The year he turned 13, he started boxing in his first year at Hangang Middle School. In 1982, he made his pro debut in Cheongju and won on decision. In 1984, he became OPBF light flyweight champion.
The breakthrough yearThe year he turned 21, on Dec. 8, he beat the WBA light flyweight champion, Joey Olivo, on decision in Daegu and became world champion. It came three years after his pro debut.
In 1986, he made his third defense. In 1988, he made four defenses by his own account, including the ninth, a sixth-round KO of Thailand’s Putt Ohyuthanakorn. In 1990, he made his 14th defense in Incheon, and at the end of the year he received the Maengho Medal of the Order of Sports Merit. In 1991, he made his 17th defense, which Maeil Business Newspaper called the most in his weight class and in Korean pro boxing history, and was named WBA Boxer of the Year. In December in Osaka, he lost the 18th defense to Hiroki Ioka on decision and with it the title.
In 1992, he beat Ioka on decision in a rematch in Japan and won the title back. In 1993, he fought a defense against Yuichi Hosono, then gave up the title himself and retired.
In 1995, he took over the cafeteria of a wedding hall, starting work outside the ring. In 2000, he opened a seolleongtang restaurant in Suwon.
In 2009, he was elected secretary general of the Korea Boxing Commission. In 2012, he was named to the International Boxing Hall of Fame’s list of inductees. In 2013, he was inducted into the International Boxing Hall of Fame.
In 2018, he was a commentator for the TV Chosun broadcast of the World Boxing Super Series final. In 2022, he looked back on his career in an interview with Monthly Joongang. In 2023, he attended a recreational boxing event. In 2025, he visited the Sejong Sports Council Chairman’s Cup boxing tournament. In 2026, he attended the Yangsan national recreational boxing tournament.
Yuh Myung-woo (born Jan 10, 1964) turned professional on Mar 24, 1982, the year he turned 18, and became known when he won the WBA light flyweight world title on Dec 8, 1985, the year he turned 21. He made 17 defenses and retired after winning the title back in 1992, the year he turned 28.
Ages are by calendar year (the year minus the birth year), birthdays aside.
Started boxing in his first year at Hangang Middle School in Seoul.
Source 04 · Ilgan Sports (Korean) · The little buffalo dreaming of a boxing revival · opens in a new tabSource 15 · Kyunghyang Shinmun (Korean) · Turning into a successful businessman · opens in a new tabIn Cheongju, he fought Choi Byung-bum in a four-round flyweight bout and won on decision.
Source 01 · Sports Chosun (Korean) · Unforgettable moments: Yuh Myung-woo · opens in a new tab The date and venue are his own account in the Sports Chosun article and could not be confirmed in reports from the time. English Wikipedia places the fight in Jinju in March 1982.Knocked out the Philippines’ Edwin Inocencio and won the OPBF light flyweight title.
Source 01 · Sports Chosun (Korean) · Unforgettable moments: Yuh Myung-woo · opens in a new tab The fight date is confirmed only to the month.In Daegu, he beat the champion, Joey Olivo of the United States, on a 15-round decision to become world champion. His record up to that point was 19 fights, 19 wins.
Fought Mario De Marco in his third defense.
Source 03 · Monthly Joongang (Korean) · In search of legends: Yuh Myung-woo · opens in a new tab The article does not give the result. His defenses continued through the 17th.Beat Thailand’s Putt Ohyuthanakorn by KO in the sixth round. He says he defended the title four times that year.
Source 07 · Sports Chosun (Korean) · A world boxing champion turned restaurant owner · opens in a new tabSource 03 · Monthly Joongang (Korean) · In search of legends: Yuh Myung-woo · opens in a new tab The exact date of the ninth defense is not in the articles.At Seonin Gymnasium in Incheon, he beat Japan’s Hisashi Tokushima by KO in the seventh round.
Source 06 · Incheon Today (Korean) · Yuh Myung-woo’s 14th defense · opens in a new tabReceived the Maengho Medal (second class) of the Order of Sports Merit from the Ministry of Sports.
Source 06 · Incheon Today (Korean) · Yuh Myung-woo’s 14th defense · opens in a new tabBy spring 1991 he had beaten 17 challengers. Maeil Business Newspaper wrote in 2012 that this was the most in his weight class and the most in the history of Korean professional boxing.
Source 01 · Sports Chosun (Korean) · Unforgettable moments: Yuh Myung-woo · opens in a new tabSource 05 · Maeil Business Newspaper (Korean) · Entering the International Boxing Hall of Fame · opens in a new tab The exact date of the 17th defense is not in the articles.Was named 1991 Boxer of the Year by the World Boxing Association (WBA).
Source 05 · Maeil Business Newspaper (Korean) · Entering the International Boxing Hall of Fame · opens in a new tabIn Osaka, he lost on decision to Japan’s Hiroki Ioka. His 36-fight winning streak ended, and this was the only loss of his professional career.
Source 01 · Sports Chosun (Korean) · Unforgettable moments: Yuh Myung-woo · opens in a new tabSource 06 · Incheon Today (Korean) · Yuh Myung-woo’s 14th defense · opens in a new tabSource 05 · Maeil Business Newspaper (Korean) · Entering the International Boxing Hall of Fame · opens in a new tab Mania Times dates this fight to Apr. 28, 1991, but the text follows Dec. 17 from Sports Chosun and Incheon Today.In a rematch in Japan, he won a 12-round decision and took the belt back.
Source 02 · Mania Times (Korean) · The little buffalo who made 17 defenses · opens in a new tabSource 06 · Incheon Today (Korean) · Yuh Myung-woo’s 14th defense · opens in a new tabAfter winning the title back, he won his first defense, then gave up the title himself and left the ring. His career record was 39 fights, 38 wins and 1 loss (14 KOs).
Source 02 · Mania Times (Korean) · The little buffalo who made 17 defenses · opens in a new tabSource 06 · Incheon Today (Korean) · Yuh Myung-woo’s 14th defense · opens in a new tabSource 07 · Sports Chosun (Korean) · A world boxing champion turned restaurant owner · opens in a new tab The date he gave up the title is confirmed only as the summer of 1993.Took over the cafeteria of a wedding hall run by his older brother, starting work outside the ring. He ran it for three years, until 1998.
Source 07 · Sports Chosun (Korean) · A world boxing champion turned restaurant owner · opens in a new tabOpened a seolleongtang (ox bone soup) restaurant near the Suwon Sports Complex and closed it at the end of 2004.
Source 07 · Sports Chosun (Korean) · A world boxing champion turned restaurant owner · opens in a new tabLearned of a duck meat franchise run by a senior from his youth and began running a duck meat restaurant.
Source 07 · Sports Chosun (Korean) · A world boxing champion turned restaurant owner · opens in a new tabWas elected unanimously at an extraordinary general meeting. He was the first former world champion in the post, and he submitted his resignation five months later, in December.
Source 08 · Mookas (Korean) · Stepping in to rescue the KBC · opens in a new tabSource 09 · Newsis (Korean) · Yuh Myung-woo, to be inducted into the boxing hall of fame · opens in a new tab “The first former world champion as secretary general” is Newsis’s wording. He was appointed secretary general again in Jan. 2012.Was on the list announced by the Hall of Fame museum in Canastota, New York. He was the second Korean, after Chang Jung-koo in 2009.
Source 05 · Maeil Business Newspaper (Korean) · Entering the International Boxing Hall of Fame · opens in a new tabA celebration of his International Boxing Hall of Fame induction was held at a hotel in Ansan.
Source 10 · NoCut News (Korean) · Raising a boxer like Pacquiao · opens in a new tabWas inducted at the Hall of Fame museum in Canastota, New York. He was the second Korean, after Chang Jung-koo.
Source 06 · Incheon Today (Korean) · Yuh Myung-woo’s 14th defense · opens in a new tabSource 10 · NoCut News (Korean) · Raising a boxer like Pacquiao · opens in a new tabSource 02 · Mania Times (Korean) · The little buffalo who made 17 defenses · opens in a new tab The date follows Incheon Today (2026). NoCut News reported on May 28, 2013 that he planned to attend the induction ceremony on this day.Served as a commentator for the broadcast of the super middleweight unification title fight.
Source 11 · TV Chosun (Korean) · Broadcast of the World Boxing Super Series final · opens in a new tab Based on the TV Chosun preview article from the day before the broadcast.In an interview with Monthly Joongang at the Buffalo Boxing Gym in Bucheon, Gyeonggi Province, he looked back on his 36-fight winning streak and the years of 17 world title defenses.
Source 03 · Monthly Joongang (Korean) · In search of legends: Yuh Myung-woo · opens in a new tab The date follows the article’s entry date.Attended a recreational boxing event held at the Yong In University boxing arena.
Source 12 · Kyeonggi Ilbo (Korean) · 2023 Korea Boxing Promotion Agency Boxing Festival · opens in a new tabVisited the venue with Chang Jung-koo and met fans.
Source 13 · Chungcheong Times (Korean) · Korean pro boxing world champions gather in Sejong · opens in a new tab The tournament began on Dec. 6, and the article does not give the day of the visit.Attended the tournament at the Yangsan Citizens’ Sports Center with Park Chong-pal and Kim Bong-jun, and encouraged the boxers.
Source 14 · KPI News (Korean) · 6th National Recreational Boxing Tournament · opens in a new tabEND OF SELECTED RECORDSSelected records, 1977–2026 · not a complete list of work. “Key moment” is an editorial label, not a measure of success.
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Sports · South Korea
Jan 10, 1964 —
Ages are counted from the birth year 1964: the year of the event minus 1964, birthdays aside. “Key moment” labels and the connecting story are AgeTrail's editorial reading.
Fact-checked: 2026.10.06 · An independent archive, not affiliated with the person or their agency.