September 30th

September 30th is a day that is somewhat notable for almost every "boxing country" in Asia even if it's not going down as an historic day in the minds of many.

The first of the bouts of interest for us was in 1977 when the debuting Tae Shik Kim was stopped in 3 rounds by fellow debutant Kee Bong Koh. At the time both were relative nobodies in the boxing world and in fact this would be Koh's only professional bout. As for Kim he would later go on to claim the WBA Flyweight title with a sensational victory over Luis Ibarra. Kim would hold the world for just shy of 10 months and defend it once before falling short against Arnel Arrazola. 

Talking about South Korean world champions it was on this day in 1978 that tragic Sung Jun Kim claimed the WBC Light Flyweight title with a 3rd round KO over Netrnoi Sor Vorasingh. Netrnoi was attempting to make the second defense of his belt but was unable to match Kim's intense aggression and the Thai was left in agony on the the canvas. Sadly for Kim his reign was short lasting less than 10 months though he did make 2 defenses of the belt. Sadly both of these men died young. The Thai died in a car crash at just 23 years old whilst Kim sadly committed suicide when he was 35 by jumping off a building with issues regarding his health and finances.

The date hasn't always been a bad one for Thai's and it was on this day in 1980 that Thai legend Saensak Muangsurin scored his final career win defeating Mike DeGuzman in 5 rounds. Sadly for the Thai legend this was his only win in his final 6 professional bouts. Muangsurin, who still holds the join record for fewest professional bouts to being a world champion, was a shadow of his former self by this point and it was often saddening to see him in the ring during this latter stage of his career.

For Filipino's it was on this day in 2007 that Donnie Nietes claimed the WBO Minimumweight title with a narrow victor over Thailand's Pornsawan Porpramook. The bout was incredibly close though Nietes appears to have won the bout courtesy of a knockdown in round 4 and a point deduction from Porpramook in round 10. This was the first of numerous world title victories for Nietes is now a 2-time world champion and is preparing to defend his WBO Light Flyweight title.

More recently, in 2009, we saw Nobuo Nashiro successfully defend his WBA Super Flyweight title with a split decision draw against Hugo Fidel Cazares. Unfortunately for Nashiro he would lose his title in a second bout with Cazares the following year.

(Image, of Nashiro, courtesy of boxrec.com)

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