SEOUL - South Korean boxer Choi Yo-sam lapsed into a coma defending his World Boxing Organisation intercontinental flyweight title after taking a beating in the final round, officials said today.
Choi, who won yesterday's fight on points, was sent to the canvass just seconds before the end ofthe 12th and final round by a hard right landed by Indonesian challenger Heri Amol.
Choi, 33, staggered to his feet but collapsed shortly after the bout. He was taken out of the gymnasium by stretcher and had not regained consciousness, officials said.
Choi underwent brain surgery for a cerebral haemorrhage.
"It seems like the outlook for his recovery is very bad. Even if he does recover, there seems to be a high chance he will be in a vegetative state," said Han Bo-young, vice president and secretary general of Korea Boxing Commission.
"He's in a coma right now and doctors are just waiting for him to wake up. They said we'll have to wait about two to three days."
The fight revived memories of a 1982 title bout in Las Vegas 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.
