South Korea set up a new record at the Seoul 1986 Asian Games winning all of the 12 weight classes

The 1986 edition of the boxing tournament of the Asian Games was held in Seoul, South Korea from September 25 until October 4. The event was the tenth Asian Games and the ninth boxing tournament in the history of the multisport event. The South Koreans have done a remarkable performance their boxers won all of the 12 gold medals in Seoul.
South Korea topped the medal rankings in 1962, in 1966, in 1970, in 1974, in 1978, in 1982 and their boxers continued their hegemony in Seoul as well. South Korea won all of the gold medals in the boxing tournament of the 1986 Asian Games which is the current record of the event. South Korea received the right to host the 1988 Seoul Olympic Games in 1981 therefore their incredible dominancy in 1986 was part of their long term strategy.
The first boxing tournament was held in 7 men weight classes in Manila in 1954 but from the second edition boxers could attend in 10 different categories. The Olympic Council of Asia raised the number of the weight classes up to 11 in the 1966 edition and also added a new category raising to 12 the divisions in 1982. Boxers could attend in the 1986 edition from the 48kg up to the +91kg weight categories.
Altogether 85 elite male boxers from 12 countries attended in the boxing tournament of the 1986 Asian Games in Seoul. The participating countries in the 1986 editions were the following nations: Bangladesh, India, Indonesia, Iraq, Japan, South Korea, Kuwait, Nepal, Pakistan, Philippines, Sri Lanka, and Thailand.
The first gold medal of the boxing tournament of the 1986 Asian Games was achieved by a 21-year-old South Korean, Oh Kwang Soo at the light flyweight (48kg). He claimed bronze medal in the Reno 1986 AIBA World Boxing Championships before the Asian Games where he controlled his final against Thailand’s Supap Boonrawd which ended with RSC success.
Kim Kwang Sun was 22-year-old by the time of the 1986 Asian Games which he won with his top performance in the final of the flyweight (51kg) against India’s Sahu Birajdor. Kim attacked successfully and knocked out his Indian rival in the final which was his first big international triumph. Kim Kwang Sun became Olympic Champion in Seoul two years later.
South Korea’s another star Moon Sung Kil was well-known as a great knockout puncher who won 164 contests by KO out of his 219 victories during his amateur career. The South Korean boxer defended his throne in Seoul following his first triumph at the Delhi 1982 Asian Games. Moon, who was AIBA World Champion in 1986, dominated his bantamweight (54kg) final against Thailand’s Sophon Sujarikul in Seoul.
South Korea’s AIBA World Boxing Championships silver medallist and Los Angeles 1984 Olympic Games quarter-finalist Kim Dong Kil also won his second Asian Games title in Seoul. Kim won the light welterweight (63.5kg) in 1982 and defeated all of his rivals at the welterweight (67kg) in 1986.
Asian Boxing Champion Lee Hae Jung also did a remarkable performance in the 1986 Asian Games and became the third South Korean who could defend his throne in Seoul. Lee won the title of the light middleweight (71kg) in 1982 and repeated that performance in the same category in 1986 after beating Japan’s Chiharu Ogiwara in the final by RSC. His teammate Los Angeles 1984 Olympic Games winner Shin Joon Sup dominated his middleweight (75kg) final against Thailand’s Narong Inphrom.

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