21.6.2006: Risum Boxing, headed by manager/promoter/matchmaker Henrik Risum, announced yesterday the signing of 19-year-old Danish amateur-hope Kim “Golden Boy” Poulsen to a professional contract. Poulsen went 60-17 in the unpaid ranks, is a five-time Danish national champion (from youth to junior)., and was a clear favourite to capture the national senior title as well in March of this year, but was forced to pull out of the tournament when he couldn’t make the bantamweight limit. He will start his professional career as a featherweight, and is expected to make his pro debut in October in Germany.
Poulsen gave lack of funding in Danish amateur boxing as his reason to drop the jersey only two years before the Olympics in China, where he was among his countries biggest hopes for a participant. “As a Dane you are at a disadvantage from the beginning, because the boxers we compete against have so much better preparation than we do,” said Poulsen. As his reason for choosing Risum Boxing to handle his professional career, Poulsen added:
“I wanted (Henrik) Risum to manage me, because he is a good, young man with big ambitions, who does a great job for his boxers. I feel he is the perfect manager for me, and I am proud that he is willing to take me on. I will do my very best not to disappoint him or anyone else”.
Risum went on record stating that Poulsen is, bar non, the most dedicated boxer he has ever known, something he feels, combined with the obvious talent, will take his new charge a long way, but the manager also said that he is not overly comfortable with the “Golden Boy” moniker that Poulsen got as an amateur.
“Its bound to put extra pressure on the kid, but he says he thrives on the pressure, so I guess it’s not my right to take that away from him. However, it is my job to make sure that the pressure doesn’t become too much, and to move him ahead at the right pace, fight by fight.”
Risum recently made another addition to his growing stable, signing 2003 Kenyan amateur champion James Kimori. Kimori will make his professional debut this coming Saturday in Nairobi against former Kenyan national champion Henry Jesai. Risum Boxing promotes in cooperation with former African heavyweight champion Joseph Akhasamba at the Pal Pal Gymnasium.