Sung-Kil Moon

Infobox boxer (amateur)
boxername=Moon Sung-Kil


imagesize=
caption =
fullname = Moon Sung-Kil
nicknames =
nationality = KOR
weight class = Bantamweight
club =
birthdate = birth date and age|1963|7|20
birthplace = Seoul
deathdate =
deathplace =
height = height|m=1.66
weight = convert|54|kg|lb
medaltemplates=

Sung-Kil Moon (born July 20, 1963 in Seoul) is a former two-division world champion boxer from South Korea. His name is also spelled as Mun Seong-Gil.

Amateur Highlights

Compiled a purported record of 219-22 (164 KO)
*Represented South Korea as a Bantamweight at the 1984 Olympic Games in Los Angeles.
**Defeated John Hyland (Great Britain) TKO 3
**Defeated Robert Shannon (United States) KO
**Lost to Pedro Nolasco (Dominican Republic) TKO by 1
*1986 Won a World Championship as a Bantamweight, in competition in Reno, United States.
**Defeated Fabrizio Cappai (Italy) KO 2
**Defeated Johnny Vasquez (United States) points
**Defeated Hristov (Bulgaria) TKO 2
**Defeated Arnaldo Mesa (Cuba) points
**Defeated Rene Breitbarth (East Germany) points

Pro career

Moon's pro debut took place on March 8, 1987 with a first round KO over Ric Bajelot, a fighter with 16 professional fights at the time. Moon won his first 6 fights by knock-out, before challenging Khaokor Galaxy for the WBA Bantamweight Title on August 14, 1988. Moon won a six round technical decision to win the title. The fight was stopped early due to an accidental headbutt that cut Moon.

Moon would go on to make two successful defenses of his title, scoring a 7th round KO of Edgar Omar Monserrat, and a 5th round KO of Chiaki Kobayashi. Kobayashi, a former Japanese National Bantamweight Champion, retired after this defeat.

On July 9, 1989 Moon and Galaxy met in a rematch, this time Galaxy won a unanimous decision over 12 rounds to regain his WBA Bantamweight Title. Moon was knocked down twice in the 11th round, losing by scores of 120-109, 120-109 and 120-112.

Moon then moved down in weight. Moon scored a 2nd round KO over Romeo Opriasa in a tune up bout, before challenging Nana Konadu on January 20, 1990 for the WBC Super Flyweight Title. The fight between Moon and Konadu was a war, both fighters were knocked down several times. Moon won a 9th round technical decision to capture the title, after once again becoming the victim of an accidental headbutt. Moon won by scores of 86-84, 86-82, and 87-84 to capture his second World Title in his second division.

Moon would go on to record 9 successful title defenses, including five victories over prior or future World Champions. These victories included a 9th Round KO over former two time WBC Super Flyweight Champion Gilberto Roman, a 4th round KO over Konadu in their rematch, and a 1st round KO over former two time WBC Light Flyweight and one time WBA Flyweight Champion Hilario Zapata.

On July 3, 1993 Moon made his 9th and final successful title defense scoring a 12 round majority decision over future IBF Super Flyweight and WBO Flyweight Champion Carlos Gabriel Salazar.

On November 13, 1993 Moon lost a split decision to José Luis Bueno by scores of 115-114, 112-117 and 110-118 to lose the WBC Super Flyweight Title.

Sung-Kil Moon retired after this fight, finishing with professional record of 20 Wins and 2 Losses (15 by knockout).

As a bit of trivia, the Folk Rock band Sun Kil Moon is named after Sung-Kil Moon.

References

*boxrec|id=3187
* [http://www.sports-reference.com/olympics/athletes/mu/mun-seong-gil-1.html sports-reference]