Bridgett Riley Stops Overmatched Opponent – Riley’s last pro boxing fight….

(MAY 5, 2003)  Last night at the Trump 29 Casino, in Coachella, California, Bridgett “Baby Doll” Riley, a Five-Time Kickboxing World Champion, Former Boxing Bantamweight World Champion, ranked #7 to #4 in the world in three prominent federations, a true talent in the sport, sporting a 14-3-0 record, and was to have fought a world title fight two weeks ago,  fought Nicole Gallegos,  who came into the fight with a 0-2-1 record. Riley stopped Gallegos  :58 in the third round.   When these low-grade and pathetic  matches that continue to be made, it is very difficult to know exactly who is to blame…..Does one blame the Commission for turning a blind eye to the background of both of these boxers, and decide to sanction a fight  that is a  “no-win scenario” for the new boxer?

Does one blame the manager of the new boxer, for poorly managing his boxer?  Or to blame the boxer for NOT having a manager to manage her boxing career properly?  Is it the fault of the SUPERIOR opponent, who is clearly too experienced and who is CLEARLY looking for soft opposition, and who MANAGES to get promoters, matchmakers, etc., to fly in  winless and inexperienced opponents, when there IS legitimate and worthy opponents in the same State?

REGARDLESS…this match that took place last night was no more than “two steps back” for women’s boxing.  Hopefully Riley will no longer say to the news media that women’s boxing is a “Toilet” as she did at one time—–especially in light of the fact that she(Riley) has apparently decided at times to take a swim in that toilet.

(NOTE:  I covered a fight with Riley and Para Draine when they fought in Portland, Oregon in  2002.  There is no doubt that Riley could easily be a star in the sport, even though she lost to Draine that night—it was the fight of the night as far as I am concerned. It is truly sad to see such a talented boxer stoop this low in some of the opponents she has taken “off and on” in her boxing career. She is much better than that. Sue TL Fox)

Update:  This was the last pro fight for Riley.