South Korean boxer dies after winning WBO title
2008-01-03 00:52:14 Xinhua English
Colleagues help unconscious champion Choi Yo-sam of South Korea after the 12th round of the WBO intercontinental flyweight title match against challenger Heri Amol (not seen in photo) of Indonesia in Seoul December 25, 2007. (Xinhua/Reuters Photo)
Boxer Choi Yo-sam has his brain waves monitored at a hospital in Seoul January 2, 2008. Choi, who lapsed into a coma last week defending his World Boxing Organisation intercontinental flyweight title, appears to be brain dead, a boxing official said on Wednesday. (Photo: eastday.com)
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BEIJING, Jan. 3 (Xinhuanet) -- South Korean boxer Choi Yo-sam, who fell into a coma after winning his World Boxing Organization (WBO) intercontinental flyweight title on Christmas Day, was declared dead early Thursday, media reported.
The 36-year-old comatose boxer died after being taken off his life support machine, a spokesman for Asan Medical Center said, adding that his organs have been donated to six people in need.
Choi was declared brain dead on Wednesday after a series of tests.
Choi won WBO intercontinental flyweight title on a unanimous decision over the challenger Heri Amol, but was knocked down just before the end of the 12th and final round of the bout.
He staggered to his feet and was declared the winner before collapsing and being taken out of the gymnasium on a stretcher.
Choi was the WBC light flyweight world champion from October 1999 to July 2002, and fought for the WBA light flyweight world title in September 2004.
(Agencies)
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