Before turning professional he represented Denmark at the 1976 Summer Olympics in Montreal, Quebec, Canada where he dropped a decision to world champion Vassily Solomin of the USSR.

[1] As an amateur Hans Henrik Palm competed in the senior ranks at the age of 17 where he won the Danish national bantamweight title in 1974.

Based in Denmark he built a professional record against primarily European boxers, including wins over former European champions Lothar Abend, Jose Antonio Jiminez, Henry Rhiney and Joseph Pachler and the British champion Clinton McKenzie.

Palm entered the title bout as a favorite against the 37-year-old Hansen but lost by TKO in the ninth round on 17 October 1980.

After the boxing career Palm worked as a trainer for Anders Eklund and the Bredahl-brothers Jimmi and Johnny.