{{short description|South Korean boxer}} {{family name hatnote|Choi||lang=Korean}} {{Infobox boxer |name=Choi Hyun-mi<br>{{small|최현미}} |image=최현미 권투 선수.jpg |image_size=200px |caption=Choi Hyun-mi boxer |nickname=Defector Girl Boxer |nationality={{plainlist| *North Korean (until 2004) *South Korean (since 2004)}} |realname= |birth_date={{Birth date and age|1990|11|07|mf=y}} |birth_place=Pyongyang, North Korea |height=5 ft 7 in |weight={{plainlist| *Featherweight *Super featherweight *Lightweight}} |reach=65+1/2 in |style=Orthodox |total=23 |wins=21 |KO=5 |losses=1 |draws=1 |no contests= }}
'''Choi Hyun-mi''' ({{Korean|최현미}}; born November 7, 1990) is a South Korean female professional boxer. She is a two-weight world champion, having held the WBA female super-featherweight title from 2013 to 2023 and previously the WBA female featherweight title from 2008 to 2013.
==Biography== At age 13, Choi was asked to prepare to compete in the 2008 Olympics as a member of the North Korean team; eventually the International Olympic Committee decided against including women's boxing in the competition.<ref name="New York Times, 10-26-08">{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2008/10/26/world/asia/26korea.html|title=New York Times, 10-26-08|work=New York Times.com|date=26 October 2008 |accessdate=2008-10-26 |last1=Sang-Hun |first1=Choe }}</ref> In 2004 her father, a successful businessman in North Korea, fled the country, followed by his family, who traveled first through China, then were smuggled through Vietnam before settling in South Korea, where Choi's promoters advertised her as the "Defector Girl Boxer".<ref name="New York Times, 10-26-08"/>
Choi entered the amateur ranks in South Korea in 2006, winning five domestic titles before turning professional.<ref name="New York Times, 10-26-08"/> In her pro-debut on October 11, 2008, Choi became the first female and one of only six boxers ever to fight for a world title in their debut. She would join Pete Rademacher, Rafael Lovera, Joko Arter, Joves De La Puz & Arturo Mayan in accomplishing this feat and the first to actually win it. She would do this by beating Xu Chunyan of China to win vacant WBA featherweight title.<ref name="New York Times, 10-26-08"/>
Choi won the vacant interim WBA female super-flyweight title thanks to a unanimous decision win over Emiko Raika from Japan on 15 August 2013.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://boxrec.com/en/event/676002/1819287|title=Hyun Mi Choi vs Fujin Raika|publisher=boxrec.com|access-date=2024-05-21}}</ref> She was subsequently upgraded to full champion status.<ref name="Scene"> {{cite web|url= https://www.boxingscene.com/alycia-baumgardner-hyun-mi-choi-wba-reorders-junior-lightweight-championship-fight--176683|title= Alycia Baumgardner-Hyun Mi Choi: WBA Reorders Junior Lightweight Championship Fight|publisher=Boxing Scene|access-date=2024-05-21}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.espn.co.uk/boxing/story/_/id/35033755/wba-orders-hyun-mi-choi-alycia-baumgardner-title-fight|title=WBA orders Hyun-Mi Choi-Alycia Baumgardner title fight|publisher=ESPN|access-date=2024-05-21}}</ref>
She won the vacant WBF female super-featherweight World title on 21 May 2016, defeating South Africa's Unathi Myekeni by unanimous decision.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://womenboxing.com/fightresults2016/fightmay2016.htm|title=Fight Results May 2016|publisher=womenboxing.com|access-date=2024-05-21}}</ref>
In December 2023, the WBA made Choi "Champion in Recess" after she filed a medical exemption and was ruled unfit to defend her title by the sanctioning body’s annual convention in Orlando, Florida, USA.<ref name="Scene"/>
After 22 fights unbeaten spanning almost 16 years, Choi suffered the first defeat of her professional boxing career on 27 April 2024, losing to Canada's Jessica Camara by split decision in a contest for the vacant WBA female lightweight Gold title at Ajou University, Suwon, South Korea.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.wbaboxing.com/boxing-news/camara-is-the-new-wba-gold-champion|title=Camara is the new WBA Gold Champion|publisher=wbaboxing.com|access-date=2024-05-10}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://boxrec.com/en/event/892982/3137409|title=Hyun Mi Choi vs Jessica Camara|publisher=boxrec.com|access-date=2024-05-10}}</ref>
==Professional boxing record== {{BoxingRecordSummary |draws=1 |nc= |ko-wins=5 |ko-losses=0 |dec-wins=16 |dec-losses=1 }} {|class=wikitable style=text-align:center |- !{{abbr|No.|Number}} !Result !Record !Opponent !Type !Round, time !Date !Location !Notes |- |23 |{{no2}}Loss |21–1–1 |align=left|Jessica Camara |SD | rowspan="3" |10 |Apr 27, 2024 |align=left|{{small|Ajou University Suwon, South Korea}} |align=left|{{small|For vacant WBA Gold lightweight title}} |- |22 |{{yes2}}Win |21–0–1 |align=left|María Maderna | rowspan="2" |UD |Jul 15, 2023 |align=left|{{small|Suwon Gymnasium, Suwon, South Korea}} |align=left| |- |21 |{{yes2}}Win |20–0–1 |align=left|Vanessa Bradford |Oct 19, 2022 |align=left|{{small|SK Olympic Handball Gymnasium, Seoul, South Korea}} | rowspan="7" align="left" |{{small|Retained WBA female super-featherweight title}} |- |20 |{{yes2}}Win |19–0–1 |align=left|Simone Aparecida da Silva |KO |9 (10), 1:15 |Sep 18, 2021 |align=left|{{small|Dongducheon Sports Center, Dongducheon, South Korea}} |- |19 |{{yes2}}Win |18–0–1 |align=left|Calista Salgado | rowspan="3" |UD | rowspan="3" |10 |Dec 18, 2020 |align=left|{{small|Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino, Hollywood, Florida, U.S.}} |- |18 |{{yes2}}Win |17–0–1 |align=left|Wakako Fujiwara |Jun 29, 2019 |align=left|{{small|East Incheon middle school, Incheon, South Korea}} |- |17 |{{yes2}}Win |16–0–1 |align=left|Mayra Alejandra Gomez |Jul 15, 2018 |align=left|{{small|Prince Hotel, Daegu, South Korea}} |- |16 |{{yes2}}Win |15–0–1 |align=left|Jessica Gonzalez |TD |6 (10), 1:05 |Nov 18, 2017 |align=left|{{small|Seoun Park Tennis Gymnasium, Incheon, South Korea}} |- |15 |{{yes2}}Win |14–0–1 |align=left|Kimika Miyoshi | rowspan="3" |UD | rowspan="3" |10 |Apr 15, 2017 |align=left|{{small|Siheung Gymnasium, Siheung, South Korea}} |- |14 |{{yes2}}Win |13–0–1 |align=left|Unathi Myekeni |May 21, 2016 |align=left|{{small|Pearl Gymnasium, Jinju, South Korea}} |align=left|{{small|Won vacant WBF female super-featherweight title}} |- |13 |{{yes2}}Win |12–0–1 |align=left|Diana Ayala |Mar 27, 2016 |align=left|{{small|Gwangmyeong Cave, Gwangmyeong, South Korea}} |align=left|{{small|Retained WBA female super-featherweight title}} |- |12 |{{yes2}}Win |11–0–1 |align=left|Siriwan Thongmanit |KO |3 (10) |Dec 6, 2015 |align=left|{{small|Seogu Public Sports Center, Daegu, South Korea}} |align=left| |- |11 |{{yes2}}Win |10–0–1 |align=left|Chika Mizutani |UD |10 |May 23, 2015 |align=left|{{small|Mungyeong Gymnasium, Mungyeong, South Korea}} | rowspan="2" align="left" |{{small|Retained WBA female super-featherweight title}} |- |10 |{{yes2}}Win |9–0–1 |align=left|Keanpetch Superchamps |TKO |8 (10), 1:19 |May 10, 2014 |align=left|{{small|SeoulTech, Seoul, South Korea}} |- |9 |{{yes2}}Win |8–0–1 |align=left|Emiko Raika | rowspan="3" |UD | rowspan="3" |10 |Aug 15, 2013 |align=left|{{small|Wolmido, South Korea}} |align=left|{{small|Won Interim WBA female super-featherweight title}} |- |8 |{{yes2}}Win |7–0–1 |align=left|Shannon O'Connell |May 5, 2013 | rowspan="2" align="left" |{{small|KBS Sports World, Seoul, South Korea}} | rowspan="7" align="left" |{{small|Retained WBA female featherweight title}} |- |7 |{{yes2}}Win |6–0–1 |align=left|Rocio Castillo |May 4, 2012 |- |6 |{{yes2}}Win |5–0–1 |align=left|Sainumdoi Superchamps |TKO |5 (10), {{small|1:19}} |Dec 17, 2011 |align=left|{{small|SeoulTech, Seoul, South Korea}} |- |5 |{{yes2}}Win |4–0–1 |align=left|Sandy Tsagouris |KO |3 (10), {{small|1:39}} |Apr 29, 2011 |align=left|{{small|Chungeui Temple, Yesan Gun, South Korea}} |- |4 |{{yes2}}Win |3–0–1 |align=left|Claudia Andrea López |SD | rowspan="4" |10 |Apr 30, 2010 | rowspan="2" align="left" |{{small|Sungkyunkwan University, Suwon, South Korea}} |- |3 |{{yes2}}Win |2–0–1 |align=left|Tenku Tsubasa |UD |Nov 21, 2009 |- |2 |{{draw}}Draw |1–0–1 |align=left|Kim Hyo-min |SD |May 30, 2009 |align=left|{{small|SeoulTech, Seoul, South Korea}} |- |1 |{{yes2}}Win |1–0 |align=left|Xu Chunyan |UD |Oct 11, 2008 |align=left|{{small|Gymnasium, Jinan Gun, South Korea}} |align=left|{{small|Won vacant WBA female featherweight title}} |}
==See also== {{commons}} *List of female boxers *List of Korean boxers
==References== {{Reflist}}
==External links== *{{Boxrec|id=459071}} *[https://box.live/boxers/hyun-mi-choi/ Choi Hyun-mi - Profile, News Archive & Current Rankings] at [https://Box.Live Box.Live] *[https://www.womenboxing.com/biog/hyunmichoi.htm Choi Hyun-mi - Profile] at Women Boxing Archive Network
{{s-start}} {{s-sports}} {{s-text|style=background:#C1D8FF; font-weight: bold;|text=Minor world boxing titles}} |- {{s-vac|last=Ramona Kühne}} {{s-ttl|title=WBF super-featherweight champion |years=May 21, 2016 – 2017<br>Vacated}} {{s-vac|next=Stephanie Ducastel}} {{s-text|style=background:#C1D8FF; font-weight: bold;|text=Major world boxing titles}} |- {{s-vac|last=Hwa Won Lee}} {{s-ttl|title=WBA featherweight champion |years=October 11, 2008 – 2013<br>Vacated}} {{s-aft|after=Ogleidis Suárez<br>{{small|Interim champion promoted}}}} {{s-new}} {{s-ttl|title=WBA super-featherweight champion<br>Interim title |years=August 15, 2013 – October 30, 2013<br>Promoted}} {{s-vac|next=Elif Nur Turhan}} {{s-bef|before=Kina Malpartida<br>''{{small|Retired}}''}} {{s-ttl|title=WBA super-featherweight champion |years=October 30, 2013 – December 24, 2022<br>Status changed}} {{s-vac|next=Alycia Baumgardner}} {{s-text|style=background:#C1D8FF; font-weight: bold;|text=Honorary boxing titles}} {{s-new}} {{s-ttl|title=WBA super-featherweight champion<br>In recess |years=December 24, 2022 – 2023<br>Vacated}} {{s-vac}} {{s-end}}
{{North Korean defectors}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Choi, Hyun-mi}} Category:1990 births Category:Living people Category:South Korean women boxers Category:Sportspeople from Pyongyang Category:South Korean people of North Korean origin Category:North Korean women boxers Category:North Korean defectors Category:World featherweight boxing champions Category:World super-featherweight boxing champions Category:World Boxing Association champions Category:21st-century South Korean sportswomen