Helga Risoy was born and raised on a quaint island in northern Norway, surrounded by the love of her grandparents and five uncles. Navigating between two islands for school was a daily adventure that imprinted resilience in her character from a young age. At just nine years old, Risoy discovered her passion for kickboxing through television broadcasts, dreaming of one day stepping into the ring herself.
However, it wasn’t until 1977, when she relocated to Oslo, that Helga seized the opportunity to train. Against a backdrop where boxing gyms were male-dominated, she faced initial resistance but soon gained respect by sparring with her male counterparts. Her groundbreaking presence not only opened doors for herself but eventually paved the way for other women to join the sport. With her fight for inclusion, the Norwegian Boxing Association began sanctioning women’s bouts, a significant milestone in the history of women’s boxing in Norway.
Risoy’s boxing career was marked by significant achievements. In 1985, she earned her black belt in karate, followed by becoming the Norwegian national champion in kickboxing in 1989. Her crowning achievement came in 1991 when she claimed the title of World Champion in kickboxing in Berlin. Yet, her aspirations extended beyond kickboxing.
As a dedicated amateur boxer, she won the prestigious Norway Box Cup in 1988 and proudly represented her country at the first international amateur boxing competition for women in Sweden in 1989. Throughout this period, Helga balanced her boxing ambitions with running her own advertising agency and advocating for women’s boxing as a board member of The Norwegian Amateur Boxing Association. She was a trailblazer, the only woman on the board, where she contributed as an editor and photographer for the magazine BOXING.
The landscape of women’s boxing changed dramatically in 1991 when the International Amateur Boxing Federation (AIBA) effectively barred women from competing internationally. Faced with this setback, Risoy made the bold decision to leave Norway, embarking on a new chapter in the United States.
Arriving in Los Angeles, she found herself training at the renowned gym of Benny “the Jet.” Here, she faced the daunting task of finding opportunities in a country where women’s boxing was virtually nonexistent. Despite skepticism from promoters and challenges in networking, Risoy’s determination shone through. A pivotal moment came when she met boxing promoter Don King, who agreed to feature women fighters on his cards—an affirmation of her relentless advocacy for female boxers.
Helga Risoy’s fighting career in the U.S. was defined by historic moments and a continual fight for recognition. She became the first woman to fight professionally in Las Vegas in nearly two decades, and her matches drew attention to the burgeoning movement of women in boxing.
Her groundbreaking bouts included the first professional women’s match in Mexico and Denmark, making her an undeniable pioneer. Despite the numerous setbacks she faced—including canceled fights and a limited pool of opponents—Risoy persisted in training under legendary figures like Emanuel Steward. Her final bout was a poignant farewell in 1997, after which she continued to contribute to the sport as a matchmaker and event coordinator.
After retiring from boxing, Helga Risoy embraced her love for music, performing and songwriting while dedicating herself to animal rights activism. She now spends her summers in Norway, drawing inspiration from nature, and winters in Las Vegas, where she remains connected to the boxing community.
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