Park Si-Hun
Encyclopedia
Park Si-Hun is a retired South Korea
n amateur boxer
and former Olympic gold medal winner.
gold at the Boxing World Cup
, defeating 1985 European Champion Michael Timm
and 1984 US national champion Kevin Bryant
. He was then awarded the light middleweight gold medal
at the 1988 Summer Olympics
.
In the 1988 games, Park won the very controversial title bout against Roy Jones, Jr., following a highly disputed 3-2 decision in the final. Later scoring indicates that Jones landed 86 punches to Park's 32. Jones has stated Park himself apologized to Jones afterward. One judge shortly thereafter admitted the decision was a mistake, and two of the three judges voting for Park were eventually banned from the sport for life.
The decision hearkened back to the boxing competition at the 1984 Olympics
in Los Angeles
. At that time, Koreans were aggrieved that several of their gold medal hopefuls lost controversial decisions to Americans (in particular Jerry Page's
win over Kim Dong-Kil
, which they officially protested) and at one point threatened to withdraw from the games.
In Park's 3rd round bout against Vincenzo Nardiello
of Italy, Nardiello easily won the first two rounds, but because Park won the 3rd round by 'a very large margin' he was given the fight. Nardiello then had to be dragged out of the ring, screaming at the judges.
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.
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.
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.
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
Amateur boxing
Amateur boxing is practised at the collegiate level, at the Olympic Games and Commonwealth Games, and in many other venues sponsored by amateur boxing associations. Amateur boxing bouts are short in duration and fighters wear head protection, so this type of competition prizes point-scoring rather...
and former Olympic gold medal winner.
Career
Park first major success came in 1985 when he won the light middleweightLight middleweight
Light Middleweight , is a weight division in professional boxing, above 147 pounds and up to 154 pounds ....
gold 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 :...
, defeating 1985 European Champion Michael Timm
Michael Timm
Michael Timm is a former amateur boxer from East Germany. He is best known for winning the gold medal at the 1985 European Championships in Budapest, Hungary in the Men's Light Middleweight division.-External links:*...
and 1984 US national champion Kevin Bryant
Kevin Bryant
Kevin Bryant is a former Australian rules footballer who played with North Melbourne in the Victorian Football League ....
. He was then awarded the light middleweight gold medal
Olympic medalists in boxing
This is the complete list of Olympic medalists in boxing from 1904 to 2008.-Light flyweight:*1968 - : up to 48 kg.-Flyweight:*1904: up to 105 lb *1920-1936: up to 112 lb *1948-1964: up to 51 kg...
at the 1988 Summer Olympics
1988 Summer Olympics
The 1988 Summer Olympics, officially known as the Games of the XXIV Olympiad, were an all international multi-sport events celebrated from September 17 to October 2, 1988 in Seoul, South Korea. They were the second summer Olympic Games to be held in Asia and the first since the 1964 Summer Olympics...
.
In the 1988 games, Park won the very controversial title bout against Roy Jones, Jr., following a highly disputed 3-2 decision in the final. Later scoring indicates that Jones landed 86 punches to Park's 32. Jones has stated Park himself apologized to Jones afterward. One judge shortly thereafter admitted the decision was a mistake, and two of the three judges voting for Park were eventually banned from the sport for life.
The decision hearkened back to the boxing competition at the 1984 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...
in Los Angeles
Los Ángeles
Los Ángeles is the capital of the province of Biobío, in the commune of the same name, in Region VIII , in the center-south of Chile. It is located between the Laja and Biobío rivers. The population is 123,445 inhabitants...
. At that time, Koreans were aggrieved that several of their gold medal hopefuls lost controversial decisions to Americans (in particular Jerry Page's
Jerry Page
Jerry Louis Page was an American boxer who won the light welterweight gold medal at the 1984 Summer Olympics...
win over Kim Dong-Kil
Kim Dong-Kil
Kim Dong-Kil is a former South Korean amateur boxer.- Career:...
, which they officially protested) and at one point threatened to withdraw from the games.
In Park's 3rd round bout against Vincenzo Nardiello
Vincenzo Nardiello
Vincenzo Nardiello is a retired world championship Italian boxer in the super middleweight division.- Amateur Achievements :*1984 Italian superlightweight champion*1985 Silver Trofeo Italy...
of Italy, Nardiello easily won the first two rounds, but because Park won the 3rd round by 'a very large margin' he was given the fight. Nardiello then had to be dragged out of the ring, screaming at the judges.
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.
Post career
After the 1988 Olympics, Park retired from his boxing career without turning pro. Park earned a bachelor's degreeBachelor's degree
A bachelor's degree is usually an academic degree awarded for an undergraduate course or major that generally lasts for three or four years, but can range anywhere from two to six years depending on the region of the world...
in physical education
Physical education
Physical education or gymnastics is a course taken during primary and secondary education that encourages psychomotor learning in a play or movement exploration setting....
at Kyungnam University
Kyungnam University
Kyungnam University is a private university located in Changwon, the capital city of Gyeongsangnam-do, South Gyeongsang or Gyeongnam province for which the school is named in Southeastern South Korea. Kyungnam University alumni are widely considered to be the most powerful group in Gyeongsangnam-do...
and served as a high school physical education teacher in Jinhae
Jinhae
Jinhae is a district in Changwon City, South Korea. This region is served by the Korean National Railroad, and is famous for its annual cherry blossom festival every spring....
, Gyeongsangnam-do
Gyeongsangnam-do
Gyeongsangnam-do is a province in the southeast of South Korea. The provincial capital is located at Changwon. It contains the major metropolitan center and port of Busan. Located there is UNESCO World Heritage Site Haeinsa, a Buddhist temple that houses the Tripitaka Koreana and attracts many...
until 2001 when he was named an assistant coach of the South Korea national amateur boxing team.
In 2008, Park participated in the inaugural World Youth Amateur Boxing Championships
2008 Youth World Amateur Boxing Championships
The 2008 Youth World Amateur Boxing Championships were held in Guadalajara, Mexico from October 31 to November 1, 2008.It was the first edition of the Youth World Championships which had taken over from the Junior World Championship....
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 Light middleweight Light Middleweight , is a weight division in professional boxing, above 147 pounds and up to 154 pounds .... |
Quarterfinal | Win |  Freddy SanchezFreddy Sanchez Frederick Phillip "Freddy" Sanchez, Jr. is a Major League Baseball second baseman for the San Francisco Giants. Sanchez has previously played for the Boston Red Sox and the Pittsburgh Pirates and the San Francisco Giants... |
RSC 2 |
| Semifinal | Win |  Michael TimmMichael Timm Michael Timm is a former amateur boxer from East Germany. He is best known for winning the gold medal at the 1985 European Championships in Budapest, Hungary in the Men's Light Middleweight division.-External links:*... |
5-0 | |
| Final | Win |  Kevin BryantKevin Bryant Kevin Bryant is a former Australian rules footballer who played with North Melbourne in the Victorian Football League .... |
4-1 | |
| 1988 Summer Olympics | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Event | Round | Result | Opponent | Score |
| Light Middleweight Light middleweight Light Middleweight , is a weight division in professional boxing, above 147 pounds and up to 154 pounds .... |
First | bye | ||
| Second | Win |  Abdullah Ramadan |
RSC 2 | |
| Third | Win | Torsten Schmitz Torsten Schmitz Torsten Schmitz is a retired German boxer in the Light Middleweight division. He represented Germany at the 1988 Summer Olympics.-Amateur career:... |
5-0 | |
| Quarterfinal | Win |  Vincenzo NardielloVincenzo Nardiello Vincenzo Nardiello is a retired world championship Italian boxer in the super middleweight division.- Amateur Achievements :*1984 Italian superlightweight champion*1985 Silver Trofeo Italy... |
3-2 | |
| Semifinal | Win |  Ray DowneyRay Downey Ray Downey was a Canadian boxer, who won a light middleweight bronze medal at the 1988 Summer Olympics. In 1990 he gained silver at the 1990 Commonwealth Games.-Amateur Highlights:... |
5-0 | |
| Final | Win | Roy Jones, Jr. |
3-2 | |