Young-Ho Oh, The 5' 5" bomber from Seoul, South Korea. Young-Ho went on an early career rampage, and by April 1976, the 24 year-old - 'Korean Terror' had won the 'vacant' OPBF Lightweight Championship be defeating (W Dec 12) highly-regarded veteran Philippine Lightweight - Tony Jumao-As. With a record of 32-3-2 (22 KO's), the #7 WBC-ranked Young-Ho had an outside shot at the WBC Lightweight Championship. But Ishimatsu 'Guts' Suzuki (WBC Lightweight Chamoion) got a great fight purse offer ($200,000) to go to Puerto Rico, to transfer his 'title belt' to Esteban De Jesus.
Young-Ho Oh, Made a couple of quick OPBF Lightweight Title defenses, by defeating (W Dec 12) Battlehawk Kazama, and a (KO 4) rematch with Tony Jumao-As. But, an October 5, 1976 trip to Thailand, resulted in a (L Dec 10) to another rising Lightweight - 'undefeated' Thai - Poot Lorlek. That loss snapped the Korean's 20-bout winning streak, and dropped him to 32-4-2. But, Young-Ho rebounded with 'two' more OPBF Lightweight Title defenses, by (KO 4) over Sperling Pangaribuan, and then a shocking (KO 1) over Philippine veteran - Fred Rolando Pastor. By May 1977, the 25 year-old - 'Korean Terror' was hoping for a Lightweight Championship bout with Esteban De Jesus, as Young-Ho was now ranked as the #4 WBC Lightweight with a record of 38-4-2 (26 KO's).
Flea Man,,,,,,, This one is for you. May 7, 1977 - Young-Ho Oh was held to a (Draw 10) by Battlehawk Kazama, a fighter he had earlier defeated in 1976 in a title defense for the OPBF Lightweight Championship. And, on November 20, 1977 - Young-Ho travelled to Bangkok, Thailand again, and was again upset (L Dec 10) by a talented Lightweight, 'super-fast' and World-Rated - Petchsayarm Petcharoen. That loss, knocked Young-Ho out of a Lightweight Title Bout with Roberto Duran.
January 21, 1978 Young-Ho, rebounded, and scored a (W Dec 12) over veteran Filipino - Joe Lim, for his '5th' OPBF Lightweight Title Defense, Now with a record of 40-5-3, the 'Korean Terror' was ranked as the #8 Lightweight, but with little chance of getting a World Title bout, as Roberto Duran would go on hiatus for 1978. Instead, the 5' 5" Lightweight dropped down to 130 lbs, and campaigned as a Super-Featherweight for mid-1978, and scored '2' more Decision wins. Including, an April 3, 1978 - WBA Super-Featherweight Elimination bout (W Dec 10) over 'undefeated' Filipino - Fred 'Bruce Lee' Basa. In April 1978, 26 year-old - Young-Ho was now ranked as a the #1 WBA Super-Featherweight at 42-5-3 (26 KO's) and earned a 'Championship Bout' versus Samuel 'Sammy' Serrano as the mandatory challenger. Saurday Night - July 8, 1978 This content is protected WBA Super-Featherweight Champion - Samuel 'Sammy Serrano. The 25 1/2 year-old Champion at 37-3-1 (11 KO's) will be making his '6th Title Defense'. The 5' 9 1/2" Champion will have a 4 1/2" height and 5" reach advantage over his shorter Korean Challenger. The Fight The Champion utilized his longer reach to his advantage right from the start, and stayed outside using his left jab, and quick right-hand counters, as Young-Ho pressed forward. By Round 3, it was obvious, that the Korean would have an extremely difficult task in getting close to the elusive Champion, as Serrano was too fast for the hard-punching Young-Ho. The Korean had some brief moments of success in Rounds 4 and 5, as he was able to get closer to the Champion, and did land some grazing right hands to Serrano's chin, but his effective attack was soon thwarted. In Rounds 6 and 7, Serrano landed a variety a good punches on Young-Ho, which seemed to take the energy out of the Challenger. The Korean was no longer pressing and trying to throw his hard right hand, but was now limited to pawing with weak punches while trying to get inside the taller Serrano. In Round 8, Serrano measured the weakened Challenger, and raked him over with hard right hands over the top, and wobbling him with 'two' chopping right hands to the chin late in the round. In Round 9, Serrano battered the Korean early, and had him wobbling. Then at the 1:55 Mark, Serrano dropped Young-Ho with a 4-punch flurry. The Korean got up at the '4-Count', and tried to fight back. But, Serrano was over-powering and battered him with lefts and rights, before dropping him with a hard right-hand at the 2:49 Mark. Young-Ho struggled to get up, and though he did rise before the '10-Count', Referee - Luis Sudiran counted out the Korean, as he was out on his feet, and in 'no-shape' to continue as he staggered back to his corner. Though Young-Ho's handlers wanted to send him out for Round 10, as they thought their fighter was saved by the bell at the end of Round 9. But the Referee said he counted out the Korean at the end of Round 9 before the bell rang. It goes down as a TKO 9 for the Champion - Samuel Serrano.
Trickster, Young-Ho Oh didn't disappear after the {July 1978} loss to WBA Champion - Samuel Serrano. September 2, 1978.......(W Dec 10) Filipino - Boy Oliver Then, on December 17, 1978 - He went back up to 135 lbs., and defended his OPBF Lightweight Championship a '6th-Defense', by stopping (KO 6) 'once-beaten' - 'Filipino' Mar Simbajon 19-1-0 (7 KO's) March 4, 1979 - Young-Ho won with a 'crushing' (KO 3) over 'highly-regarded' Yidano Lee 15-1-2 (6 KO's). That put him back in line for a chance at one of the 'vacant' Lightweight Championships, with a record of 45-6-3 (28 KO's), and holding the OPBF Lightweight Championship, he was ranked as the #4 WBC Lightweight. Jim Watt won the 'vacant' WBC Lightweight Championship on April 17, 1979 - and Young-Ho was in line for a possible WBC 1979 Championship bout.
Strange bout for Young-Ho Oh April 22, 1979 With a chance at the WBC Lightweight Championship, Young-Ho takes on compatriot and Korean Lightweight Champion, 'undefeated' Kwang-Min Kim who was 13-0-1 (4 KO's). Kwang-Min scores a 'close' 10-Round Decision in an over-the-weight bout at 137 lbs. versus Young-Ho. Young-Ho then drops from #4 to #10 by the WBC in the Lightweight Divison. Kwang-Min, suprisingly gets a shot at the WBA Light-Welterweight Champion Antonio 'Kid Pambele' Cervantes in August 1979. Kwang-Min takes the Champion 15-Rounds, while losing a 'Split' 15-Round Decision. Young-Ho is promised both a WBC and WBA Lightweight Championship bout, but waits and goes inactive for 10-Months, and doesn't fight again until February 1980.
How did this happen ? Young-Ho Oh, after losing a 10-Round Decision to Kwang-Min Kim on April 22, 1979 - Goes inactive for 10-Months. Then, on February 22, 1980 - Young-Ho defends his OPBF Lightweight Championship for a '7th-Time, by scoring a (KO 1) in '50-seconds' over Yidano Lee 15-2-2 (6 KO's). Note: Young-Ho had also scored a (KO 3) over Yidano Lee back in March 1979, which was Yidano Lee's last bout, and Young-Ho's last win. The win improves Young-Ho to 46-7-3 (29 KO's), and suprisingly moves him back into the #8 WBA Lightweight position. Young-Ho then does not fight for another 5-months, when 'Bingo', on August 2, 1980 he finds himself in Detroit at the Joe Louis Arena as an 'approved' Challenger for WBA Lightweight Champion - Hilmer Kenty. Recap, Young-Ho Oh has had exactly 'one-fight' in 15 1/2 months, which lasted all of 50-seconds, and the WBA approves him as a Lightweight Challenger. WBA Politics.
August 2, 1980 WBA Lightweight Champion, Hilmer Kenty makes the 'first defense' of his Championship versus #9 WBA-ranked Young-Ho Oh. The 25 year-old Champion, with a record of 17-0-0 (12 KO's), is a 10-1 Betting-Favorite. At 5' 10 1/2", Hilmer will have a 5 1/2" height advantage, and a 6" reach advantage over his 28 year-old Challenger, and OPBF Lightweight Champion. Nobody in the Joe Louis Arena thinks Young-Ho will last more that 4-Rounds, against the fast-punching Hilmer Kenty. The Fight Hilmer goes right after the Korean, and starts pummelling away, looking for an early knockout for his hometown fans of Detroit. The Champion is hitting away, but Young-Ho takes the battering, and is still standing after 4-Rounds. Though Hilmer is over-powering his Challenger, he fails to floor him. In Round 5, Hilmer again tries for the knockout, but even after hitting Young-Ho with his best punches, the Korean is still there in front of him. Hilmer Kenty looks arm-weary at the end of Round 5. In Round 6, Young-Ho moves in closer to the Champion, to thwart his long-range attack, and scores with his own one-two's to Kenty's body. Kenty has to box and move more, as he is looking to catch his second wind. In Round 7, to the shock of everyone, Young-Ho is actually trying to press the fight, and is moving forward, backing the Champion up. As Hilmer tries to land a right hand lead, he misses, and Young-Ho counters with a crushing right hand to Kenty's chin. Hilmer wobbles, and is in some trouble and he backs to the ropes. Young-Ho moves in, and scores with several crisp punches, as Kenty tries to grab the Korean. The Champion, manages to hold on, and by the end of the Round has regrouped, and starts to score with his left jab and long right hands. In Round 8, Hilmer starts to hammer Young-Ho with left jabs, hooks and uppercuts to the head and body. It is a one-sided Round 8 for the Champion, as Young-Ho teeters, but does not fall. In Round 9, a weary Young-Ho comes out for another battering. Hilmer starts again with an assortment of punches, and by 1:45 Mark, the Referee - Ernesto Magana is looking to stop it, as the Korean is near defenseless. But, he allows it to continue for another 30-seconds, as Hilmer tee's off with more solid punches to Young-Ho's head, before stopping it at 2:15 of Round 9. Scorecards at the time of the stoppage. * 79-72 (7-1-0 in Rounds) * 79-73 (6-1-1 in Rounds) * 79-74 (5-1-2 in Rounds)
Java B, Here is the story, Young-Ho lost his OPBF Lightweight Title to Kwang-Min Kim on April 10, 1981. Kwang-Min Kim lost the OPBF Lightweight Title to Deuk-Koo Kim on February 28, 1982. Young-Ho Oh was supposed to face Deuk-Koo Kim for the OPBF Lightweight Championship on September 28, 1982 - but that bout was put on hold. Because, the WBA approved Deuk-Koo Kim for a Lightweight Championship bout with Ray 'Boom Boom' Mancini, which took place on November 13, 1982. We all know what happened in that bout.
