BoxerSouth KoreanWorld ChampionIBF

Lee Seung-hoon (boxer)

Lee Seung-hoon is a prominent South Korean former professional boxer who competed from 1977 to 1989, known as "Oriental Pearl" and the 1987 IBF Super Bantamweight champion.

1. Overview

Lee Seung-hoon (이승훈I SeunghunKorean; 李承勳Ri SŭnghunJapanese), born on July 26, 1960, is a prominent South Korean former professional boxer who competed from 1977 to 1989. Known by the nickname "Oriental Pearl," he fought in an orthodox stance and was listed at 68 in (172 cm). He established a professional record of 52 bouts, with 45 wins (25 by knockout), 6 losses, and 1 draw. Throughout his career, Lee gained recognition for his tenacious fighting style and his persistent pursuit of world titles across multiple weight divisions. He achieved significant success, including winning the Korean Flyweight Championship and ultimately claiming the IBF Super Bantamweight Championship in 1987. His career also featured notable encounters with several world champions and future Hall of Famers, solidifying his place in Korean boxing history.

2. Early Life and Background

Lee Seung-hoon was born on July 26, 1960, in Cheongwon County, North Chungcheong Province, South Korea. Details about his early upbringing are limited, but his journey into professional boxing began in his home country.

3. Professional Boxing Career

Lee Seung-hoon's professional boxing career spanned over a decade, marked by a series of significant challenges, title acquisitions, and attempts at world championships across various weight classes.

3.1. Debut and Early Challenges

Lee Seung-hoon made his professional debut on July 30, 1977, securing a four-round decision victory. Early in his career, he faced formidable opponents, experiencing his first loss on November 6, 1977, in a six-round decision against Kim Hwan-jin, who would later become a WBA Light Flyweight champion. In 1978, Lee demonstrated his potential by winning the Korean Flyweight Championship on December 20, defeating Kim Yong-hwan by a ten-round decision in Seoul. The following year, on February 10, 1979, he faced another challenge, losing a ten-round decision to Netrnoi Sor Vorasingh, a former WBC Light Flyweight champion. However, Lee quickly rebounded, earning a ten-round decision victory over Prudencio Cardona, a future WBC Flyweight champion, in a non-title bout on May 15, 1979.

3.2. Pursuit of World Titles

Lee Seung-hoon began his pursuit of world titles by moving up in weight classes. In 1980, he transitioned to the super flyweight division, challenging Rafael Orono for the vacant WBC Super Flyweight title on February 2 in Caracas, Venezuela. Despite a hard-fought battle, Lee lost by a highly controversial split decision with scores of 145-150, 148-147, and 143-148. Prior to this, on May 9, 1980, he had defeated former WBC Light Flyweight champion Kim Sung-jun by a ten-round decision. He continued to gain momentum with knockout victories, stopping Tsumayuki Fujima in the seventh round on September 28, 1980, and Flash Jagdon in the seventh round on November 16, 1980. On July 31, 1981, he secured another ten-round decision win against Neptali Alamag.

In 1982, Lee moved to the bantamweight division and challenged Lupe Pintor for the WBC Bantamweight title at the Olympic Auditorium in Los Angeles, United States, on June 2. Lee delivered an impressive performance, even knocking down Pintor in the fifth round, but ultimately lost via technical knockout at 43 seconds of the eleventh round.

Following this loss, Lee advanced to the super bantamweight division. He scored a notable victory on March 20, 1983, by defeating former WBA Super Bantamweight champion Ricardo Cardona via sixth-round knockout. He continued his winning streak with a second-round knockout of Maurice Pastor on February 4, 1984, and a fourth-round knockout of Imee Sanico on September 9, 1984. His third attempt at a world title came on February 2, 1985, when he challenged Victor Callejas for the WBA Super Bantamweight title at the Roberto Clemente Coliseum in San Juan, Puerto Rico. Lee was knocked down in the second round and lost by a fifteen-round unanimous decision, with judges' scores of 141-145, 142-146, and 141-147. He then secured a ten-round decision win over Pablo Pepito on June 2, 1985, a fifth-round knockout of Majee Bona on May 24, 1986, and a ten-round decision over Little Bangoyan on September 13, 1986.

3.3. IBF Super Bantamweight Championship

Lee Seung-hoon earned another opportunity for a world title in December 1986 when then-IBF Super Bantamweight champion Kim Ji-won retired as an undefeated professional boxer, vacating his title. On January 17, 1987, Lee faced Prayurasak Muangsurin, the OPBF champion, for the vacant IBF Super Bantamweight title. In this, his fourth world title challenge, Lee triumphed with a ninth-round technical knockout at 2 minutes 25 seconds, finally becoming a world champion.

He went on to make three successful defenses of his title. On April 5, 1987, he defended his belt for the first time by knocking out Jorge Urbina Diaz in the tenth round (3 minutes 4 seconds). His second defense came on July 19, 1987, where he stopped Leon Collins with a fifth-round knockout (1 minute 23 seconds). Lee's third defense was on December 27, 1987, in Pohang, against Jose Sanabria, who would later become an IBF Super Bantamweight champion. Lee secured a decisive fifteen-round unanimous decision victory with scores of 147-143, 144-143, and 146-141. However, Lee was forced to vacate his IBF title in 1988 due to South Korea's policy of discontinuing support for IBF title fights.

3.4. Later Career and Retirement

After vacating his IBF title, Lee Seung-hoon continued to compete. On March 20, 1988, in Ulsan, he defeated former WBA Bantamweight champion Julian Solís by a ten-round decision. Lee had one last significant opportunity for a world title on May 29, 1988, when he challenged two-division world champion and future Hall of Famer Daniel Zaragoza for the WBC Super Bantamweight title in Yeosu, South Korea. The highly anticipated twelve-round bout ended in a split draw, with judges' scores of 114-114, 114-112 (for Lee), and 115-113 (for Zaragoza). Lee secured two more knockout victories in 1989, defeating Nolie Jockeygym in the sixth round on February 27 and Edwin Montanes in the tenth round on December 30. Following his victory over Montanes, Lee Seung-hoon officially retired from professional boxing at the end of 1989.

4. Titles and Achievements

Throughout his distinguished professional boxing career, Lee Seung-hoon accumulated several significant titles and achievements:

  • Korean Flyweight Champion (1978)
  • IBF World Super Bantamweight Champion (1987-1988, vacated)
    • Successfully defended the title three times.
  • Professional boxing record: 52 fights, 45 wins (25 knockouts), 6 losses, 1 draw.

5. Post-Boxing Career

Following his retirement from the ring in 1989, Lee Seung-hoon transitioned into a new role within the boxing world. He embarked on a career as a boxing promoter, continuing his involvement in the sport from a managerial and organizational perspective.

6. Legacy and Evaluation

Lee Seung-hoon is remembered as a resilient and determined boxer who made a significant mark on Korean boxing during his era. His nickname, "Oriental Pearl," reflects the high regard in which he was held. Despite facing several setbacks, including controversial decisions and tough knockout losses in his early world title challenges, Lee consistently demonstrated his unwavering spirit by persevering and ultimately capturing a world championship. His multiple attempts and eventual success in securing a world title, coupled with three successful defenses, underscore his tenacity and skill. His tough draw against a future Hall of Famer like Daniel Zaragoza further highlights his competitive caliber and contribution to the sport. Lee's post-boxing career as a promoter indicates his lasting dedication to the boxing community.