Philippines, 08 Jun 2025
  Home >> News

 


BOXERS

CURRENT CHAMPIONS 

FORMER CHAMPIONS   

RATINGS                       

NEWS           

FORUM        

FIGHT GALLERIES        

RING CARD GIRLS        


 
 
News  


CHOI?S DEATH IS AN EYE-OPENER FOR KOREAN BOXING


PhilBoxing.com


The dreadful death of World Boxing Organization (WBO) intercontinental flyweight champion Choi Yo-sam, who collapsed after his title fight against Henri Amol of Indonesia last December 25, will be an enduring tragedy that will always be remembered by the boxing world every Christmas.

The latest ringside tragedy showed the lack of medical control and careless fighting rules in South Korean boxing. It was a brutal clash with both boxers slashing each other right from the start.

The lethal blow was unleashed by Amol on Choi, who was leading in points, and took a hard right to the jaw that sent him to the canvas in the closing seconds of the 12th and final round.

Choi got up and managed to finish the fight for a victorious title defense. However, he collapsed after returning to his corner and went into a coma and never regained consciousness. His death brings bad news to Korean boxing, now suffering from diminishing fan support and lack of talent.

Choi's trainers and family members revealed that the 33-year-old champion was in deep trouble making the weight limit. He suffered from insomnia from taking oriental medicine that were considered as stimulant. He also complained of headaches and fatigue.

He was still half a kilogram above the 50.8-kilogram weight limit on December 23, a day before the weigh-in, and did not take water until the fight started. But Choi was cleared to fight Amol.

In South Korea, pre-match medical tests are not so strict and scheduled fights rarely get canceled. This is in contrast to the stricter regulations in the United States which requires pre-fight MRI tests.

Choi's death hopes to awaken Korean boxing authorities to be more conscientious for the protection of their boxers and take genuine measures to prevent ringside misfortunes. He was the WBC light flyweight world champion from Oct. 1999 to July 2002. His ring record when he died was 32-5-0 (19 KOs).

In 1982, South Korean lightweight Kim Duk-koo died four days after being stopped by Ray "Boom Boom" Mancini during their WBA lightweight world title fight in Las Vegas. Kim was knocked out in the 14th round and never regained consciousness until he died, urging boxing bodies reduce their fights to a maximum of 12 rounds.

Another South Korean fighter Lee Tong-choon, died of acute swelling of the brain in 1995, four days after getting unconscious following a Japanese title fight against Setsuo Kawamasu in Tokyo.


Click here to view a list of other articles written by Maloney L. Samaco.


Recent PhilBoxing.com In-House articles:

  • Introducing The Spartan Series: Vegas Fight Experience — Where Authentic Sparring Meets Cinematic Vegas Energy
    , Sun, 08 Jun 2025
  • RESULTS FROM TONIGHT’S “HALL OF FAME FIGHT NIGHT” PRESENTED BY SALITA PROMOTIONS & ALL THE SMOKE FIGHT LIVE ON DAZN AT THE TURNING STONE RESORT CASINO
    , Sat, 07 Jun 2025
  • Davis vs De Los Santos: The Fight That Never Was
    By Chris Carlson, , Sat, 07 Jun 2025
  • 2 Filipino grandmasters join Touchmove chess tourney
    By Marlon Bernardino, , Sat, 07 Jun 2025
  • Keyshawn Davis Fight Canceled After Weight Miss, Mason-Nakathila Elevated to Main Event
    By Dong Secuya, , Sat, 07 Jun 2025
  • Eumir Marcial Set to Battle Alexis Gaytán in Pacquiao's Comeback Show
    By Carlos Costa, , Sat, 07 Jun 2025
  • SUNDAY: Fabio Turchi-Milans Volkovs Cruiserweight Showdown Headlines Italy Fight Card LIVE in the U.S. on ESPN+
    , Sat, 07 Jun 2025
  • Bomogao KOs Rubio in 1st round
    By Lito delos Reyes, , Sat, 07 Jun 2025
  • REYES CUP SET FOR ELECTRIFYING RETURN TO MANILA, OCTOBER 16–19
    , Sat, 07 Jun 2025
  • King's Promotions June 19th Card at Wind Creek Event Center is Postponed Card Rescheduled for September 5th
    , Sat, 07 Jun 2025
  • THRILLA IN MANILA GOLDEN ANNIVERSARY 7 - AMATEUR BOXING CAREER OF MUHAMMAD ALI
    By Maloney L. Samaco, , Fri, 06 Jun 2025
  • Indiana, Haliburton Do It Again, Pacers Shock OKC on the Road, 111-110
    By Teodoro Medina Reynoso, , Fri, 06 Jun 2025
  • STAR BOXING PRESENTS SPECIAL PRESS CONFERENCE-MONDAY
    , Fri, 06 Jun 2025
  • Undefeated Super Bantamweight Chavez Barrientes Returns June 7th Against Sharone Carter on Most Valuable Prospects 13 Card
    , Fri, 06 Jun 2025
  • Vasiliy Lomachenko Announces Retirement: A Glorious Chapter Closes in Boxing History
    By Dong Secuya, , Fri, 06 Jun 2025
  • “HALL OF FAME FIGHT NIGHT” OFFICIAL WEIGHTS AND QUOTES
    , Fri, 06 Jun 2025
  • Press Conference Notes: Keyshawn Davis Returns Home for Inaugural World Title Defense at Norfolk’s Scope Arena
    , Fri, 06 Jun 2025
  • DAZN PRESENTS NEW NO DAYS OFF EPISODE HIGHLIGHTING REIGNING UNIFIED SUPER MIDDLEWEIGHT WORLD CHAMPION FRANCHÓN CREWS-DEZURN
    , Fri, 06 Jun 2025
  • ANTONIO VARGAS PENS CO-PROMOTIONAL DEAL WITH MATCHROOM AND BOXLAB
    , Fri, 06 Jun 2025
  • Antimaro, Jimenez to fight in Japan on June 7
    By Lito delos Reyes, , Thu, 05 Jun 2025
  • Keyshawn Davis vs. Edwin De Los Santos Fight Week Events to Stream LIVE on Top Rank’s Social Media Channels
    , Thu, 05 Jun 2025
  • “Prospects Collide” Full Card Announced
    , Thu, 05 Jun 2025
  • Correa Set for High-Stakes Bantamweight Showdown vs. Undefeated Michael Angeletti on ProBox TV
    , Thu, 05 Jun 2025
  • Kansas Athletic Commission overturns ‘No Contest’ to TKO win for undefeated Super middleweight prospect Marco Romero
    , Thu, 05 Jun 2025
  • 2nd JCI Senate Lipa Chess Festival set
    By Marlon Bernardino, , Thu, 05 Jun 2025




  •  



     
    PhilBoxing.com has been created to support every aspiring
    Filipino boxer and the Philippine boxing scene in general.
    Please send comments to feedback@philboxing.com


    PRIVATE POLICY | LEGAL DISCLAIMER
    developed and maintained by dong secuya
    © 2025 philboxing.com.