Kim Ki-soo


Kim Ki-soo was a South Korean former professional boxer who competed from 1961 to 1969. He was South Korea's first world boxing champion, having held the undisputed World Boxing Association and World Boxing Council super-welterweight titles from 1966 to 1968.

Amateur career

Kim graduated from Kyung Hee University's College of Physical Education. He competed in boxing at the 1958 Asian Games in Tokyo, where he earned the gold medal of the welterweight division by defeating Soren Pirjanian of Iran, on points, in the final. He went on to represent South Korea as a welterweight at the 1960 Rome Olympic Games, where he defeated Henry Perry on points, but then lost to Nino Benvenuti on points.

Professional career

Kim turned professional in 1961, winning the South Korean Junior Middleweight title on his pro debut. He captured the WBC, WBA and Lineal light middleweight title when he upset Nino Benvenuti by split decision in 1966. He defended the belt twice before losing it to Sandro Mazzinghi in 1968 by split decision. He retired the following year.

Later life

After his retirement, Kim worked as a boxing coach. He later started his own company, and was successful in business. He died of liver cancer on 10 June 1997, at the age of 57. He was survived by his wife Jeong Ha-ja, two sons, and two daughters.

Professional boxing record

No.ResultRecordOpponentTypeRoundDateLocationNotes
37Win33–2–2Hisao MinamiPTS12Mar 1, 1969Seoul, South KoreaWon OPBF middleweight title
36Loss32–2–2Hisao MinamiMD12Nov 20, 1968Osaka, JapanLost OPBF middleweight title
35Loss32–1–2Sandro MazzinghiSD15May 26, 1968Stadio San Siro, Milan, ItalyLost WBA and WBC super-welterweight titles
34Win32–0–2Benkei FujikuraUD10Apr 4, 1968Tokyo, Japan
33Win31–0–2Yoshiaki AkasakaPTS10Mar 11, 1968Tokyo, Japan
32Win30–0–2Manfredo AlipalaPTS12Feb 17, 1968Seoul, South KoreaRetained OPBF middleweight title
31Win29–0–2Apidej SithiranPTS10Nov 8, 1967Bangkok, Thailand
30Win28–0–2Freddie LittleSD15Oct 3, 1967Dongdaemun Baseball Stadium, Seoul, South KoreaRetained WBA and WBC super-welterweight titles
29Win27–0–2Nakao SasazakiKO6 Sep 7, 1967Tokyo, JapanRetained OPBF middleweight title
28Win26–0–2George CarterKO5 Mar 25, 1967Seoul, South Korea
27Win25–0–2Stan HarringtonUD15Dec 17, 1966Changchung Gymnasium, Seoul, South KoreaRetained WBA and WBC super-welterweight titles
26Win24–0–2Ken SatoKO4 Nov 5, 1966Seoul, South Korea
25Win23–0–2Nino BenvenutiSD15Jun 25, 1966Changchung Gymnasium, Seoul, South KoreaWon WBA and WBC super-welterweight titles
24Win22–0–2Hideaki TakadaKO10 Apr 30, 1966Seoul, South KoreaRetained OPBF middleweight title
23Win21–0–2Ben ArgoncilloKO9 Jan 23, 1966Seoul, South Korea
22Win20–0–2Sakuji ShinozawaKO7 Oct 30, 1965Seoul, South Korea
21Win19–0–2Masao GondoPTS10Sep 20, 1965Tokyo, Japan
20Win18–0–2Fumio KaizuPTS12Jun 19, 1965Seoul, South KoreaRetained OPBF middleweight title
19Win17–0–2Masao GondoPTS10Apr 17, 1965Seoul, South Korea
18Win16–0–2Han Jung-ilKO4 Mar 28, 1965Busan, South Korea
17Win15–0–2Kazuto FujiyamaKO4 Mar 6, 1965Seoul, South Korea
16Win14–0–2Fumio KaizuKO6 Jan 10, 1965Tokyo, JapanWon OPBF middleweight title
15Win13–0–2Yoshiaki AkasakaRTD7 Nov 21, 1964Seoul, South Korea
14Draw12–0–2Kim Deuk-bongPTS10Oct 10, 1964Seoul, South Korea
13Win12–0–1Kang Kyu-soonKO8 Sep 20, 1964Seoul, South Korea
12Win11–0–1Roberto PenaPTS10Mar 18, 1964Metropolitan Gymnasium, Seoul, South Korea
11Win10–0–1George CarterKO6 Jan 22, 1964Tokyo, Japan
10Win9–0–1Noboru SaitoKO6 Dec 22, 1963Yasaka Hall, Kyoto, Japan
9Win8–0–1Kang Se-chulPTS10Dec 14, 1963Seoul, South KoreaRetained South Korea middleweight title
8Win7–0–1Kang Kyu-soonPTS10Jul 2, 1963Yeosu, South Korea
7Win6–0–1Kang Kyu-soonPTS10May 24, 1963Busan, South Korea
6Win5–0–1Roberto PenaKO6 May 18, 1963Seoul, South Korea
5Draw4–0–1Sakuji ShinozawaTD3 Jul 29, 1962Tokyo, Japan
4Win4–0Makoto WatanabeKO3 Jul 1, 1962Tokyo, Japan
3Win3–0Ansano LeeTKO6 Dec 20, 1961Seoul, South Korea
2Win2–0Kang Se-chulKO7 Nov 1, 1961Seoul, South KoreaDate unknown
1Win1–0Kang Se-chulPTS10Oct 1, 1961Seoul, South KoreaWon South Korea middleweight title

Titles in boxing

Major world titles

Regional/International titles

Undisputed titles