Chong-pal Park v. Lindell Holmes II on Youtube

For whatever reasons, trainers toiled in obscurity in boxing's golden age. Outside of boxers, it was the promoters who were prominent. I am not sure why that was.

As a general rule, most Korean fighters honed their skills in local gyms, not at the universities. This is partly because boxing was looked down upon among combat sports in Korean consciousness and viewed as unfit for university students. In fact, Park is the only Korean titlist of note who went to college to my knowledge. TKD and judo were more the type of combat sports entrenched in the university athletic curriculum.

Fun fact, by the way: Tae-shik Kim was arguably a more popular fighter than Park in their heyday. And Kim v. Park unification match was far more discussed and wanted in the Korean boxing public than Chang v. Yuh would be later on. I've heard different claims as to why this fight never materialized. Park said that Kim was always injured during potential fight windows for him; Kim said Park didn't want to fight Kim, because he had more to lose (Park was considered superior, so he would be expected to win, so he gains nothing even if he won). I think Kim also said Park's style and weaknesses play into Kim's style and strengths. I don't know who wins this fight, but Kim is not crazy in thinking he would've won. Kim's nonstop aggression and devastating power would have tested Park like no other - probably more than even Oguma.

 

Park's two fundamental weaknesses were chin and stamina, and Kim's two calling cards are non-stop work-rate and devastating hook. The question is whether Kim can handle Park's offense in return. This would have been far more unpredictable - and likely better - fight than Chang v. Yuh.

 

Agree with both points.