Choi Yo-sam

Yo-Sam Choi
File:Yo-Sam Choi.jpg
Born	Yo-Sam Choi March 1, 1972 Jeongeup, Jeollabukdo, South Korea
Died	January 3, 2008(2008-01-03) (aged 35) Seoul
Nationality	South Korean
Statistics
Weight(s)	Light flyweight
Stance	Orthodox
Boxing record
Total fights	37
Wins	32
Wins by KO	19
Losses	5
Draws	0
No contests	0

Choi, Yo-Sam (Korean: 최요삼, Hanja: 崔堯三/崔堯森, March 1, 1972 – January 3, 2008) was a Korean former world boxing champion. He was born in Jeongeup, Jeollabukdo, South Korea.

Pro career

Choi turned pro in 1993 and won the WBC light flyweight title in 1999 with a decision win over Saman Sorjaturong. He successfully defended the title three times before losing it to Jorge Arce by a 6th round technical knockout in 2002. In 2003, he lost a decision to Beibis Mendoza for the interim WBA light flyweight title. In 2004, he moved up in weight to take on Lorenzo Parra for the WBA flyweight title and lost a decision.

Death

On December 25, 2007, he successfully defended the WBO Inter-Continental flyweight title with a unanimous decision victory over Heri Amol. In the 12th round, Choi was dropped with five seconds remaining, but beat the count and went on to win the fight. He collapsed while still in the ring after the bout and was rushed to the Soonchunhyang University Hospital immediately after the fight in order to undergo emergency brain surgery. Choi died on January 3, 2008, when he was removed from a ventilator after having been pronounced brain-dead the day before.

See also

• List of male boxers
• List of WBC world champions
• Duk-Koo Kim

External links

• Boxing record for Choi Yo-sam from BoxRec (registration required)
• Looking at Yo Sam Choi