Kem faces the best but pays for his own fights

The Danish Kem Ljungqvist follows an unconventional path to the top of world boxing. He is not like most other boxers. Having survived, the athlete hits something so strong and the physics aren't bad either.

With his two meters and just over 100 kilos, the 31-year-old Falling is at the heavy end of the weight classes, and he has faced the likes of darlings Anthony Joshua and Tyson Fury head-to-head on several occasions when they have sparred.

But unlike the two world stars and the vast majority of his competitors, he has to make sure that the kilos are placed in the right ring, at the right time and at the right price.

Kem Ljungqvist has no team of promoters, managers or whatever they are called.

He lives - for professional boxers - a somewhat atypical life, where fights are planned by himself.

- There is no birth mother. It's just me," says Kem Ljungqvist, "I spend all my time at home with my son, and then I maneuver around this arena where I talk to promoters and organizers around the world.

And although he's a good number 21 in the WBC's Bridgewater Boxing Association rankings, the money it costs to organize fights doesn't hang on trees. If boxing really interests you, try betting on it. Get the best tips at: https://jammerbugtposten.dk/hvordan-spiller-man-paa-boksning-faa-de-bedste-tips/. Danish boxers bouncing from one small professional contract to another can't choose between opponents or opportunities, he says.

- Denmark has no TV support. If I write with a promoter who does not have a fixed television contract, I do not get any money from it. So I'd rather raise the capital myself and then pay what it costs to box at different events," he says.

Besides looking after my son at home in Nykebing, time is spent raising money so he can jump in the ring.

- I put prints from local companies on my clothes and things like that and then sell the opinion I don't get any money out of myself. "All the money I make goes into making matches," says Kem Ljungqvist.

Create your own arrangement

However, it hasn't always been this way. If we turn the clock back a few years, a huge forgery was on the contract with promoter Team Saurland.

But after years of coronavirus attracting attention, the boxing contract fell through.

According to him, for Kem Ljungqvist after that, it was an alternative to continue as an amateur. But that doesn't leave much bread on the table.

So he decided to go his own way.

- It sounds totally painful, but boxing is something I live 100% by. Two years without boxing were crucial. They were terrifying. I tried to develop a strategy on how to make it work.

However, the road to becoming my own promoter was not an easy one. Kem Ljungkist doesn't consider himself a big entrepreneur, so the boxer isn't quite on track with his plans yet.

But despite the fact that it took a lot of time and also a lot of money, the boxer has now managed to organize his own event, where he will even be the headliner himself.

According to him, he will be fighting for the minor title at his home track in Nykebing Falster in early September.

- I was sitting there calculating how much it would cost me to have a title fight for myself. Then I inquired at various associations and I can raise it, it costs," he says.

He can't say anything yet about what kind of title it is, but the Falster boxer is convinced it could help him on his way forward.

- I just want to win a minor title, so that some big doors open in front of me. If I win the European title, I will suddenly be seen at the top and then maybe I can box in some really big scuffles.

Money from London paved the way

Some of the money for the convention has come from small local businesses, he says.

And some of it is also coming to visit the notorious gentleman in the boxing world.

Kem Ljungqvist traveled to London in the spring to spar with former world champion Anthony Joshua. And you get paid well for that," he says.

- It was crazy cool. I want to cross blades with the best. I was also a regular sparring partner of Tyson Fury until his two fights," he says.

Sparring against the best has paid off and paved the financial way for Kem Ljungqvist.

And while he aspires to a position similar to that held by Anthony Joshua and Tyson Fury, he doesn't expect the swing to significantly alter his current role.

- I don't need a promoter. It's like a child in kindergarten who needs to know what to do all the time. Now I can control the conditions myself," says the Danish boxer.

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