Hong/Carrasquilla- One of the greatest come from behind KO

[FinitoElDinamita]

Korean fighter Soo Hwan Hong was an aging, former champion who had just lost his WBA title to an undefeated Alfonso Zamora.. He then took a some tuneups in Korea before facing Zamora in a rematch where he lost again by stoppage.. The future didnt look bright for this wartorn veteran.. At this point, he had quite amount of mileage on his body, think of him as an 05 Morales.. He was clearly considered as an over the hill fighter but fortunately for him in the very next year, he got another chance to fight for the vacant WBA title against an undefeated Hector Carasquilla who was regarded as a good prospect..

When the bell rang, the young fighter was putting it on the aging fighter as it appeared to be a mismatch. Then in the second round, Carasquilla found his mark and knocked down Hong, but hong got up every time like a true warrior..but2,3 more knockdowns followed after... By now, Hong suffered multiple knockdowns in the second round and after the 4th knockdown, he said that he looked into the eyes of his wife and his kids who were sitting at ringside and he told himself, " I will not lose tonight, I will not let this young boy beat me in front of my family!!! I refuse to go away!! " then he said he felt this burst of energy, An energy so powerful which he never felt in his life.. Here's what happened after..

Soo Hwan hong is one of the greatest, forgotten fighters at 122... What are your memories of this fight?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y4Ku1vKlmSs

[King Carlos]

Carasquilla was an excellent young prospect, just lacked the pro conditioning at that young stage. That fight battered him mentally (as well as physically in some ways), although I'm not sure he'd have ever had the durability to remain consistent at the top level.

His fight with Eusebio Pedroza afterwards (having moved up in weight) was a great, classy technical matchup, if you haven't seen it. Again, he just lacked the grit.

[Cutman Scabbers]

An amazing fight, and a great fighter. I didn't know his wife and kids were at the fight.

Mr. Hong is a friend. He's doing well -- owns a gym in Seoul and has a full schedule as a motivational speaker.

Check out 1:37 here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZpSxuqi-GC0

[bennie]

Carrasquilla was thrown in too soon, in my opinion, but it is still a remarkable fight.

[FinitoElDinamita]

^^ It was perfect timing for Carasquilla actually because Hong was perceived as a fighter on the slide , he was way past it . Considering the circumstances, you can't blame his managment for that move. IT's not as if he underperformed.. HE scored multiple knockdowns and should have won but he couldnt take as much as he dished out with this war torn warrior..