On April 18 2007, Danish super featherweight prospect Kim Poulsen was 3-0 going into the Savoy Hotel in London for his fight against Frenchman Tony Jourda. During the fight he couldn’t get his usual fluent boxing going properly, and Jourda proved to be a very tough adversary that night. Still, most people at ringside thought Poulsen deserved to win the bout, but referee Dave Parris felt otherwise and gave a close 58-57 verdict to Jourda.. Kim Poulsen, 3-1 going out of the Savoy Hotel.
Poulsen have racked up four clear victories since that off-night in London, and now the 21-year-old Dane will finally get his chance to settle the score! Manager Henrik Risum announced today that a rematch have been set up for the show in Aarhus, Denmark on April 4, and that Poulsen is fully focused on showing that he is best of the two.
“Kim has been asking for this rematch since April 19 2007, but we felt it was better to get some more experience before making the fight. While I still think Kim won that night, lack of experience and the mistakes he made was probably why he didn’t get the verdict. Now he will get the chance to get even with Jourda, and Im sure it will be a very good fight and that Kim will fight a different fight this time”, says Risum.
Since beating Poulsen in London (by a 58-57 sore) Tony Jourda lost a close decision to 12-1 Paul Halpin two months later, and then returned with a victory over Italian up-and-comer Marco Sardellitti this past January. The Frenchman’s record now stands at 8-5-1 (2), while Poulsen has since improved to 7-1 (1).
“I can’t wait! I have already waited almost a year for this opportunity, and I am really looking forward to the rematch. I hear that Jourda, like me, has improved since the first fight, so I know it will be tough this time as well, and this is really a fight that motivates me. I have a lot of respect for Tony, but that loss has been nagging me so badly, and I have to be on top of my game in Aarhus. Of course Jourda will be confident he can beat me again, but I am also confident that I can beat him”, says Poulsen.
Along with Poulsen vs. Jourda II, the show in Aarhus will feature a bout between former IBF world title challenger Allan Vester (26-6-1) and reigning African champion Hasan “The Hirman” Saku (9-2) with the Swedish-based Ugandans WBC # 19 world ranking on the line.
Super middleweight Fawaz Nasir (12-2) takes on Tanzanian puncher Maneno Oswald (27-16-1) in the co-feature, and former European welterweight champion Christian Bladt is set to appear on the undercard against an opponent TBA. One more fight is in the works for the card, promoted by Team Vester in cooperation with Risum Boxing.