Risum Boxing: Interview With Kim Poulsen!

It has been almost a year since Danish super featherweight prospect Kim Poulsen lost what many felt was a very questionable decision to Frenchman Tony Jourda.

Since then Poulsen has racked up four clear consecutive victories while waiting for his opportunity to get his revenge against Jourda, and that opportunity will come on April 4 when Team Vester, in cooperation with Risum Boxing, promotes at the NRGI Arena in Aarhus Denmark.

“This fight is right now my biggest wish as a boxer”, says Poulsen, among other things, in the following interview.

How does it feel to now be facing the opportunity to get even with the only man to defeat you as a professional?

Kim Poulsen: “It is a big challenge to get, but at the same time it is right now my biggest wish as a boxer coming true. After the questionable defeat last year, I have been looking forward to proving who is the best: ME!”

What went wrong in the first fight?

KP: “I simply fought at my absolute worst ever, and was feeling a bit flat on the day. Not that this is going to be a bad excuse in any way. But things just didn’t work for me that night, and it was a real off-day. I cant afford another one of those!”

Have you trained differently up to this fight than you normally do?

KP: “I have trained very, very hard for this fight. We train very determined and focused, because I really want this victory with everything in my body. I have had great sparring with Allan Vester, Christian Bladt, Fawaz Nasir and Kasper Bruun, and I can guarantee that I will show up in top shape on April 4.”

How did you react to that unexpected loss in London? Have you managed to use it for something positive?

KP: “I was very disappointed of course, and very frustrated and sad too, but I wont let one defeat put me off in the long run. Definitely I have learned from it! Now I have scored four decisive wins since that night against Jourda.

“Arrghhh, just thinking about Jourda gets my blood boiling! I have learned that there is no time for off-days in professional boxing. You train hard and wait five or six weeks for that one night, and then when you don’t perform in the ring it really sucks!”

What will be the next step for you after April 4?

KP: “I don’t think further ahead than April 4! April 5 doesn’t exist for me until I have beaten Jourda!”

What do you do on fight-night while waiting for the fight?

KP: “I just spend the time in my own little world, with my team, and talk about the fight. Mental preparation! I listen to some music and just focus.”

How do you think Jourda will enter this fight?

KP: “I expect him to be even stronger than he was a year ago, and I think he will come with a lot of self-confidence and believe that he can beat me again. Even though most felt I deserved to win last time, I am sure that Jourda feels he was the right winner and that he can do it one more time. But I am ready to show him that he can’t!”

There must be a lot of pressure on you before this bout. How do you feel about that?

KP: “I am okay with pressure, and I think I even perform better under pressure. I am not going to let it affect me negatively that people expect a lot from me, and that I have lost to this guy once. I handle that well, but it is always a great relief and a wonderful feeling when you have been under pressure and have done well.”

Any closing words?

KP: “Yes! If you want to see some exiting fights, go and buy a ticket for April 4 in Aarhus. Of course I hope I will defeat Jourda easily, but I am sure it will be a tough and exiting fight. And Fawaz (Nasir), Allan (Vester) and Christian (Bladt) will also have their hands full. Besides that I just want to say that I am looking forward to the fight, and I am very grateful for the opportunity to settle the score with Jourda.”

The show in Aarhus, Denmark is headlined by former world title challenger Allan Vester (26-6-1) squaring off with African champion, and WBC # 19, Hassan “The Hitman” Saku (9-2). The co-feature sees super middleweight Fawaz Nasir (12-2) taking on Tanzanian puncher Maneno Oswald (27-16-1), while the undercard has former European champion Christian Bladt (31-10-1) vs. Chaurembo “Firestone” Palasa (19-14-1) and IBF Intercontinental champion Peter Semo (18-1) vs. Maurycy Gojko (13-8-1).

The show will also present amateur boxing, kickboxing and performances by some of Denmark’s leading rap-artists. Tickets can be purchased via www.billetnet.dk or www.vester-boxing.dk