Ki-Soo Kim, The Man, The Myth, The Legend. The 5' 7 1/2" 154 lb. - Light-Middleweight, with powerful forearms which allowed him to pummel fighters on the inside with his southpaw stance. Ki-Soo had a tremendous left hook to the body, which usually paralyzed his opponents legs. On June 25, 1966 - Ki-Soo a heavy underdog, 'upset' Nino Benvenuti for the World Light-Middleweight Championship (WBA and WBC versions). Ki-Soo scored a 15-Round Split-Decision over Nino, who was undefeated at 65-0-0. The 26 year-old South Korean, was also undefeated with a record 21-0-2 (14 KO's), but the boxing experts gave him little chance of defeating the Great Master Boxer Italian - Nino. This content is protected
Ki-Soo Kim scores a tremendous upset, heard throughout Europe and Southeast Asia, as he threw Light-Middleweight Champion - Nino Benvenuti completely off-balance, by using his speed and elusiveness, to neutralize the aggressive Italian. Fighting in front of 6500 hometown fans at Jangchung Gymnasium, Ki-Soo fought a brilliant fight, by hitting the Italian with hard left hooks to the his thin body during the middle rounds, taking the legs away from the tall Italian. The President of South Korea, Park Chung-hee was also on hand to witness the Championship Bout. Nino, who tried to use his boxing style of left jabs and clinching, found the South Korean much stronger than he had expected. During several exchanges, the Italian scampered away back-pedaling, after tasting hard left hooks to the stomach. Judge, Yong-Soo Chung scored the bout 72-69 (6-3-6 in Rounds) Ki-Soo Kim Judge, Antonio Galaradio scored the bout 72-68 (7-3-5 in Rounds) Nino Benvenuti American Referee, Nick Pope scored the deciding card, 74-68 (7-1-7 in Rounds) for the Winner and New World Light-Middleweight Champion - Ki-Soo Kim. Ki-Soo Kim fought not only a smart fight, but a strong fight, as he outworked the Master Boxer in Nino Benvunti. Nino Benvenuti, obviously complained about the Decision, stating that the American Referee did not appreciate his stand-up boxing style. The now former Champion had a 'rematch clause' in the fight contract, but whether he can get it is another story.
In Round 1, In the photo below, Nino Benvenuti ducks to his left after landing a right hand on Ki-Soo Kim. The South Korean countered with a right hook to Benvenuti's mid-section, and followed by a choppping left to the crouching Italian. Ki-Soo Kim, was able to more than hold his own over the first 10-Rounds, and his speed bothered Benvenuti. And when Nino moved in, Ki-Soo would power his right hand into Nino's face, and follow with short left hooks Nino's ribs. Nino could not find his rythym, and was not able to land his usually effective left-rights. After 10-Rounds, Ki-Soo had a 3-point lead. But, Nino started to make a move in Round 11, as Ki-Soo Kim started to fade. In between the 13th and 14th Rounds, the lower strand snapped, and the rope dropped to the canvas. It took 10-minutes to make the repair of the loosened ropes, before the action continued. This content is protected
Nino Benvenuti had a 'rematch clause' in his contract, and to be promoted by Umberto Branchini in Italy. But it never got done.
http://www.aparchive.com/metadata/S...soo+&allFilters=&productType=IncludedProducts Benvenuti loses crown!
A couple of issues. 1) American Referee, Nick Pope. Scored the bout 74-68 (7-1-7 in Rounds) for Ki-Soo Kim. 2) Nino Benvenuti complained strongly about the American's scoring of the bout, and said Mr. Pope did not appreciate good European-style boxing, of jabbing and clinching. 3) Nick Pope said he awarded points for aggressiveness. He did not give points for defense and effective clinching. 4) Ki-Soo Kim had a solid lead after 10-Rounds. 5) Ki-Soo started to fade late in Round 11, as Nino finally got his rythym going. 6) Nino finally started to score with his precision left jabs in Rounds 12 and 13. 7) In between Rounds 13 and 14, the lower rope strand suddenly fell off the ring post brackets. 8} Ki-Soo Kim who looked weary after Round 13, got a break, when it took over 10-minutes to repair the rope strand. And he got a much needed rest. 9) Nino Benvenuti put a towell over his head after Round 13, and sat on his stool waiting for te rope strand to be repaired. 10) Without any notice, the bell for Round 14 rang, and Ki-Soo bolted out of his corner and rushed at a still sitting Nino, and caught him with a hard left to the nose. 11) The Referee - Nick Pope, who was slow to react, rushed into the corner to break up the action, and gave Nino an extra 15-seconds to get prepared. He did warn Ki-Soo for his actions, but did not penalize him. 12) When Nino came out to start Round 14, he had a cut on the bridge of his nose from Ki Soo's surprise attack.
Kis-Soo Kim vs. Nino Benvenuti The Associated Press scored it.......71-71 (4-4-7 in Rounds). It was called a South Korean 'clinch-fest'. The jab and clinch Champion, lost to the 'brawny' South Korean who was just more aggressive. After the bout, Bruno Amaduzzi (Nino's Manager) said he would file an immediate protest with the WBA, and demanded an immediate rematch within 90-Days. The rematch contract stated that Italian fight promoter - Umberto Branchini had the rights to stage the rematch in Italy, but that Ki-Soo Kim would have to receive the same fight purse that the South Korean's gave Nino Benvenuti to come to Seoul. That is where the 'money' problem developed.
More for Mister Flea December 17, 1966 Jangchung Gymnasium Attendance; 6500 World Light-Middleweight Champion - Ki-Soo Kim wins a 15-Round Unanimous Decision over American - Stan Harrington in his 'first' title defense. The 27 year-old 5' 7 1/2" - southpaw Champion took control of the bout in Round 3, and dominated the action thru Round 8, including cutting his 33 year-old Challenger over the right eye in Round 6 with a sharp left hook. Ki-Soo maintained a steady attack, by administering hard body blows on the veteran fighter from Hawaii. But, the Champion started to fade in Round 10, and the 5' 9" Harrington started to come on, by delivering hard right hand leads to the Champion's face. The Challenger fought well in Rounds 10, 11 and 12, but in Round 13 suffered a severe cut over his eye when he was 'butted' by the Champion, which hampered his vision. The Champion then held on over the last 2-Rounds, by clinching and hitting the now cautious Challenger. Scorecards for all '3' South Korean Officials. * 74-67 (8-1-6 in Rounds) * 73-69 (6-2-7 in Rounds) * 73-66 (9-2-4 in Rounds) The Champion - Ki-Soo Kim improves to 25-0-2. The Challemger -Stan Harrington drops to 63-18-3. The Associated Press had Ki-Soo Kim ahead 6-0-3 after 9 Rounds. Stan Harrington who fought patiently, started to come on in Round 10, as the Champion started to fade. The 33 year-old veteran showed great stamina, and took Rounds 10, 11 and 12. In Round 13, the Challenger had landed several good right hands, when the Champion 'butted' him, causing a severe cut over Stan's left eye. From that point on, the Champion moved in close to the Challenger, and clinched and hit to edge out Stan Harrington in Rounds 14 and 15. The Associated Press finally tally was 71-67 {8-4-3 in Rounds}.
