Advertisement

Help
You are here: Rediff Home » India » Sports » Reuters » Report
Search:  Rediff.com The Web
Advertisement
  Discuss this Article   |      Email this Article   |      Print this Article

South Korean champ Choi brain dead: official
Get Sports updates:What's this?
Advertisement
January 02, 2008 13:15 IST

South Korean boxer Choi Yo-sam, who lapsed into a coma last week defending his World Boxing Organisation intercontinental flyweight title, has been declared brain dead, a hospital official said on Wednesday.

Choi, who won the December 25 fight on points, was sent to the canvas just seconds before the end of the 12th and final round by a hard right to the jaw from Indonesian challenger Heri Amol, who landed a flurry of punches before the bell.

Choi, 33, staggered to his feet but collapsed shortly after the bout. He left the gymnasium on a stretcher and never regained consciousness. Doctors said he suffered cerebral haemorrhage.

"Doctors have pronounced him brain dead," said a spokesman for the Asan Medical Centre, the Seoul hospital that has been treating Choi.

Choi's family is considering donating his organs, said Han Bo-young, vice-president and secretary general of Korea Boxing Commission.

The fight brought back memories of a 1982 title bout in Las Vegas [Images] between lightweight champion Ray "Boom Boom" Mancini of the United States and Kim Duk-koo, where the South Korean challenger died from injuries sustained in the fight.




© Copyright 2008 Reuters Limited. All rights reserved. Republication or redistribution of Reuters content, including by framing or similar means, is expressly prohibited without the prior written consent of Reuters. Reuters shall not be liable for any errors or delays in the content, or for any actions taken in reliance thereon.
 Email this Article      Print this Article

© 2008 Rediff.com India Limited. All Rights Reserved. Disclaimer | Feedback