SEOUL, South Korea — A South Korean boxer who lost consciousness after winning an WBO intercontinental flyweight bout last week has been declared brain dead.
Choi Yoi-Sam was declared brain dead Wednesday, said Ko Seung-kwan, a spokesman at Asan Medical Center. Choi had been in a coma since shortly after winning the fight against Indonesian challenger Heri Amol in Seoul on Dec. 25.
The 33-year-old Choi was knocked down in the 12th and final round of the bout, but managed to get to his feet to win a decision. He would pass out moments later.
Doctors were scheduled to remove Choi's organs for transplantation after getting approval from the prosecutors' office, a legal requirement before organs can be removed, said Ko. South Korean media reported that Choi had said he would donate his organs.