‘World Champion’ appears after 40 years

Park Myung-hoon, Park Hye-won, and Kim Yo-han expressed their admiration for the passion and fighting spirit of the late Kim Deuk-gu, the Asian boxing champion.

On the 19th, SBS' 'Story of That Day' (hereinafter referred to as 'Kokkomu') featured the episode 'My Dream Was Not Poverty - 1982 Final Challenge', featuring the story of Kim Deuk-gu, a boxer with a warrior's fighting spirit and indomitable spirit. The last game and his hidden stories were introduced. Kim Deuk-gu was not an unlucky boxer, but a courageous challenger with determination and passion for his dream.

On this day's broadcast, Ray Mancini, who caused the death of Kim Deuk-gu during the match, appeared. He appeared on television for the first time in 40 years and confessed his feelings that day, saying, "I felt guilty. I killed Kim Deuk-gu with my own hands." Ray Mancini is a former world lightweight boxing champion. Ray Mencini said, "If I die someday, I really want to meet him," and "I want to say, 'Hello, my friend. I love you.'" He confessed his sad feelings, bringing tears to everyone's eyes.

In the 1970s, boxing, a national sport that enthused people who had a hard day, was a sport where poor young people could pursue their dreams because anyone could do it without expensive equipment. Kim Deuk-gu also dreams of turning his life around with his bare fists and goes to Seoul with the goal of succeeding, escaping poverty, and making his family happy. Kim Deuk-gu ran to Donga Gymnasium, the most prestigious gym at the time, and became the Asian champion through sincerity and endless effort.

Deukgu Kim challenges to become world champion with the determination not to leave the ring before he dies. American world champion Ray 'Boom Boom' Mancini and Kim Deuk-gu, an unknown boxer from a small Asian country, will enter a special ring in Las Vegas. Ray Mancini was the WBA lightweight world champion and the world's strongest boxer with a record of 23 wins and 1 loss in 24 fights. Kim Deuk-gu, who took the lead with a sharp preemptive attack but lost stamina as the match lasted until the 14th inning, eventually collapsed on the ring with a punch from Ray Mancini, fell into a brain-dead state, and ultimately died.

Ray Mancini, who retired at the young age of 24, said, "After that fight, I never wanted to fight anyone again." He also said, "During the 40 minutes I stood in the ring, I knew Kim Deuk-gu better than anyone else, better than my family, my fiancee's friends, etc. I knew what kind of attitude he had, his mental strength, and how much he wanted to win." Ray Mancini recalled Kim Deuk-gu as “the ultimate warrior.”

Park Myung-hoon, Park Hye-won, and Kim Yo-han, who also appeared as story friends, wiped away tears and listened to Jang Trio's story. Kim Yo-han, who appeared as Jang Do-yeon's story friend, expressed deep emotion, saying, "I don't know how to say it. Kim Deuk-gu was just boxing, and life itself was boxing itself." Park Myung-hoon, a friend of Jang Hyun-seong's story, was speechless and said, "When I was young, I only watched the player's games, but now I can feel the passion that the young man Deuk-gu Kim has and his love for his family."

Kim Ji-won, Ten Asia reporter bella@tenasia.co.kr