Biggest Reason for Boxing's Downfall in Korea

[Cutman Scabbers]

South Korea was a boxing powerhouse until sometime around the Seoul Olympics (1988).

Now they're aren't many promotions. No male world champions. Just one or two ranked in the world.

Why did this happen? Will boxing ever take off again in South Korea?

[elmersalsa]

South Korea was a boxing powerhouse until sometime around the Seoul Olympics (1988).

Now they're aren't many promotions. No male world champions. Just one or two ranked in the world.

Why did this happen? Will boxing ever take off again in South Korea?

Every body have their low points in every sport

[gilgamesh]

Probably something to do with Duk Koo Kim.

[Kalan]

To produce good boxers you need great trainers and tons of investment in Amateur Boxing... This is done in the UK.. Ukraine.. Russia.. Mexico.. and other Boxing hotbeds... but not in South Korea... Taekwondo is a tremendous spectator sport originating in Korea, and the favorite Korean Combat Sport... Millions watch it, but it's not an international favorite because the Koreans trounce everyone in it.

[Cutman Scabbers]

To produce good boxers you need great trainers and tons of investment in Amateur Boxing... This is done in the UK.. Ukraine.. Russia.. Mexico.. and other Boxing hotbeds... but not in South Korea... Taekwondo is a tremendous spectator sport originating in Korea, and the favorite Korean Combat Sport... Millions watch it, but it's not an international favorite because the Koreans trounce everyone in it.

From what I understand, the country does invest in boxing at the amateur level, and the South Korean amateur boxers actually compete at a high level regionally and internationally. Many Korean top amateurs are so well taken care of--even after they finish boxing--that there's no incentive for them to turn pro. This aspect of the pro vs. amateur division mirrors that in Japan, but look at the pro scene in Japan: very active, multiple world champions and loads of world-ranked boxers. There are more promotions in one month in Tokyo alone than in all of South Korea in one year.

[sandis]

There's no downfall. There are good promoters, featuring ex world champions, and good boxers. Ye Joon Kim is very good. There is no reason why he is not champion still. He is better of some current champions of his divisions.

[Cutman Scabbers]

There's no downfall. There are good promoters, featuring ex world champions, and good boxers. Ye Joon Kim is very good. There is no reason why he is not champion still. He is better of some current champions of his divisions.

No downfall?? You are very optimistic!

Which are the "good promoters"?

There's hardly anyone promoting, and when there is a promotion, it's sparsely attended.

During the golden age of boxing in Korea, events attracted major sponsors like Lotte and Samsung,
packing in Janchung Gymnasium and airing live on prime-time major networks.

These days, it's very hard to attract any sponsors, much less major corporate ones.

I agree that there are still good boxers. I also admire Ye Joon Kim. One trainer from the
USA said he wouldn't be anything more than an 8-round boxer in the USA. I disagree
with that, but which of the current champions at super bantam or feather do you see him beating right now?

And there are several reasons beyond his ability why he is not champion now (or ranked higher), many of which
are related to his promoter's inability to secure sponsorship and the boxing politics/infrastructure problems
(boxing commissions, etc.).

[Cutman Scabbers]

There's no downfall. There are good promoters, featuring ex world champions, and good boxers. Ye Joon Kim is very good. There is no reason why he is not champion still. He is better of some current champions of his divisions.

Is there a river in Egypt called denial?

[Caractacus]

There use to be a lot of heavyweights that came out of South America and South Africa
at certain periods in the past almost all at once it seems too.

[Cutman Scabbers]

There use to be a lot of heavyweights that came out of South America and South Africa
at certain periods in the past almost all at once it seems too.

The thread is about boxing in South Korea -- I like how you generalized it to South Anywhere!

[Bricks]

Lee fook koo yuh is a talented amateur big things,are expected of at the olympics