Moon Sung-kil


Moon Sung-kil is a South Korean former professional boxer who competed from 1987 to 1993. He is a world champion in two weight classes, having held the World Boxing Association bantamweight title from 1988 to 1989 and the World Boxing Council super-flyweight title from 1990 to 1993. His name is also rendered Sung Kil Moon.

Amateur career

Moon, who compiled a purported record of 219–22 during his amateur career, was known as a great knockout puncher of the lighter divisions. In 1982, he won the bantamweight gold medal at the Asian Games in New Delhi, knocking out Wanchai Pongsri of Thailand with one blow in the final.
In the 1984 Summer Olympics, Moon was eliminated in the quarterfinals by Pedro Nolasco via RSC in the first round due to a cut on his head after an accidental head butt.
In March 1985, Moon defeated future WBC Super Bantamweight champion Paul Banke by a third round referee stopped contest at the USA-Korea Amateur Boxing Championships held in Las Vegas, Nevada.
In November 1985, Moon won the gold medal at the Boxing World Cup, manhandling all the opponents by KO.
In 1986, Moon became the first South Korean amateur boxer to win a gold medal at the World Amateur Boxing Championships, beating future Olympic silver medalists Aleksandar Hristov and Arnaldo Mesa in the tourney.

Professional career

Moon's pro debut took place on March 8, 1987 with a first-round KO over Ric Bajelot, a fighter with 16 professional fights at the time. Moon won his first six fights by knock-out, before challenging Khaokor Galaxy for the WBA bantamweight title on August 14, 1988. Moon won a six-round technical decision to win the title. The fight was stopped early due to an accidental headbutt that cut Moon.
Moon would go on to make two successful defenses of his title, scoring a seventh-round KO of Edgar Omar Monserrat, and a fifth-round KO of Chiaki Kobayashi. Kobayashi, a former Japanese National Bantamweight Champion, retired after this defeat.
On July 9, 1989, Moon and Galaxy faced off again in a rematch, with Galaxy securing a unanimous decision victory over 12 rounds to reclaim his WBA bantamweight title. Moon suffered two knockdowns in the 11th round, ultimately losing by scores of 120–109, 120–109, and 120–112.
Moon then moved down in weight. Moon scored a second-round KO over Romeo Opriasa in a tune-up bout, before challenging Nana Konadu on January 20, 1990 for the WBC and Lineal super-flyweight title. The fight between Moon and Konadu was a war, both fighters were knocked down several times. Moon won a ninth-round technical decision to capture the title, after once again becoming the victim of an accidental headbutt. Moon won by scores of 86–84, 86–82, and 87–84 to capture his second world title in his second division.
Moon would go on to record nine successful title defenses, including five victories over prior or future world champions. These victories included a ninth-round KO over former two-time WBC and Lineal super-flyweight Champion Gilberto Roman, a fourth-round KO over Konadu in their rematch, and a first-round KO over former two-time WBC light-flyweight and former WBA flyweight champion Hilario Zapata.
On July 3, 1993, Moon made his ninth and final successful title defense, scoring a 12-round majority decision over future IBF super-flyweight and WBO flyweight champion Carlos Gabriel Salazar.
On November 13, 1993 Moon lost a split decision to Jose Luis Bueno by scores of 115–114, 112–117 and 110–118 to lose the WBC super-flyweight Title. Sung-Kil Moon retired after this fight, finishing with professional record of 20 wins and two losses.

Professional boxing record

No.ResultRecordOpponentTypeRound, timeDateLocationNotes
22Loss20–2José Luis BuenoSD12Nov 13, 1993Pohang Gymnasium, Pohang, South KoreaLost WBC super-flyweight title
21Win20–1Carlos SalazarSD12Jul 3, 1993Education Culture Center, Seoul, South KoreaRetained WBC super-flyweight title
20Win19–1Hilario ZapataTKO1, 2:54Feb 27, 1993Olympic Fencing Stadium, Seoul, South KoreaRetained WBC super-flyweight title
19Win18–1Greg RichardsonMD12Oct 31, 1992Olympic Fencing Stadium, Seoul, South KoreaRetained WBC super-flyweight title
18Win17–1Armando SalazarTKO8, 2:59Jul 4, 1992Citizen Hall, Incheon, South KoreaRetained WBC super-flyweight title
17Win16–1Torsak PongsupaTKO6, 1:48Dec 22, 1991Incheon Gymnasium, Incheon, South KoreaRetained WBC super-flyweight title
16Win15–1Ernesto FordKO5, 2:35Jul 20, 1991Ramada Renaissance Hotel, Seoul, South KoreaRetained WBC super-flyweight title
15Win14–1Nana KonaduTKO4, 2:55Mar 16, 1991Pabellón Principe Felipe, Zaragosa, SpainRetained WBC super-flyweight title
14Win13–1Kenji MatsumuraTD5, 3:00Oct 20, 1990Hanyang University Gymnasium, Seoul, South KoreaRetained WBC super-flyweight title;
Unanimous TD: Moon cut from an accidental head clash
13Win12–1Gilberto RománRTD8, 3:00Jun 9, 1990Palpal Gymnasium, Seoul, South KoreaRetained WBC super-flyweight title
12Win11–1Nana KonaduTD9 Jan 20, 1990World Trade Center, Seoul, South KoreaWon WBC super-flyweight title;
Unanimous TD: Moon cut from an accidental head clash
11Win10–1Romeo OpriasaKO5, 2:23Nov 19, 1989Kunsan, South Korea
10Loss9–1Kaokor GalaxyUD12Jul 9, 1989Rajadamnern Stadium, Bangkok, ThailandLost WBA bantamweight title
9Win9–0Chiaki KobayashiTKO5, 2:28Feb 19, 1989Chungmu Gymnasium, Daejeon, South KoreaRetained WBA bantamweight title
8Win8–0Edgar MonserratTKO7, 0:44Nov 17, 1988Chamsil Gymnasium, Seoul, South KoreaRetained WBA bantamweight title
7Win7–0Kaokor GalaxyTD6, 0:20Aug 14, 1988New Lamada Renaissance Hotel, Seoul, South KoreaWon WBA bantamweight title;
Unanimous TD: Moon cut from an accidental head clash
6Win6–0Oky PretusKO4, 1:58Jun 5, 1988KBS Hall, Ulsan, South Korea
5Win5–0Tony PruittKO3, 0:45Feb 21, 198888 Gymnasium, Seoul, South Korea
4Win4–0Tepratum EakchatchingchaiKO2, 2:25Dec 11, 1987Jonghab Gymnasium, Gwangju City, South Korea
3Win3–0Constancio DanglaKO3, 0:20Aug 16, 1987Mokpo, South Korea
2Win2–0Singnoi SingkrungthonKO3, 2:51May 17, 1987Gudeok Gymnasium, Seoul, South Korea
1Win1–0Ric BajelotKO4, 2:40Mar 8, 1987Chamsil Gymnasium, Seoul, South Korea

Personal life

He spent six months in prison for molesting a woman.