Korean Promoter-Andy Kim

Over the week or so we sent out a number of e-mail to promoters hoping to get interviews with either themselves or their fighters. One of the first to respond to our request was Korean promoter Andy Kim, the head of AK Promotions. Kim came to some prominence last year for hosting two notable shows, "Homecoming", which was streamed in full on Youtube, and "Show me the KO's", which featured the professional debut of Muhammad Waseem and the Korean debut of former world champion Randall Bailey. 

Whilst getting some news about both of those fighters we also managed to get Andy's view on the broken nature of Korean boxing, a real issue in helping develop the countries boxing scene.

Unfortunately as it's the first interview we've done for the site we realise the questions aren't the best, but hopefully the interviews we do in the future will improve, and hopefully Andy will be willing to do another down the line.

AB-What drew you to becoming a boxing promoter?

AK-Hobby became a job. I was in the music business before this, importing musical instruments. Then I started importing boxing equipments, then I decided to try hosting an event, then I liked it so I kept doing it.

AB-You've had a very international list of fighters working with you, including Randall Bailey, Muhammad Waseem and Mussa Kim, and this has drawn respect from fight fans. Was it an intentional idea to try and snap up international fighters or did they “fall in to your lap” so to speak?

AK-Yes it was my idea to sign foreign fighters because they are good and I figured it would make some noise since it's something that hasn't been done much in Korea. 
Waseem sort of "fell in to my lap" because he was in Korea for amateur team training and expressed his intentions to turn pro, so I got the call and went to see him spar.

AB-Currently Randall Bailey isn't listed on the AK Website, was the deal for his fight with Shunsaku Fujinaka just a 1-off fight?

AK-After Fujinaka fight, he got ranked #10 by the WBO, but it was too hard getting him a big fight when no one wants to fight your fighter.
Because of Randall's age, I didn't look at it as a long time commitment, so I let him go and hope he gets that big money fight before retirement. 

AB-Could you give us any details on your next show, or is it still just in the early planning stages?

AK-I'm not sure yet since I'm kind of busy, I opened up 2 gyms (one in Seoul, another one in Tokyo) and importing some new sports brands, but Waseem is set to fight on the 4/16 in London, England against an Indian fighter. He will be in Vegas this weekend to train with Jeff Mayweather at the Mayweather Boxing club for 1 month. Then he will be back in Japan to resume training with Dong Shik Hong. Mussa will likely have his debut on the end of February or beginning or March.

AB-We know boxing in Korea is relatively fractured at the moment with a number of supposed bodies governing the sport. Has this been a major issue in trying to arrange bouts and shows?

AK-It is a major issue that has been going on long before I entered the business. I don't even know the full story but I find they are more personal  and emotional, and not up to everyone's benefit.  Only way to end it is if everyone outside Korea comes to an agreement to approve only 1 commission since korea is too small to have more than one.  Otherwise they will be fighting each other forever over who's original and who's legitimate and things will only get worse.

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