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South-North Pro-Boxing Fight

Posted May. 20, 2001 08:58,   

한국어

The first boxing event between South and North appeared to be a game between rival teams of professional baseball.

A World Boxing Council Super Flyweight return match between North Korean boxer Hong Chang-Su and South Korean challenger Cho In-Joo was held at the Sheraton Walker Hill Hotel in Seoul.

500 Japanese-side spectators including 231 pro-North Korean residents of Japan begun to shout the name of `Hong Chang-Su` before he entered into the arena. And the domestic fans responded to this by shouting the name of `Cho In-Joo.`

The spectators stopped cheering in order to sing uniformly ``Our Wish is Reunification, instead of national anthem.`` But the atmosphere around the ring became more enthusiastic as soon as the game begun.

Whenever Hong`s blow succeeded to land on Cho, pro-North Koreans and Japanese shouted ``Let`s go Hong Chang-Su.`` And domestic fans shouted highly ``Cho In-Joo`` whenever Cho offended.

But as soon as the match ended with Hong`s KO victory, 45 seconds into the fifth round, the overheated atmosphere calmed down. The domestic fans applauded Hong who was running around the ring with the joy of victory. And pro-Japanese cheerers also applauded Cho, shouting his name.

Hong Chang-Su showed his token of gratitude toward the domestic fans, saying loudly ``Korea is the one. I appreciated for cheering.`` Mr. Hong Byung-Yoon, Hong`s father, in Korean traditional costume, emphasized to the reporters that ``Chang-Su is our boxer.``

Hong Chang-Su said that he could win due to the warm support of Koreans, and hoped to have a rematch in Seoul.

Hong Chang-Su recorded 24 wins (6 KO), 1 draw, and 2 losses with this victory, and Cho In-Joo recorded 18 wins (7 KO) and 2 losses.



Lee Hyun-Doo ruchi@donga.com