Kim Ki-soo

Kim Ki-soo (17 September 1939 – 10 June 1997) was a South Korean southpaw boxer at middleweight. He was South Korea's first world boxing champion.[2]

Kim Ki-soo
Kim Ki-soo c. 1968
Personal information
Born(1939-09-17)17 September 1939
Pukchong, South Hamgyong, Korea (today in North Korea)
Died10 June 1997(1997-06-10) (aged 57)
Seoul, South Korea
Height1.71 m (5 ft 7 in)
Weight67 kg (148 lb)
Korean name
Hangul
김기수
Hanja
金基洙[1]
Revised RomanizationGim Gi-su
McCune–ReischauerKim Kisu
Sport
SportBoxing
Medal record
Representing  South Korea
Asian Games
Tokyo 1958 Welterweight

Amateur career

Kim graduated from Kyung Hee University's College of Physical Education.[2] He competed in boxing at the 1958 Asian Games in Tokyo, where he earned the gold medal of the welterweight division by defeating Soren Pirjanian of Iran, on points, in the final.[1] He went on to represent South Korea as a welterweight at the 1960 Rome Olympic Games, where he defeated Henry Perry (Ireland) on points, but then lost to Nino Benvenuti (Italy) on points.[3]

Professional career

Kim turned professional in 1961 and captured the WBC, WBA and Lineal light middleweight title when he upset Nino Benvenuti by split decision in 1966.[4] He defended the belt twice before losing it to Sandro Mazzinghi in 1968 by split decision. He retired the following year.[5]

Later life

After his retirement, Kim worked as a boxing coach. He later started his own company, and was successful in business. He died of liver cancer on 10 June 1997, at the age of 57. He was survived by his wife Jeong Ha-ja (鄭夏子), two sons, and two daughters.[2]

See also
  • List of light middleweight boxing champions

References
  1. "拳鬪에大勝 鄭東薰金基洙選手堂堂優勝" [Big victory in boxing: Chung Dong-hoon, Kim Ki-soo both win]. The Dong-a Ilbo. 1958-06-02. Retrieved 2014-07-06.
  2. "국내 첫 프로권투 세계챔피언 金基洙씨 별세" [First domestic pro boxing world champion Kim Ki-soo passes away]. Yonhap News. 1997-06-11. Retrieved 2014-07-07.
  3. Kim Gi-Su. sports-reference.com
  4. "The Lineal Junior Middlleweight Champions". The Cyber Boxing Zone Encyclopedia.
  5. Boxing record for Kim Ki-soo from BoxRec
Achievements
Preceded by
Nino Benvenuti		 World Light Middleweight Champion
25 Jun 1966 – 26 May 1968		 Succeeded by
Sandro Mazzinghi
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