FORMER WBC CHAMPION IN COMA AFTER WINNING
By Ronnie Nathanielsz
PhilBoxing.com
Wed, 26 Dec 2007
Former WBC mini-flyweight champion Yo-Sam Choi of South Korea is in a coma after winning his WBO Intercontinental flyweight title bout over Indonesian challenger Heri Amol.
A report from Seoul said that the 33 year old Yo Sam Choi collapsed and lost consciousness when Amol threw a right to his jaw with some five seconds remaining in the twefth and final round although Choi was declared the winner by unanimous decision.
The Korean Herald newspaper reported that Choi was rushed to a nearby hospital and underwent brain surgery but was still in a coma. His coaching staff quoted doctors as telling them that ?even if he survives, his chances of recovering are slim.? One of the staff who requested anonymity said ?The surgery was successful but he has less than 20 percent chance of regaining consciousness.?
The newspaper said Choi led throughout the fight but Amol ?kept landing right and left hooks to Choi?s face, causing him to collapse five seconds before the end.? Choi managed to stand up as the referee declared him the winner ? but lost consciousness immediately afterwards.?
An official of the Korean Boxing Commission was quoted as saying ?we never expected this to happen. As soon as Choi recovers, the boxing committee will discuss safety measures.?
The incident immediately rekindled concerns over professional boxing as fight fans recalled the tragic death of Kim Duk-koo in 1982 when he sustained a brain injury in a WBA lightweight title fight against American champion Ray ?Boom Boom? Mancini and died four days after surgery.
Yo-Sam Choi had a record of 32-5 with 19 knockouts and has won six fights in a row after losing a unanimous twelve round decision to Lorenzo Parra in a WBA flyweight title fight on September 9, 2004. In a tune-up for the title shot Choi was stunned by Federico Catubay, losing a split decision to the rugged Filipino on March 27, 2004.
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