This is a Korean name; the family name is Choi.

Yo-Sam Choi

Statistics
Real name	Yo-Sam Choi
Rated at	Light flyweight
Nationality	South Korean
Birth date	March 1, 1972
Birth place	Jeongeup, Jeollabukdo, South Korea
Death date	January 3, 2008 (aged 35)
Death place	Seoul
Stance	Orthodox
Boxing record
Total fights	37
Wins	32
Wins by KO	19
Losses	5
Draws	0
No contests	0

Yo-Sam Choi (Hangul: 최요삼; Hanja: 崔堯三 or 崔堯森; March 1, 1972 – January 3, 2008) was a Korean former world boxing champion. He was born in Jeongeup, Jeollabukdo, South Korea.

Contents 1 Pro career 2 Death 3 See also 4 References 5 External links

[edit] Pro career

Choi turned pro in 1993 and won the WBC light flyweight title in 1999 with a decision win over Saman Sorjaturong. He successfully defended the title three times before losing it to Jorge Arce by a 6th round technical knockout in 2002. In 2003, he lost a decision to Beibis Mendoza for the interim WBA light flyweight title. In 2004, he moved up in weight to take on Lorenzo Parra for the WBA flyweight title and lost a decision.

[edit] Death

On December 25, 2007, he successfully defended the WBO Inter-Continental flyweight title with a unanimous decision victory over Heri Amol. In the 12th round, Choi was dropped with five seconds remaining, but beat the count and went on to win the fight. He collapsed while still in the ring after the bout and was rushed to the Soonchunhyang University Hospital immediately after the fight in order to undergo emergency brain surgery. Choi was pronounced brain-dead on January 2, 2008, and died on January 3, 2008, when he was removed from a ventilator.^[1].

[edit] See also

• List of WBC world champions
• Duk-Koo Kim

[edit] References

1. ^ "Choi Yo-sam officially declared dead" (in English). Sports Illustrated. 2008-01-03. http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2008/more/01/02/korean.boxer.ap/index.html?section=si_latest. Retrieved 2008-01-13. 

[edit] External links

• Professional boxing record for Yo-Sam Choi from Boxrec
• Looking at Yo Sam Choi

Preceded by Saman Sorjaturong

WBC Light Flyweight Champion October 17, 1999 – July 6, 2002

Succeeded by Jorge Arce