South Korea Mourns Loss of Ace Boxer Choi Yo-Sam

SEOUL, South Korea, Jan. 4, 2008 — -- South Koreans are mourning the death of former world champion boxer Choi Yo-Sam, but lauded his family's decision to donate Choi's organs to save lives.

The 33-year-old boxer fell into a coma minutes after winning the WBO intercontinental flyweight match against Indonesian Heri Amol Christmas Day.

"He suffered intracranial bleeding in his brain. It was caused by not just one blow, but by repeatedly accumulated hits on his head," said Dr. Lee Sung-Gyu, in charge of organ transplant at Asan Medical Center in Seoul.

Doctors declared him dead Thursday.

Thousands of condolence callers visited the funeral court at Asan hospital on the second day of the three-day funeral.

"I should have hugged him that morning," said Choi's mother in tears, "but, for some reason, I held myself back." Oh Soon-E, 65, recalled her son as a somewhat brusque man with a big heart. "When we watch television documentaries about poor and sick people, he used to cry a lot. He always said that he wanted to help others."

Choi's heart, liver, both kidneys and corneas were donated to six patients, and his bone and cartilage were given to a tissue bank. Recipients were kept anonymous as required by Korean law to prevent a commercial black market. South Korean government awarded him a medal in recognition of his donation and last victory.

Choi was successfully defending his title when he fell just seconds before the end of the final 12th round. He got right back up and was declared winner on points.

"I had a bad feeling when the opponent kept punching the head," said Choi's sponsor Kim Seung-Kwan. "It was Choi's best game ever. He didn't have a hard time at all throughout the game. But, at the end, he kept glancing at his brother right next to me. Usually, he is focused, but something was wrong."

Immediately after the winner was announced, Choi collapsed at his corner of the ring.

"He struggled with all his might to get back up," recalled Chang Bong-Soo, a close friend who sat through the match and escorted the boxer to the hospital in an ambulance that arrived 20 minutes later. South Korean media reported that several vehicles were illegally parked in front of the ambulance, a common practice in Korea where traffic is among the worst in the world.

Choi's family also expressed anger at the ambulance delivering the patient to a distant hospital associated with the Korea Boxing Commission, instead of a closer general hospital. Choi's mother believes that he could have been saved if he had arrived at a hospital earlier.

Korean boxing analysts are now discussing ways to prevent further fatal and serious injuries.

In 1982, South Korean lightweight Kim Duk-koo died in a similar situation in Las Vegas, fighting against Ray Mancini. That incident prompted WBC to reduce the game from 15 to 12 rounds. After Korean bantamweight boxer Lee Tong-Choon was knocked out brain dead in 1995, plans to cut the bouts to eight or 10 rounds were discussed. Some have also suggested using 6-ounce gloves, rather than the current 8 ounces to eliminate the impact of punches.

Choi fought 37 matches in his career and won 32 with 19 KOs.