Sung-Kil Moon
Encyclopedia
Moon Sung-Kil is a former two-division world champion boxer from South Korea
. His name is also rendered Sung Kil Moon.
gold medal at the Asian Games
in New Delhi
, knocking out Wangchai Pongsri of Thailand
with one blow in the final.
In the 1984 Summer Olympics
, Moon was eliminated in the quarterfinals by Pedro Nolasco
via RSC in the first round due to a cut on his head after an accidental head butt.
In 1985, Moon won the gold medal at the Boxing World Cup
, manhandling all the opponents by KO.
In 1986, Moon became the first South Korea
n amateur boxer to win a gold medal at the World Amateur Boxing Championships
, beating future Olympic silver medalists Aleksandar Hristov
and Arnaldo Mesa
in the tourney.
Moon would go on to make two successful defenses of his title, scoring a seventh-round KO of Edgar Omar Monserrat, and a fifth-round KO of Chiaki Kobayashi. Kobayashi, a former Japanese National Bantamweight Champion, retired after this defeat.
On July 9, 1989 Moon and Galaxy met in a rematch, this time Galaxy won a unanimous decision over 12 rounds to regain his WBA Bantamweight Title. Moon was knocked down twice in the 11th round, losing by scores of 120-109, 120-109 and 120-112.
Moon then moved down in weight. Moon scored a second-round KO over Romeo Opriasa in a tune-up bout, before challenging Nana Konadu
on January 20, 1990 for the WBC Super Flyweight Title. The fight between Moon and Konadu was a war, both fighters were knocked down several times. Moon won a ninth-round technical decision to capture the title, after once again becoming the victim of an accidental headbutt. Moon won by scores of 86-84, 86-82, and 87-84 to capture his second World Title in his second division.
Moon would go on to record nine successful title defenses, including five victories over prior or future World Champions. These victories included a ninth-round KO over former two-time WBC Super Flyweight Champion Gilberto Roman
, a fourth-round KO over Konadu in their rematch, and a first-round KO over former two-time WBC Light Flyweight and one-time WBA Flyweight Champion Hilario Zapata
.
On July 3, 1993, Moon made his ninth and final successful title defense, scoring a 12-round majority decision over future IBF Super Flyweight and WBO Flyweight Champion Carlos Gabriel Salazar.
On November 13, 1993 Moon lost a split decision to Jose Luis Bueno
by scores of 115-114, 112-117 and 110-118 to lose the WBC Super Flyweight Title. Sung-Kil Moon retired after this fight, finishing with professional record of 20 wins and two losses (15 by knockout).
As a bit of trivia, folk musician Mark Kozelek
's Sun Kil Moon
side project is named after Sung-Kil Moon.
South Korea
The Republic of Korea , , is a sovereign state in East Asia, located on the southern portion of the Korean Peninsula. It is neighbored by the People's Republic of China to the west, Japan to the east, North Korea to the north, and the East China Sea and Republic of China to the south...
. His name is also rendered Sung Kil Moon.
Amateur career
Moon, who compiled a purported record of 219-22 (164 KO) during his amateur career, was known as a great knockout puncher of the lighter divisions. In 1982, he won the bantamweightBantamweight
Bantamweight is usually a class in boxing for boxers who weigh above 115 pounds and up to 118 pounds . However, in Mixed Martial Arts it is 134-136 pounds . Wrestling also has similar weight classes including bantamweight...
gold medal at the Asian Games
Asian Games
The Asian Games, officially known as Asiad, is a multi-sport event held every four years among athletes from all over Asia. The Games were regulated by the Asian Games Federation from the first Games in New Delhi, India, until the 1978 Games. Since the 1982 Games they have been organised by the...
in New Delhi
New Delhi
New Delhi is the capital city of India. It serves as the centre of the Government of India and the Government of the National Capital Territory of Delhi. New Delhi is situated within the metropolis of Delhi. It is one of the nine districts of Delhi Union Territory. The total area of the city is...
, knocking out Wangchai Pongsri of Thailand
Thailand
Thailand , officially the Kingdom of Thailand , formerly known as Siam , is a country located at the centre of the Indochina peninsula and Southeast Asia. It is bordered to the north by Burma and Laos, to the east by Laos and Cambodia, to the south by the Gulf of Thailand and Malaysia, and to the...
with one blow in the final.
In the 1984 Summer Olympics
1984 Summer Olympics
The 1984 Summer Olympics, officially known as the Games of the XXIII Olympiad, was an international multi-sport event held in Los Angeles, California, United States in 1984...
, Moon was eliminated in the quarterfinals by Pedro Nolasco
Pedro Nolasco
Pedro Nolasco was a Dominican boxer, who won the bronze medal in the men's bantamweight category at the 1984 Summer Olympics in Los Angeles, United States....
via RSC in the first round due to a cut on his head after an accidental head butt.
In 1985, Moon won the gold medal at the Boxing World Cup
Boxing World Cup
Boxing World Cup is an international boxing event which features boxers competing in different weight divisions, organized by the International Boxing Association.- History :...
, manhandling all the opponents by KO.
In 1986, Moon became the first South Korea
South Korea
The Republic of Korea , , is a sovereign state in East Asia, located on the southern portion of the Korean Peninsula. It is neighbored by the People's Republic of China to the west, Japan to the east, North Korea to the north, and the East China Sea and Republic of China to the south...
n amateur boxer to win a gold medal at the World Amateur Boxing Championships
World Amateur Boxing Championships
The World Amateur Boxing Championships is a biennial amateur boxing competition organised by the International Boxing Association , which is the sport governing body. Alongside the Olympic boxing programme, it is the highest level of competition for the sport...
, beating future Olympic silver medalists Aleksandar Hristov
Aleksandar Hristov
Aleksandar Khristov is a retired boxer from Bulgaria, who became world champion and represented his native country at the 1988 Summer Olympics in Seoul, South Korea. There he won the silver medal in the bantamweight division...
and Arnaldo Mesa
Arnaldo Mesa
Arnaldo Mesa Bonell is a retired boxer from Cuba, who won the silver medal for his native country at the 1996 Summer Olympics in Atlanta, Georgia. In the final of the Bantamweight division he was defeated by Hungary's István Kovács...
in the tourney.
Results
| 1984 Summer Olympics | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Event | Round | Result | Opponent | Score |
| Bantamweight Bantamweight Bantamweight is usually a class in boxing for boxers who weigh above 115 pounds and up to 118 pounds . However, in Mixed Martial Arts it is 134-136 pounds . Wrestling also has similar weight classes including bantamweight... |
First | bye | ||
| Second | Win |  John HylandJohn Hyland John Joseph Hyland, Jr was an admiral in the United States Navy who commanded the U.S. Pacific Fleet from 1967-1970. A naval aviator, he was a champion of the aircraft carrier.... |
KO 3 | |
| Third | Win |  Robert ShannonRobert Shannon Robert Shannon is an American former professional boxer.-Background:Shannon had a white mother and black father, and started fighting in the streets as a young boy in Seattle's predominately black Central District, where he found kids who would start fights with him, because he was white... |
RSC 3 | |
| Quarterfinal | Loss |  Pedro NolascoPedro Nolasco Pedro Nolasco was a Dominican boxer, who won the bronze medal in the men's bantamweight category at the 1984 Summer Olympics in Los Angeles, United States.... |
RSC 1 | |
| 1985 Boxing World Cup | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Event | Round | Result | Opponent | Score |
| Bantamweight Bantamweight Bantamweight is usually a class in boxing for boxers who weigh above 115 pounds and up to 118 pounds . However, in Mixed Martial Arts it is 134-136 pounds . Wrestling also has similar weight classes including bantamweight... |
Quarterfinal | Win | Bernard Price |
KO 1 |
| Semifinal | Win |  Ljubisa SimicLjubiša Simic Ljubiša Simić is a former boxer from Yugoslavia, who competed in two Summer Olympics for his native country: in 1984 and in 1988. In both occasions he had an early exit from the tournament... |
RSC 2 | |
| Final | Win |  Jose RodriguezJose Rodriguez José Rodríguez or Jose Rodriguez may refer to:*José Alfredo Rodríguez, an undefeated Mexican Boxer and current WBA Light Flyweight Champion.*Jose Rodriguez , a Canal Zone-born peace activist*José Rodríguez , Argentine Olympic fencer... |
KO 2 | |
| 1986 World Championships | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Event | Round | Result | Opponent | Score |
| Bantamweight Bantamweight Bantamweight is usually a class in boxing for boxers who weigh above 115 pounds and up to 118 pounds . However, in Mixed Martial Arts it is 134-136 pounds . Wrestling also has similar weight classes including bantamweight... |
First | Win |  Fabrizio Cappai |
KO 1 |
| Second | Win | Johnny Vasquez |
5-0 | |
| Quarterfinal | Win |  Aleksandar HristovAleksandar Hristov Aleksandar Khristov is a retired boxer from Bulgaria, who became world champion and represented his native country at the 1988 Summer Olympics in Seoul, South Korea. There he won the silver medal in the bantamweight division... |
RSC 2 | |
| Semifinal | Win |  Arnaldo MesaArnaldo Mesa Arnaldo Mesa Bonell is a retired boxer from Cuba, who won the silver medal for his native country at the 1996 Summer Olympics in Atlanta, Georgia. In the final of the Bantamweight division he was defeated by Hungary's István Kovács... |
3-2 | |
| Final | Win |  Rene BreitbarthRené Breitbarth Rene Breitbarth was a boxer from East Germany who won a Light Flyweight gold medal at the 1985 European Amateur Championships. In 1986, he won the silver medal at the 1986 World Amateur Boxing Championships in Reno.-References:*... |
3-2 | |
Pro career
Moon's pro debut took place on March 8, 1987 with a first-round KO over Ric Bajelot, a fighter with 16 professional fights at the time. Moon won his first six fights by knock-out, before challenging Khaokor Galaxy for the WBA Bantamweight Title on August 14, 1988. Moon won a six-round technical decision to win the title. The fight was stopped early due to an accidental headbutt that cut Moon.Moon would go on to make two successful defenses of his title, scoring a seventh-round KO of Edgar Omar Monserrat, and a fifth-round KO of Chiaki Kobayashi. Kobayashi, a former Japanese National Bantamweight Champion, retired after this defeat.
On July 9, 1989 Moon and Galaxy met in a rematch, this time Galaxy won a unanimous decision over 12 rounds to regain his WBA Bantamweight Title. Moon was knocked down twice in the 11th round, losing by scores of 120-109, 120-109 and 120-112.
Moon then moved down in weight. Moon scored a second-round KO over Romeo Opriasa in a tune-up bout, before challenging Nana Konadu
Nana Konadu
Nana Yaw Konadu Yeboah is a retired boxer who won World titles in two different weight divisions. Konadu turned pro in 1985 and in 1989 won the WBC Super Flyweight Title by winning a decision over Gilberto Roman. He lost the belt in his first defense to Sung Kil Moon in 1990 and lost a rematch to...
on January 20, 1990 for the WBC Super Flyweight Title. The fight between Moon and Konadu was a war, both fighters were knocked down several times. Moon won a ninth-round technical decision to capture the title, after once again becoming the victim of an accidental headbutt. Moon won by scores of 86-84, 86-82, and 87-84 to capture his second World Title in his second division.
Moon would go on to record nine successful title defenses, including five victories over prior or future World Champions. These victories included a ninth-round KO over former two-time WBC Super Flyweight Champion Gilberto Roman
Gilberto Roman
Gilberto Román was a Mexican boxer in the Super Flyweight division and a member of the 1980 Mexican Olympic team. Román was a two-time WBC Super Flyweight Champion and is considered by many fans to be one of the great champions in this division...
, a fourth-round KO over Konadu in their rematch, and a first-round KO over former two-time WBC Light Flyweight and one-time WBA Flyweight Champion Hilario Zapata
Hilario Zapata
Hilario Zapata is a former boxer who was a two time world Jr. Flyweight champion and a one time world flyweight champion. Zapata is a Panamanian....
.
On July 3, 1993, Moon made his ninth and final successful title defense, scoring a 12-round majority decision over future IBF Super Flyweight and WBO Flyweight Champion Carlos Gabriel Salazar.
On November 13, 1993 Moon lost a split decision to Jose Luis Bueno
Jose Luis Bueno
José Luis Bueno , is a retired Mexican professional boxer and former WBC Super Flyweight Champion. Bueno is also the trainer of current WBC Light Flyweight Champion, Adrián Hernández....
by scores of 115-114, 112-117 and 110-118 to lose the WBC Super Flyweight Title. Sung-Kil Moon retired after this fight, finishing with professional record of 20 wins and two losses (15 by knockout).
As a bit of trivia, folk musician Mark Kozelek
Mark Kozelek
Mark Kozelek is an American singer/songwriter Producer and frontman of Sun Kil Moon and Red House Painters.-History:...
's Sun Kil Moon
Sun Kil Moon
Sun Kil Moon is a music project of singer-songwriter Mark Kozelek, best known for his previous band Red House Painters. Sun Kil Moon sees Kozelek undertake the writing, composing, singing, and guitar playing, accompanied by Tim Mooney and Anthony Koutsos on drums, and Geoff Stanfield on bass...
side project is named after Sung-Kil Moon.