Wrestler Shim Kwon-ho, battling liver cancer, says treatment 'nearly finished'

Former wrestling national team member Shim Kwon-ho has shared a health update, saying he is recovering well from liver cancer.

Former UFC fighter Kim Dong-hyun posted a video Tuesday on his YouTube channel "Maemi Kim" featuring Shim as a guest to break down the UFC 330 welterweight title bout between Islam Makhachev and Ian Garry.

Before the analysis began, Shim gave a personal update on his condition.

"I had my final procedure a few days ago," Shim said. "It was a procedure, not surgery, so I think we can say it's almost over."

When Kim asked whether his doctor had said he was doing much better, Shim laughed and replied, "Doesn't my face look better too?"

Shim said the cancer was discovered during a routine health checkup. "The liver is stubborn — it doesn't show symptoms," he said. "My stamina hadn't even dropped, so it was a shock." He added that appearing on a TV program had led to the chance discovery. "The outcome is going to be very good," he said.

Shim also said he is working on getting into better physical shape. "I'm building up my body so I can move around more healthily," he said, adding that he had asked Kim to work out together.

Earlier this year, Shim was diagnosed with early-stage liver cancer during a health checkup while appearing on the TV Chosun variety program Joseon's Romantics, drawing widespread concern from fans and the public.

A national hero who won back-to-back gold medals at the 1996 Atlanta Olympics and the 2000 Sydney Olympics, Shim had long worried fans in his post-retirement years with a noticeably gaunt appearance and darkened complexion attributed in part to heavy drinking.