Park Si-Heon

Park Si-Heon was named the gold medalist at the 1988 Seoul Olympics in light-middleweight, in one of the most controversial decisions ever in Olympic boxing. In the final he met American Roy Jones, Jr. who decisively battered Park, but the judges gave the decision to Park. Park apologized to Jones in the ring, and purportedly, while raising Park’s hand, the referee whispered to Jones, “I can’t believe they’re doing this to you.”

Park had a difficult time after the Olympics and said he wished he had not been awarded gold, and said his life would have been happier if he had taken silver. He faced severe media and public criticism in Korea, with many beseeching him to forfeit his medal and leave the country. He contemplated suicide. Park eventually became a schoolteacher. In later life, he returned to boxing as a coach.

In 2023 Park visited Roy Jones, Jr. at his gym in Pensacola, Florida and gave him the gold medal, feeling he was the rightful winner of the final bout.