41 years ago

Date: 13th November 1982

Venue: Caesars Palace, Las Vegas

Title: WBA World Lightweight Title

Promoter: Top Rank

Tv: CBS Sports Saturday

Ray Mancini
( 24 - 1 - 0 )
Weight: 134¾ lbs

Deuk Koo Kim
( 17 - 1 - 1 )
Weight: 134¼ lbs

On Saturday, November 13, 1982, a historic and tragic boxing match took place at Caesars Palace, Las Vegas, between American boxer Ray Mancini and South Korean Deuk Koo Kim. The fight was for the WBA World Lightweight Title, with Mancini making his second title defense. At the time, Mancini held a record of 24-1-0, while Kim's record was 17-1-1. The event was promoted by Top Rank, with Richard Green serving as the referee.

The fight was fiercely competitive, with both Mancini and Kim going toe-to-toe for the majority of the bout. In the third round, Mancini injured his left hand when he hit Kim with a hook to the head, causing it to swell and bruise. In the tenth round, Kim had a point deducted for holding and hitting. Despite Kim being a big underdog and having never fought outside of South Korea, the match was closer and tougher than anticipated.

Mancini ultimately defeated Kim by knockout at 0:19 in the fourteenth round, with a powerful right to the jaw. Following the fight, Kim suffered a cerebral hemorrhage and lapsed into a coma. He underwent a 2½-hour surgery to remove a blood clot from his brain, but tragically passed away on November 17, just five days after the match.

The fight had profound and lasting consequences, not only for the boxers but also for their families and the sport itself. Kim's mother, Yang Sun-Yo, committed suicide a few months after her son's death, and Richard Green, the fight's referee, also took his own life later in 1983. Promoter Bob Arum called for a suspension of professional boxing and suggested safety improvements, including headgear and gloves with more padding.

In response to the tragedy, the World Boxing Council (WBC) announced on December 9, 1982, that they would reduce the number of rounds in their championship fights from fifteen to twelve and permit referees to issue standing eight-counts. This marked a significant change in boxing regulations in an effort to improve fighter safety.

Reflecting on the fight, Mancini expressed his devastation and respect for Kim, stating, "He died once, and I felt I was dying every day. When you're a fighter, you develop a respect for your opponent, and I had all the respect in the world for this guy. I just wanted to win the fight. I never wanted to see him hurt. It was devastating." The Mancini-Kim fight remains a somber reminder of the inherent risks involved in the sport of boxing.