WBAN Goes One on One with Lucia Rijker! By Sue TL Fox
(MAR 31, 2005) WBAN broke the news on March 18, that Christy “The Coal Miner’s Daughter” Martin was finally going to face Lucia Rijker on July 9th, in Los Angeles, California. Rijker gained international attention after being featured as the “villain boxer” in the Oscar Winning movie “Million Dollar Baby”. Now, Rijker and Martin will have an opportunity to win up to a million dollars in their upcoming fight. Both will receive $250,000 to fight, and winner will walk away with $750.000.
WBAN got an opportunity to interview Rijker ‘one on one’ about her upcoming bout with Martin.
TL Fox: How are you feeling now that you have finally been able to corner Christy Martin in the ring, after literally waiting years to have this fight?
Rijker: Great!
TL Fox: How has your boxing career changed for you since being featured in Million Dollar Baby?
Rijker: More exposure than ever and a lot of new “friends”!
TL Fox: Do you feel that this upcoming Million Dollar “boxing” card that will feature you and Martin, will lead to other lucrative (high paying) fights?
Rijker: I had a vision/dream/prayer and I was willing to sit it out. I think that this is important for every person with a dream. This fight is opening the door for a new generation women to be taken serious and I hope it will create awareness for the 2008 Olympics because we are still discriminated for being a women ( the weaker sex) not being able to participate.
TL Fox: What plans do you have for your future after you hang up the gloves?
Rijker: Creating value for other young beings to make to best of life with what they have.
TL Fox: Besides yourself, Bridget Riley, and Cynthia Prouder, who were all the other women boxers in the movie? Were they all amateur and pro boxers, or some actresses playing boxers?
Rijker: I don’t know because I didn’t cast them. I only worked with Cynthia and I had the best time with her….what a wonderful lady she is.
TL Fox: There are rumors that you were trying to make the fight with Christy Martin a 12 round fight…is that true?
Rijker: I think that was a misprint in the contract, but I am not sure because Bob (Arum of Top Rank) has only dealt with man (Emanuel).
TL Fox: Would you like to comment on something that I may not have asked you?
Rijker: I am grateful for all the work you have done for us women and I wish you well with the website that has grown to be the best women’s boxing website in the world. I want to thank Clint Eastwood and Hillary for giving me the opportunity to share my talent and knowledge with wonderful/professional people like themselves. They are both indirectly if not directly responsible for making this fight happen.
Lucia, Thank you very much for taking the time to be interviewed for WBAN!