Probably, many peoples who are not a fan of boxing sport will not hear about his name. Yesterday, watched the movie named as “Champion” after the recommendation from Jinho. I am not keen on boxing and always find that this sport is cruel. The famous boxer during my early childhood was Mike Tyson. But because of his behaviour, I can not withstand with this sport anymore. Back to the movie, this movie was a real story about a South Korean boxer, Kim Deuk-gu. He came from a poor family and worked hard to achieve the status as the 1st challenger to the Lightweight champion Ray Mancini.
“Boxing is the fairest play in the world. Your opponent punches you 10 times. You can punch back 12 or 15 times as you want,” It all remembers me about a gangster who used to say that “the real man is those who can fight one on one but not as a group against one”.
Eventually, Kim Deuk-gu died 5 days after the match with Ray Mancini. Day before his death, he used to write the message “fight until you die” in the hotel room. It is indeed a self-motivation movie. Working hard, national pride, loyalty and never give up attitudes!
Actually, I just can’t accept that the referee allowed the match to go on. From wikipedia, I found out that after the match:
- Mancini went through a period of reflection, as he blamed himself for Kim's death.
- The bout's referee, Richard Greene, committed suicide in February of 1983.
- Kim's mother died four months later.
- WBC reduced the number of rounds in their championship bouts from 15 to 12. (Kim fighted until round 14)
- A tigh medical checkup for ensure fighter survival after the match.
It's a tragedy! I am pity to say that only tragedy will make peoples wake up!
5 comments:
Looks like you know more Korean stories than me. Why don't you just come over? ;)
All because of cultural import from Korea ;)
I ALSO HAVE SEEN THIS MOVIE AND MY FATHER WAS A TRUE BOXING FAN AND I ONLY REMEMBER BITS AND PIECES OF THE BOXING WORLD FROM THE 70'S AND 80'S....BUT I DO REMEMBER ALITTLE ABOUT THIS FIGHT...AND I THOUGHT THAT THE MOVIE COULD HAVE TOLD MORE ABOUT KIM DEUK-GU BEFORE THE FIGHT AND RIGHT AFTERWARD...BUT ALL IN ALL...I AGREE WITH YOU ABOUT THE OBSTACLES HE OVERCAME...HE IS STILL MISSED BY ME.
Just saw this movie too. (Three years after your post, :-) ) Very heartbreaking. -C
Just saw the movie this morning, and although I had no idea it was based on a true story; my gut told me it had to be. Emmediately after the movie I began Googling Deuk Ku and that is how I came upon your post. I also find boxing cruel and inhumane and feel that it is certainly sad that someone had to die in such a way in order for regulations to change to help save lives.
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