Heavyweight Kem Ljungquist wants to rebuild the popularity of boxing in Denmark

Kem Ljungquist knows that boxing is not at the peak of its popularity right now in Denmark, but he has faith that it can come back. After all, it wasn't long ago that boxing events in Copenhagen filled football stadiums with fans, now boxing matches struggle to fill club stadiums or attract television screens.

Ljungquist remembers the days when heavyweight Brian Nielsen was able to hold the title against Mike Tyson in Parken, home of Denmark's national soccer team, in 2001, and champions Mikkel Kessler and Johnny Bredahl were big sports figures in the community.

Denmark is more known for its cakes and using bicycles as its main form of transport than boxing. If anyone can bring back those days, the 6-foot-6, 240-pound heavyweight is probably the best chance.

“The same people who built this game in Denmark also brought it down with dirty matchups and I think they are very happy with the way things were,” said Ljungquist, 33, (18-0, 11 knockouts).

“They made the money they used to get by paying per view and now we are back at ground zero. I am part of trying to build this thing and hopefully we can do something with boxing in Denmark.”

Ljungquist took the next step towards that on Friday night, knocking out Tanzanian Awadh Tamim (16-10, 11 KOs) in the seventh round of an eight-round heavyweight bout in front of several hundred spectators in his hometown of Nykoebing Falster. In addition to emceeing the event, Ljungquist is also the host – the sixth event he has co-announced or co-promoted. After parting ways with German promoter Team Sauerland, with whom he signed before his pro debut in 2017, Ljungquist decided that no one was better equipped to shape his career than him. That means investing his money in his work, although he says, depending on ticket sales and sponsor support, he can usually avoid losing money on shows.

“It's a big investment but I did it happily because I prefer to be alone than to live with someone who doesn't have feelings for me and my work. Most of the money is for the promoters and if things don't go well from the start, it is easy for the promoters to abandon the strikers and fight tough fights abroad. I found that out when I started my career and I realized that from then on I had to do it on my own because if anyone wants me to succeed, it's me,” said Ljungquist.

More than just a big man with a punch, Ljungquist has been one of Northern Europe's top heavyweight newcomers over the past decade, winning three Danish national titles and two Nordic Championships, while representing Denmark at the World Championships and European Championships.

Jungquist started the sport late, he started at the age of 21 after accepting a friend's invitation to the boxing gym. He grew up playing soccer, the most popular sport in Denmark, but found his life meaningless after high school.

“If I could choose something easier than getting hit on the head, I would probably focus more on football,” said Ljungquist, a fan of FC København, with a laugh.

“I was just having fun, trying to get my mind around the grown-up world. I was young and trying to figure out what life was all about, so boxing came at the right time for me. Boxing made me capable, before boxing I didn't even know what I was capable of. Today I showed a lot that I can do anything.”

Ljungquist quickly made it to the Danish national team and fought all over Europe, racing to Sweden, Germany, Poland, Bulgaria, Azerbaijan, Turkey, Iceland and Ukraine in tournaments.

Although there are currently no big names on his resume, Ljungquist has shared the ring with the top names in the heavyweight division, namely Tyson Fury and Anthony Joshua, as partners. Being one of the heavyweights on the left has made him a highly regarded boxer, something he is proud of.

“I felt from the beginning that it was something I could not refuse. If I didn't fight them at some point, it's something I'll always remember in my career. I was at my best and left the best and they wanted my help to do it. I want to gain more knowledge and I want to be the best I can be. It just gave me a lot of experience and safety to be able to compete at this level,” said Ljungquist.

When asked to pick the winner of Saturday's fight between Tyson Fury and Oleksandr Usyk, Fury leaned toward Usyk, noting that Fury had a hard time finding the style of fellow Otto Wallin, whom Ljungquist held against Fury.

“I would think that Usyk will do a great job and maybe stand out. If you look at the fight with Otto Wallin…Usyk is a few levels above Otto Wallin. But who knows, boxing and Fury can surprise everyone. And looking at his last performance with [Francis] “Ngannou makes it difficult for himself,” said Ljungquist, who trains with Poul Duvill in Copenhagen.

The heavyweight division is in the midst of what could be the most lucrative period in boxing history, given the influx of money into the sport from the Saudi Arabian government. Ljungquist says he doesn't feel rushed, even at his age, because of how well he maintains his body, and he's waiting to be given the right thing before he moves up to this level.

“So far I've had a few promises and it's been the wrong time in the wrong place. I wish to have more but also there is something going on at home and I'm active so I shouldn't just pick fights because I'm desperate. As long as I win the big fights, they will be there,” said Ljungquist.

For now, he's content to rebuild the sport's reputation at home, starting with his career and the opportunities he has under contract.

“We are not yet in Mikkel Kessler's time, but I hope we can get to the point where television will pay to show fights,” said Ljungquist.

Ryan Songalia has written for ESPN, the New York Daily News, Rappler and The Guardian, and is part of the Craig Newmark Graduate School of Journalism Class of 2020. He can be reached at [email protected].