Chang Jung-koo


Chang Jung-Koo is a South Korean former professional boxer who competed from 1980 to 1991. He held the WBC light-flyweight title from 1983 to 1988.

Professional career

Chang took the tough road to becoming a world champion. In Chang's 15th pro fight, he faced former WBA flyweight champion Alfonso Lopez. Chang knocked out Lopez in the 3rd round. Next, Chang faced future IBF flyweight champion Jong-Kwan Chung, stopping Chung in the 6th round. In his 18th fight, and last before challenging for his first world title, Chang scored a 10-round unanimous decision over former WBC light-flyweight champion Amado Ursua.

Hilario Zapata Rivalry

In Chang's first world title try, he lost to Hilario Zapata of Panama by a 15-round split decision in 1982, by scores of 148–145, 142-144 and 144–147. However, in a rematch held in Seoul, he avenged that loss and became WBC light-flyweight world champion by knocking out Zapata at 2:46 of the 3rd round.

World Record Championship

Chang then went on to establish a then-world record for the most defenses as world light flyweight champion, defending the title successfully 16 times between 1983 and 1988 when he retired.
In his first defense, he defeated Masaharu Inami and followed it with a win over future champion German Torres.
In 1984, he defeated future champion, Sot Chitalada, former champion Katsuo Tokashiki and Tadashi Kuramochi.
He started 1985 with a narrow majority decision in a rematch with German Torres. The outcome was determined by a single point on one judge's scorecard. Later in the year, he defeated Francisco Montiel and Jorge Cano.
In 1986, Chang faced Torres in a third meeting, this time defeating him by unanimous decision. He followed it with a rematch victory over Francisco Montiel and a knockout over future champion Hideyuki Ohashi.
After securing victories over Efren Pinto and Agustin Garcia in 1987, he faced future champion Isidro Perez. In a hard-fought battle, Perez dropped Chang in the opening round, however, the referee failed to rule it as such. Chang was ultimately awarded a close unanimous decision victory.
After a TKO victory in a rematch over Hideyuki Ohashi in 1988, Chang announced his retirement.

Downfall after divorce

Originally retired in 1988, Chang Jung-koo's discovered that his first wife was a marriage swindler. From the beginning, the wife married only for Chang Jung-koo's fortune, and after the marriage, she continued to siphon Chang Jung-koo's fortune for her family. When she stole almost all of his assets, she deliberately caused a feud with Chang Jung-koo, and eventually, when she divorced, she ripped off the alimony, turning Chang Jung-koo into a penniless beggar and fled to a foreign country. This is why Chang Jung-koo became financially difficult despite winning 15 championships, which forced him to return to active duty in 1989. However, financial difficulties pushed him back into the ring in 1989 when he challenged and lost to Humberto González, who was the WBC light-flyweight champion at the time.
After moving up to the flyweight division, he challenged WBC flyweight champion Sot Chitalada who he had defeated several years prior. In a closely contested bout, Chang lost a disputed majority decision.
Chitalada then lost that title to Muangchai Kittikasem, prompting Chang to challenge the newly crowned champion. Chang dropped the champion three times, however, Kittikasem rallied back to stop him in the final round. Chang announced his retirement immediately after.
Chang's record for successive title defenses in the 108-pound division would soon be broken by fellow South Korean boxer Yuh Myung-Woo, who successfully defended his WBA light flyweight title 17 times in his first reign between 1985 and 1991.
Chang had a record of 38 wins and 4 losses, with 17 wins by knockout.
In June 2010, Chang and 12 other boxing personalities were inducted in the International Boxing Hall of Fame. He became the first Korean boxer to be inducted in the prestigious boxing hall of fame, and the 5th Asian boxer to receive the honor.

Professional boxing record

No.ResultRecordOpponentTypeRound, timeDateLocationNotes
42Loss38–4Muangchai KittikasemTKO12, 2:36May 18, 1991Olympic Park Gymnasium, Seoul, South KoreaFor WBC flyweight title
41Loss38–3Sot ChitaladaMD12Nov 24, 1991Olympic Park Gymnasium, Seoul, South KoreaFor WBC flyweight title
40Win38–2Ric SiodoraTKO8, 2:58Sep 15, 1990Koomi, South Korea
39Loss37–2Humberto GonzalezUD12Dec 9, 1989Indoor Gymnasium, Daegu, South KoreaFor WBC light-flyweight title
38Win37–1Amando VelascoUD10Aug 27, 1989Busan, South Korea
37Win36–1Hideyuki OhashiTKO8, 1:47Jun 27, 1988Korakuen Hall, JapanRetained WBC light-flyweight title
36Win35–1Isidro PerezUD12Dec 13, 1987Chungmu Gymnasium, Daejeon, South KoreaRetained WBC light-flyweight title
35Win34–1Agustin GarciaTKO10, 1:14Jun 28, 1987Chungmu Gymnasium, Daejeon, South KoreaRetained WBC light-flyweight title
34Win33–1Efren PintoTKO6, 0:59Apr 19, 1987Chungmu Gymnasium, Daejeon, South KoreaRetained WBC light-flyweight title
33Win32–1Hideyuki OhashiTKO5, 1:55Dec 14, 1986Chungmu Gymnasium, Daejeon, South KoreaRetained WBC light-flyweight title
32Win31–1Francisco MontielUD12Sep 13, 1986Chungmu Gymnasium, Daejeon, South KoreaRetained WBC light-flyweight title
31Win30–1German TorresUD12Apr 13, 1986Indoor Arena, Gwangju City, South KoreaRetained WBC light-flyweight title
30Win29–1Jorge CanoUD12Nov 10, 1985Chungmu Gymnasium, Daejeon, South KoreaRetained WBC light-flyweight title
29Win28–1Francisco MontielUD12Aug 4, 1985Munhwa Gymnasium, Seoul, South KoreaRetained WBC light-flyweight title
28Win27–1German Torres12Apr 27, 1985Hyundai Gymnasium, Ulsan, South KoreaRetained WBC light-flyweight title
27Win26–1Tadashi KuramochiUD12Dec 15, 1984Gudeok Gymnasium, Busan, South KoreaRetained WBC light-flyweight title
26Win25–1Katsuo TokashikiTKO9, 1:47Aug 18, 1984Pohang Gymnasium, Pohang, South KoreaRetained WBC light-flyweight title
25Win24–1Sot ChitaladaUD12Mar 31, 1984Kooduk Gymnasium, Busan, South KoreaRetained WBC light-flyweight title
24Win23–1German TorresUD12Sep 10, 1983Chungmu Gymnasium, Daejeon, South KoreaRetained WBC light-flyweight title
23Win22–1Masaharu InamiKO2, O:58Jun 11, 1983Kyungbok Gymnasium, Daegu, South KoreaRetained WBC light-flyweight title
22Win21–1Hilario ZapataTKO3, 2:46Mar 26, 1983Chungmu Gymnasium, Daejeon, South KoreaWon WBC light-flyweight title
21Win20–1Tio AbellaKO2, 2:25Feb 6, 1983Chungju, South Korea
20Win19–1Rodrigo SaonyPTS10Dec 5, 1982Jinju, South Korea
19Loss18–1Hilario Zapata15Sep 18, 1982Jeonju Gymnasium, Jeonju, South KoreaFor WBC light-flyweight title
18Win18–0Amado UrsuaUD10Jul 10, 1982Changchung Gymnasium, Seoul, South Korea
17Win17–0Lukodd PhitipornTKO5, 2:54Apr 4, 1982Gudeok Gymnasium, Busan, South Korea
16Win16–0Jong Kwan Chang6, 3:00Feb 10, 1982Kyongbuk Gymnasium, Daegu, South Korea
15Win15–0Alfonso LopezKO3, 2:34Dec 26, 1981Jangchung Gymnasium, Seoul, South Korea
14Win14–0Chutmongkol ThairungriangKO2, 0:35Nov 18, 1981Kudok Gymnasium, Busan, South Korea
13Win13–0Leonardo ParedesKO6, 2:25Oct 11, 1981Chungmu Gymnasium, Daejeon, South Korea
12Win12–0Lord Esmero10Sep 4, 1981Chungmu Gymnasium, Daejeon, South Korea
11Win11–0Oscar BolivarPTS10Jun 7, 1981Chungmu Gymnasium, Daejeon, South Korea
10Win10–0Miguel LealPTS10Apr 25, 1981Busan, South Korea
9Win9–0Yo Dong KimPTS6Mar 29, 1981Kudok Gymnasium, Busan, South Korea
8Win8–0Chang Pyo HongPTS8Jan 23, 1981Gudeok Gymnasium, Busan, South Korea
7Win7–0Jin Hyung ParkKO2, 1:49Jan 11, 1981Busan, South Korea
6Win6–0Nam Keun KangPTS6Dec 7, 1980Munhwa Gymnasium, Seoul, South Korea
5Win5–0Hi Suo ShinPTS4Nov 29, 1980Munhwa Gymnasium, Seoul, South Korea
4Win4–0Ho Chul PyunPTS4Nov 23, 1980Munhwa Gymnasium, Seoul, South Korea
3Win3–0Hee Kwan LeePTS4Nov 22, 1980Munhwa Gymnasium, Seoul, South Korea
2Win2–0Jin Hyung Park3, 0:56Nov 19, 1980Munhwa Gymnasium, Seoul, South Korea
1Win1–0Jung Yul Suh3, 1:51Nov 17, 1980Munhwa Gymnasium, Seoul, South Korea