Hongman Choi

Choi Hong-man (born October 30, 1980), often anglicised to Hongman Choi, is a South Korean kickboxer, mixed martial artist, and former ssireum wrestler.

In Asia, he is called "Che Man", "Techno Goliath", "Korean Monster" and "Korean Colossus".

At the 2003 Ssireum Championships, he won the title against his long-time rival Kim Young-hyun (often anglicised to Younghyun Kim).

A year later, he reached the final again, where he was defeated by Kim.

Across all Combat sport styles, there has never been anywhere a fight of such physical proportions between two athletes.

Choi weighed 175.5 kg standing 2.18 m tall, Kim weighed 167.8 kg standing 2.17 m tall.

This even surpasses the WBA heavyweight championship between Nikolay Valuev (2.13 m at 146.2 kg) and Jameel McCline (1.98 m at 121.7 kg), which is considered a record in boxing in terms of physique.

Valuev and McCline brought together 267.9 kg and 4.11 m, Choi and Kim 343.3 kg and 4.35 m.

He announced in December 2004 to leave Ssireum for K-1, and stated he has a two dan black belt in Taekwondo.

But this could never be verified.

He won the 2005 K-1 Seoul Grand Prix beating Kaoklai Kaennorsing in the finals.

He stands 2.18 m and weighs 160 kg.

Prepared for his kickboxing career by K-1 fighter Nicholas Pettas, he debuted in K-1 fighting at the World GP 2005 event in Seoul in March, 2005, which he won in the final vs. Kaoklai Kaennorsing.

In the final elimination he defeated Bob Sapp with a 2–0 decision, eventually losing to Remy Bonjasky in the World Grand Prix Final.

He got his nickname "Techno Goliath" (테크노 골리앗) when he was a ssireum wrestler in South Korea, as after a victory he would dance to techno music.

He is referred to on Japanese television and news articles as the 'Korean Monster' (コリアン・モンスター).

Since his K-1 debut in 2005, he has fought using an orthodox stance.

However, in this fight, he adopted for the first time a Southpaw stance.

This was a strategy by his coach Kin Taiei (often anglicised to Taiei Kin) for an eventual re-match with Mighty Mo (to block his devastating overhand right better as in orthodox stance).

On September 29 at the K-1 final eliminations in Seoul, fighting southpaw stance again, he redeemed his previous loss and defeated Mighty Mo by decision.

The win was disputed because Mo was able to land many hard hands on Choi's head, while the Korean missed most of his shots.

However, due to a kick Choi delivered to Mighty Mo's groin in the second round that was inexplicably ruled a knockdown.

Mighty Mo was quoted in the post-fight interview: "He (Choi) seemed a little bit stronger because I hit him with some good shots and he didn't fall down so I was surprised, actually harder than the ones I hit him with before. He must have been practicing taking punches."

Choi was announced by Jimmy Lennon Jr.. as weighing in at 166.6 kg, the heaviest weight of his K-1 career (2005-2008).

In the post-fight Choi said: "He (Jérôme) has been my toughest opponent, who was able to resist my powerful punches and counter with speed, I admire his physical strength and I'm sure with more experience will be able to defeat him."

He started the season 2006 at the K-1 World GP in Las Vegas with a unanimous decision win over Sylvester Terkay aka "The Predator".

His new coach was the former Japanese Korean K-1 fighter Kin Taiei (anglicised to Taiei Kin).

One of Choi's most notable fights was against current K-1 World Champion Semmy Schilt at the World GP 2006 event in Seoul.

The fight was unique due to the enormous size and weight of both fighters (Schilt 2.12 m 128 kg, Choi 2.18 m 161 kg).

Choi won the fight by 2-0 decision, but it was a disputed win.

On September 30, 2006, Choi fought Jérôme Le Banner in the final eliminations, and lost after three rounds and one extra round on points.

After the fight, Le Banner said: "He is dangerous, his knees are already almost at the level of my head, he's not human! But he's a good guy and I like him, he's very tough, maybe the strongest guy in K-1, and he has hard bones -- when I kicked him, it hurt my leg! I'm sure with more experience, in two years no one will be able to knock him out!"

On March 4, 2007, in the World Grand Prix in Yokohama, he was knocked out for the first time in his career.

Mighty Mo landed his trademark overhand right to the chin and Choi was not able to stand up again.

In this fight he weighed 165.4 kg, was very slow and many say it was his worst performance.

Choi himself stated in an interview about six months later: At that time, I was not in shape so that I did not train at all.

On August 5.

at the Asia World Grand Prix in Hong Kong, he beat Gary Goodridge by KO at 1:34 in the first round.

He weighed 163.5 kg. Notable on this fight was his stance.

In the World Grand Prix Final 2007 tournament on December 8, he again lost by decision to Jérôme Le Banner.