao Summit at Mt. Apo on February 19-22 By Lito delos Reyes, , Mon, 26 Jan 2026OLYMPIC BOXING 8: 1948 OLYMPICS AT LONDON, UNITED KINGDOM By Maloney L. Samaco, , Mon, 26 Jan 2026Golden Gloves Launches on Meta Quest Store, Establishing the First Official Esports Competition Pathway for Amateur Boxing , Mon, 26 Jan 2026Andy Cruz vs Raymond Muratalla: Who Will Execute? By Chris Carlson, , Sat, 24 Jan 2026Libranza to fight undefeated Tso for IBF Pan Pacific bantam By Lito delos Reyes, , Sat, 24 Jan 2026Filipino Cue Artist RJ Bautista Ready to Shine at the Las Vegas Open 2026 By Marlon Bernardino, , Sat, 24 Jan 2026MURATALLA VS. CRUZ WEIGHTS AND RUNNING ORDER , Sat, 24 Jan 2026Xander Zayas vs. Abass Baraou Fight Week Events to Stream LIVE on Top Rank’s Social Media Channels , Sat, 24 Jan 2026Ballesteros not yet ready against Ocum By Lito delos Reyes, , Sat, 24 Jan 2026Chocolatito Gonzalez to undergo shoulder surgery By Gabriel F. Cordero, , Sat, 24 Jan 2026NM Nika finishes Sixth in Czech Republic Blitz chess tourney By Marlon Bernardino, , Sat, 24 Jan 2026The Ninth Annual Box Fan Expo RETURNS! Saturday May 2, 2026 at the Las Vegas Convention Center, Las Vegas, NV , Sat, 24 Jan 2026Donaire back in Cebu By Joaquin Henson, , Fri, 23 Jan 2026MURATALLA VS. CRUZ IN LAS VEGAS FINAL PRESS CONFERENCE QUOTES , Fri, 23 Jan 2026Four Pinoys in line for title shots By Joaquin Henson, , Fri, 23 Jan 2026After the meeting in Mexico City, the WBC is ready for 2026 By Gabriel F. Cordero, , Fri, 23 Jan 2026Former world title challenger Jerry Belmontes Returns to ring at home after nearly a decade in Retirement on January 31 in Texas , Fri, 23 Jan 2026SUPER MIDDLEWEIGHT RONNY ALVAREZ TRAINING CAMP NOTES , Thu, 22 Jan 2026STRICKLAND STUNS REYES AS SOUQUET SEALS REDEMPTION | WNT LEGENDS , Thu, 22 Jan 2026Knicks defeats Nets 120-66 to post largest margin of victory in franchise history By Gabriel F. Cordero, , Thu, 22 Jan 2026Mauricio Sulaiman: "We simply urge Zuffa Boxing to respect and protect boxing and the boxer" By Gabriel F. Cordero, , Thu, 22 Jan 2026January 31: Xander Zayas-Abass Baraou Junior Middleweight Title Unification Showdown to Stream LIVE on Top Rank Classics FAST Channel in the United States , Thu, 22 Jan 2026Mike Tyson to Launch “Mike Tyson Invitational,” a Three-Day Amateur Boxing Showcase Aimed at Elevating the Future of American Boxing , Thu, 22 Jan 2026KAIPO GALLEGOS TRAINING CAMP NOTES , Thu, 22 Jan 2026 |

|
|
|
|
|