Park Si-hun

Park Si-hun (Korean: 박시헌; born December 16, 1965) is a retired South Korean amateur boxer. He won the light middleweight gold medal at the 1988 Summer Olympics despite an inferior performance, a result that was attributed to the judges favouring Korean competitors.

In this Korean name, the family name is Park.
Park Si-hun
Personal information
Full namePark Si-hun
Born (1965-12-16) December 16, 1965
Haman County, Gyeongsangnam-do, South Korea
Sport
Country South Korea
Event(s)Men’s boxing
Park Si-hun
Medal record
Men’s boxing
Representing  South Korea
Olympic Games
1988 Seoul Light Middleweight
Asian Amateur Championships
1985 Bangkok Light Middleweight
1987 Kuwait Light Middleweight

Career

Park's first major success came in 1985 when he won the light middleweight gold at the Boxing World Cup, defeating 1985 European Champion Michael Timm and 1984 US national champion Kevin Bryant.

In the 1988 games, Park won the title bout against Roy Jones, Jr., following a 3–2 decision by the judges. Later scoring indicated that Jones had landed 86 punches to Park's 32.[1] Jones has said that Park apologized to him afterward.[1] Several journalists made sworn statements that judge Hiouad Larbi of Morocco said after the match that he acknowledged that Jones had won easily, but chose to rule in favor of Park in order to placate the South Korean spectators.[2][3] Two of the three judges voting for Park were eventually banned from the sport for life.[1][4]

In Park's quarterfinal bout against Vincenzo Nardiello of Italy, Nardiello easily won the first two rounds, but because Park won the third round by a large margin, he was given the fight. Nardiello then had to be dragged out of the ring, shouting at the judges.[5]

The Jones-Park incident, along with another highly disputed decision against American Michael Carbajal in the same games, led Olympic organizers to establish a new scoring system for Olympic boxing.[1]

Coaching career

After the 1988 Olympics, Park retired from boxing without turning professional. He earned a bachelor's degree in physical education at Kyungnam University and served as a high school physical education teacher in Jinhae, Gyeongsangnam-do until 2001, when he was named an assistant coach of the South Korea national amateur boxing team. He was also named an assistant coach at Pohang Poseidons. Later, he became a head coach of the South Korea Olympic team.

In 2008, Park participated in the inaugural World Youth Amateur Boxing Championships as the coach of Team Korea. He is currently the coach of the reserve team of the South Korea national boxing team.

Results
1985 Boxing World Cup
Event Round Result Opponent Score
Light Middleweight Quarterfinal Win Freddy Sanchez RSC 2
Semifinal Win Michael Timm 5-0
Final Win Kevin Bryant 4-1
1988 Summer Olympics
Event Round Result Opponent Score
Light Middleweight First bye
Second Win Abdullah Ramadan RSC 2
Third Win Torsten Schmitz 5-0
Quarterfinal Win Vincenzo Nardiello 3-2
Semifinal Win Ray Downey 5-0
Final Win Roy Jones, Jr. 3-2

References
  1. Vecsey, George (26 September 1997). "Sports of The Times; Nice Gesture Substitutes For Justice". Retrieved 5 May 2017 – via NYTimes.com.
  2. ABRAHAMSON, ALAN (9 February 2002). "The Justice Department". Retrieved 5 May 2017 – via LA Times.
  3. Anderson, Dave (22 March 1989). "SPORTS OF THE TIMES; Roy Jones Jr. Still Fighting For the Gold". Retrieved 5 May 2017 – via NYTimes.com.
  4. "Olympic Triumph!". Archived from the original on 25 January 2008. Retrieved 5 May 2017.
  5. Wallechinsky, David; Jaime Loucky (2008). The Complete Book of the Olympics: 2008 Edition. Aurum Press. pp. 466–467. ISBN 978-1-84513-3306.
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