Shadow Boxers

Shadow Boxers

♪ IT’S ALL ABOUT LOVE ♪
♪ IT’S ALL ABOUT LOVE ♪
♪ IT’S ALL ABOUT LOVE ♪
♪ IT’S ALL ABOUT LOVE ♪
♪ IT’S ALL ABOUT LOVE ♪
♪ IT’S ALL ABOUT LOVE ♪
-LUCIA RIJKER!
[ APPLAUSE ]
♪ IT’S ALL ABOUT LOVE ♪
♪ IT’S ALL ABOUT LOVE ♪
♪ IT’S ALL ABOUT LOVE ♪
♪ IT’S ALL ABOUT LOVE ♪
♪ IT’S ALL ABOUT LOVE ♪
-LUCIA RIJKER
HAS FACED A TEST HERE TONIGHT
AND PASSED THE TEST.
-LUCIA RIJKER!
RIJKER!
-I’VE BEEN FIGHTING
SINCE I WAS 12.
I STARTED IN KARATE,
AND THEN MY BROTHER
INTRODUCED ME TO KICKBOXING,
AND THEN I STARTED KICKBOXING.
FROM ONE THING,
YOU KNOW, CAME ANOTHER.
I GOT THE ATTENTION
THAT I WANTED AT THAT MOMENT,
‘CAUSE I WAS GOOD AT IT.
I WON MY FIGHTS.
DUTCH CHAMPIONSHIP,
EUROPEAN CHAMPIONSHIP,
WORLD TITLE.
YOU GET ADDICTED TO IT.
IT’S LIKE A LIFESTYLE
THAT YOU GET USED TO,
LIKE A NEW CHALLENGE,
ONE CHALLENGE AFTER ANOTHER.
AND THEN AFTER A WHILE,
I WANTED SOMETHING ELSE,
AND I MOVED TO L.A.
AND THEN I REALIZED
THAT PART OF ME IS A FIGHTER,
AND THAT — THAT I HAVE TO DO
SOMETHING WITH THAT.
[ CHEERS AND APPLAUSE ]
DON KING FLEW ME TO VEGAS WITH
FREDDIE ROACH, MY NEW TRAINER.
I SAT DOWN WITH HIM, AND
HE OFFERED ME FOUR CONTRACTS,
BUT NOT WHAT I WAS LOOKING FOR.
SO THEN THE SAME DAY,
I WENT TO BOB ARUM,
AND HE DIDN’T WANT ME.
HE WAS, LIKE,
“WHAT ARE YOU DOING IN HERE?”
-A LOT OF THESE WOMEN WHO ARE
FIGHTING REALLY HAVE NO TALENT.
THEY HAVE VERY LITTLE.
THEY HAVE
A LOT OF DETERMINATION,
BUT NO TALENT.
-SO THEN I START TALKING,
AND I SAYS, YOU KNOW,
“I WANT YOU TO LOOK AT MY TAPE.
I’M NOT LEAVING.”
-WELL, YOU KNOW,
I WOULDN’T DO WOMEN’S BOXING.
SO, SHE CAME INTO MY OFFICE
WITH A REAL SEXY DRESS,
AND SHE WAS VERY FEMININE,
YOU KNOW.
AND I SAID, “OH, WHAT THE HELL?
SHE’S GOT
A GREAT, GREAT PERSONALITY.”
AND SO I MAKE AN EXCEPTION
WITH HER, AND I’M NOT SORRY.
-HE LOOKED AT IT, AND HE WAS
REALLY VERY ENTHUSIASTIC.
CALLED HIS WHOLE CREW.
-SHE IS DIFFERENT.
SHE IS A TRUE PROFESSIONAL,
AND SHE’S REALLY LEARNED
THE TECHNIQUES OF BOXING.
-SO THEN THE BALL
STARTED ROLLING.
-I THINK LUCIA RIJKER AS A BOXER
IS GONNA BE
A LONG-REIGNING WORLD CHAMPION
IN THE WOMEN’S BOXING.
SHE’S DOING GOOD
FOR THE WOMEN BOXING SPORT
AND FOR BOXING, IN GENERAL.
-WE’RE AT A POINT NOW
WHERE THE LARGE PROMOTERS,
THE DON KINGS AND BOB ARUMS
ARE TAKING NOTICE OF THE WOMEN.
HOWEVER, THERE HAVE ALWAYS BEEN
WOMEN IN BOXING
AS FAR AS I CAN REMEMBER,
AT LEAST GOING BACK
TO THE 1930s.
BUT THERE WERE SO FEW IN NUMBER
THAT IT WASN’T A MAJOR EVENT.
-MY NAME IS BARBARA BUTTRICK.
AND I WAS A BOXER
BACK IN THE ’50s.
WHEN I WAS ABOUT 15 OR 16,
I WAS WORKING,
AND I TOOK MY WAGES
AND BOUGHT SOME BOXING GLOVES.
BACK THEN, IT WAS JUST
THE ODD ONE HERE AND THERE.
I KNEW I HAD TO TRAVEL
TO FIND THE GIRLS
THAT WANTED TO BOX
AND COMPETE WITH THEM.
-BUT IT WASN’T UNTIL 1995
WHEN THE GOLDEN GLOVES,
AFTER 68 YEARS OF COMPETITION,
ALLOWED THE WOMEN
TO COME INTO BOXING,
THAT SO MANY WOMEN
CAME INTO THE SPORT.
[ TRUMPETS HERALDING ]
[ HIP-HOP MUSIC PLAYING ]
[ CHEERING ]
[ HIP-HOP MUSIC RESUMES ]
-LADIES AND GENTLEMEN,
YOU HAVE JUST SEEN HISTORY.
HOW ABOUT A NICE
ROUND OF APPLAUSE
FOR THESE TWO SPECIAL LADIES
FOR ALL THEY HAVE ACCOMPLISHED?
[ APPLAUSE ]
BRAVO, LADIES. BRAVO.
-DO YOU REALIZE
YOU JUST MADE HISTORY,
AND IF SO, HOW DO YOU FEEL?
WERE YOU THINKING ABOUT THAT
GOING IN THE RING?
-OF COURSE, OF COURSE.
-AND THE BIG QUESTION MOST MEN
HAVE AND I HAVE IS, WHY?
-WHY DO YOU WANT TO BE A PART
OF HISTORY IN THE MAKING?
WHY DO YOU WANT —
FIGURE IT OUT.
[ SCOFFS ]
-WHAT ARE YOU GONNA DO NOW?
WHERE DO YOU GO FROM HERE?
-I’M GONNA GO TO DISNEYLAND.
-BUT SERIOUSLY.
-BUT SERIOUSLY, FOLKS,
I’LL PROBABLY GO FIX MY FACE,
BRUSH MY HAIR,
AND THEN HOPE THAT MY HUSBAND
STILL WANTS TO BE MARRIED TO ME
‘CAUSE I HAVEN’T SPOKEN TO HIM
SINCE MY TRAINING BEGAN.
-YOUR HUSBAND AFRAID OF YOU NOW?
-NO. NAH.
I NEVER REALLY ACHIEVED
WHAT I WANTED TO ACHIEVE
AS A GYMNAST,
AND I NEVER GOT OVER THAT.
AND I THINK I WOULD HAVE
CARRIED THAT THROUGHOUT LIFE,
THAT I JUST NEVER QUITE
GOT TO THE SPOT I WANT.
SO WITH BOXING, I SAID,
“WHATEVER
I DIDN’T DO WITH GYMNASTICS,
I’M GONNA DO WITH THIS.”
[ BELL RINGS ]
WITH THE GYMNASTICS,
I WANTED TO WIN.
THIS IS LIKE I HAVE TO WIN.
[ GRUNTS ]
-FOCUS.
COME ON, LET’S GO.
HANDS UP.
[ PANTING ]
I USED TO FEEL DIFFERENTLY
ABOUT A MAN GETTING HURT
AS OPPOSED TO A WOMAN.
I HAVE SOME DOCTORS I TRAIN,
AND THEY GAVE ME
SOME WORDS OF WISDOM,
THAT WOMEN HEAL THE SAME AS MEN.
-IT’S JUST EXCITING
TO TRAIN WOMEN.
I’VE NEVER HAD
THIS EXPERIENCE BEFORE.
THEY SOMEHOW KNOW
THEY CAN TAKE BETTER PUNCHES.
I DON’T UNDERSTAND IT.
THEY JUST GO TO ANOTHER LEVEL.
THEY CONTINUE TO FIGHT IT.
-YOU GIVE ME
TWO RIPS TO THE BODY,
AND I THINK WE CAN
GO WITH THIS ONE, ALL RIGHT?
YEAH, BABY.
SHE FELT THE POWER, CHANEQUA.
-I GUESS IT HELPS US
UNDERSTAND WOMEN BETTER,
KNOW THAT THERE’S SOME POWER
GOING ON THERE
THAT WE DON’T REALLY UNDERSTAND.
AND IT’S EXCITING TO KNOW
THAT IT’S THERE,
AND ALSO TO KNOW
THAT THERE’S NO WAY FOR WOMEN
TO EXPRESS THAT KIND OF FEELING
IN THE WORLD.
♪ OH, GIRL ♪
♪ OH, GIRL ♪
-I DON’T HAVE ANY MIXED FEELINGS
ABOUT HITTING PEOPLE.
I’M GONNA TRY TO, YOU KNOW,
DO AS MUCH DAMAGE AS I CAN.
IT’S KIND OF SICK,
BUT I DON’T MIND GETTING HIT
BECAUSE I KNOW I CAN COME BACK,
YOU KNOW, JUST AS HARD.
GETTING HIT
IS NOT ONLY JUST PART OF IT,
BUT IT’S MORE —
IT INCREASES THE CHALLENGE.
IT INCREASES THE TEST.
THOSE OF US
WHO GET THE OPPORTUNITY
TO DO IT AND TAKE IT,
YOU KNOW, I MEAN,
WHAT A GREATER JOY IT IS
TO BE ABLE TO ACTUALLY PERFORM.
[ CHEERING ]
[ BELL DINGS ]
[ CHEERING ]
EVEN IF I DON’T WIN…
-LADIES AND GENTLEMEN,
THE WINNER…
-…IT’S JUST STEPPING IN THERE,
DOING WHAT I HAD TO DO…
-…FROM THE GOLD CORNER,
TANYA DEAN.
-…AND DOING IT,
ACTUALLY GOING THROUGH WITH IT.
-AND AS FAR AS WE’RE CONCERNED,
THEY’RE BOTH WINNERS.
-THERE’S NO WAY I COULD HAVE
WALKED AWAY FROM IT.
-SO, EVERYONE IS SAYING IT’S
THE BEST FIGHT OF THE NIGHT.
I’M NOT KIDDING YOU, REALLY.
ARE YOU GONNA FIGHT AGAIN,
YOU THINK?
-NOT FOR A LITTLE WHILE.
[ LAUGHS ]
-I JUST COULDN’T UNDERSTAND
WHY SHE WASN’T GOING DOWN
EVERY TIME I CAME CLOCKING HER.
[ LAUGHTER ]
THAT’S WHAT WAS FRUSTRATING ME.
SHE KEPT COMING BACK.
SHE WAS STRONGER
THAN I EXPECTED HER TO BE.
SHE FOUGHT A GOOD FIGHT.
-WHEN I’M FIGHTING, I THINK —
I THINK JUST, “HOW DARE
SHE GET IN THE RING WITH ME?
“HOW DARE
SHE COME UP AGAINST ME?
DOESN’T SHE KNOW THE POWER?
DOESN’T SHE KNOW WHO I AM?”
THAT’S EXACTLY
WHAT I’M THINKING.
[ HIP-HOP MUSIC PLAYING ]
[ CHEERING ]
-DID I MESS UP MY MAKEUP?
-NO, IT’S PERFECT.
COME THIS WAY.
-DID I MESS UP MY MAKEUP?
-YOU WERE PRETTY JUMPY
OUT THERE.
-YEAH, WELL, YOU KNOW,
IT KIND OF —
THE WHOLE THING
GETS YOU A LITTLE BIT REVVED UP.
I DON’T KNOW WHAT IT IS, BUT —
-HOW DID YOU PREPARE
FOR THIS FIGHT, COMING IN HERE?
-GOT A MANICURE AND PEDICURE.
♪ OOH-LA-LA ♪
♪ OOH-LA-LA ♪
-YOU KNOW IT, BABY.
[ CHEERING ]
-CROWD, THEY SAY,
WAS CHEERING FOR ME.
THEY STARTED CHEERING,
“YELLOW, YELLOW.”
I WAS WEARING THE YELLOW SHIRT,
AND I COULDN’T HEAR IT.
I KEPT RUNNING BACK
UP TO THE LINE, YOU KNOW.
I DIDN’T —
I DIDN’T BACK UP TOO MUCH,
AND I JUST — I JUST TRIED.
I JUST TRIED TO STAY IN THERE.
I JUST TRIED TO STAY TOE-TO-TOE.
IF I WOULD HAVE HEARD
WHAT THEY WERE SAYING,
I KNOW IT WOULD HAVE HELPED ME.
I KNOW IT WOULD HAVE PUSHED ME
BECAUSE IN THE THIRD ROUND,
THEY HAD ME OVER TO MY CORNER.
THEY ASKED MY TRAINERS,
YOU KNOW,
“SHOULD WE STOP THE FIGHT?
SHOULD WE STOP THE FIGHT?”
AND EVERYBODY WAS, LIKE,
“NO, NO, NO.”
AS THE CORNER MAN
STARTED TO WALK AWAY, UM…
I MUMBLED TO HIM
TO STOP THE FIGHT.
WHICH IS, UH…
YOU KNOW, THAT’S SOMETHING
THAT I HAVE TO LIVE WITH
FOR THE REST OF MY LIFE.
-WELL, I’M UPSET BECAUSE
I THOUGHT I WON THE FIGHT.
SHE GOT ME IN THE THIRD ROUND.
BUT HEY.
-YOU HAVE TO HAVE THE CHARACTER,
TO BE ABLE TO TAKE A PUNCH
AND BE ABLE TO SUSTAIN IT
AND TO RETALIATE AT SOME TIME,
BUT IN A COOL MANNER,
NOT IN A —
IN A VERY COOL MANNER.
NOT IN A WAY THAT,
YOU GET HIT, AND YOU GO CRAZY.
YOU TAKE IT,
AND YOU’RE JUST THERE.
YOU SAY, NO, YOU GOT TO FIND
WAYS TO HIT HIM.
-THREE OR FOUR PUNCHES.
COME ON, LET’S DO IT.
-EVERY THREE PUNCHES IS A POINT,
SO YOU WANT TO
ALWAYS TRIPLE YOUR PUNCHES.
[ GRUNTING ]
-I WOULDN’T LET MY DAUGHTER BOX,
AND I WOULDN’T LET MY SON BOX.
BOXING IS A BRUTAL SPORT.
IT’S A TOUGH MAN,
TOUGH WOMAN COMPETITION
THAT MAKES, YOU KNOW —
IT’S A HURTING GAME.
-YOU’RE TRYING TO HIT A TARGET
THAT CAN THINK
AND THAT CAN MOVE
AND THEN CAN HIT YOU BACK.
-I HAVE A POSTERIOR
VITREOUS DETACHMENT.
IT’S IN MY RIGHT EYE.
I KNEW SOMETHING WAS WRONG.
IT AFFECTS
THE PERIPHERAL VISION,
AND ACCORDING TO THE EYE DOCTOR,
I SHOULDN’T RISK
GETTING HIT THERE.
IT COULD LEAD TO
A MORE SERIOUS DETACHMENT,
A LOSS OF VISION COMPLETELY.
-HEY.
ARE YOU LEFT-HANDED
OR RIGHT-HANDED?
-RIGHT-HANDED.
-OH, YEAH?
-I’M NOT A SOUTHPAW.
-GOOD.
ONE OF THE GREATEST BOXERS
I EVER WORKED WITH
WAS LOUIS, JOE LOUIS.
I WAS HIS SPARRING PARTNER
FOR BOTH THE WALCOTT FIGHTS.
YOU KNOW HIM?
-YEAH.
-WELL, THE FUNNY THING
ABOUT BOXING, THE KNOCKOUT.
-PURE AND SIMPLE.
-SEE, MOST OF MY FIGHTS
WAS KNOCKOUTS.
-WHAT ROUND?
-FIRST AND SECOND.
-OOH.
-IMPRESSIVE.
-YEAH.
-HOW DOES IT FEEL
WHEN YOU KNOCK SOMEBODY OUT?
-IT JUST FEELS LIKE I JUST —
IT JUST FEELS GREAT.
FEEL REAL GREAT.
[ CHEERING ]
-WELL,
I DIDN’T LOSE CONSCIOUSNESS,
WHICH WAS WHAT WAS GOOD,
BUT I GUESS IT WAS JUST SCARY
TO BE LAYING THERE,
NOT REALLY KNOW WHAT HAPPENED,
AND TO WAKE UP AND SEE
A WHOLE BUNCH OF STRANGERS.
LIKE, MY EYES WERE ALL BLURRY,
AND THEN ALL OF A SUDDEN,
PEOPLE WERE ASKING ME
WHAT MY NAME WAS,
AND I JUST COULDN’T
GET ANYTHING OUT.
AND THEN THE NEXT THING I KNOW,
THEY BRING THE OXYGEN MASK.
I SAID, “OH, MY GOD.”
AND AS IT TURNED OUT,
MY SISTER’S WATCHING AT HOME
IN HYSTERICS,
CRYING BECAUSE THEY CUT TO THAT
ON CHANNEL 5,
AND THEY SHOWED ME
DOWN ON THE GROUND.
THEY SHOWED
A BUNCH OF OTHER FIGHTS,
AND THEN THEY WENT BACK
AND SAID, “SHE’S FINE.
WE JUST TALKED TO HER.”
MY SISTER’S, LIKE,
“WHERE IS SHE? WHERE IS SHE?”
AND IT WAS
A REALLY WEIRD EXPERIENCE.
-I USED TO COME HOME,
AND HE USED TO BE, LIKE,
“TAKE THOSE GLOVES OFF.
WHAT ARE YOU DOING?”
SO I USED TO HAVE TO
GO INTO MY BATHROOM
AND ACTUALLY SHADOWBOX
IN MY BATHROOM.
-I DIDN’T REALLY CARE FOR IT.
I DIDN’T REALLY THINK
ANYTHING WOULD COME OF IT.
-I WOULD GO TO TRAINING,
AND THEN HE THOUGHT I WAS
FOOLING AROUND WITH MY TRAINER.
-I HAVEN’T EVEN SEEN HER
IN THE LAST YEAR
‘CAUSE SHE’S BEEN TRAINING
WITH THIS GUY EVERY NIGHT.
-AND THEN EVENTUALLY WHEN
THE GLOVES WERE COMING AROUND,
HE SAW THE BIG HYPE OF IT.
HE WAS, LIKE, “WOW, YOU KNOW,
SHE’S GONNA BE ON TV.”
AND THEN HE WAS ALL GUNG-HO.
HE WAS LIKE,
“WOW, THAT’S MY WIFE.”
HE’S LIKE, “CHECK HER OUT.
“YOU KNOW,
SHE JUST KNOCKED THAT GIRL OUT,
CHECK HER OUT, THAT’S MY WIFE.”
-I’M PROUD OF CHRISTINE.
-WE’RE PROUD OF HER.
-HOW DOES IT FEEL?
YOU MADE HISTORY.
-IT FEELS GOOD.
IT FEELS REALLY GOOD.
IT DEFINITELY FEELS GOOD.
-WHAT’S THIS ALL ABOUT?
-WHAT’S WHAT ALL ABOUT?
-YOU KNOW WHAT IT IS?
I KNOW WHAT IT IS.
IT’S MIND OVER MATTER.
I AM NOT A GIFTED ATHLETE.
HOWEVER, I CAN GET IN AND BOX.
MARCIANO WAS NOT PRETTY.
HE WASN’T TECHNICALLY
A GREAT FIGHTER, BUT HE WON.
HE NEVER LOST.
AND WHAT I LOVE ABOUT BOXING
IS THAT, YOU KNOW,
LITTLE MISS EVERY DAY,
YOU KNOW, OFFICE PERSON
CAN GET IN THE RING,
LAND A RIGHT CROSS,
AND FEEL GREAT,
AND NOT EVEN THINK ABOUT IT.
[ BELL RINGS ]
-BOXING TAKES A LOT OF WORK.
IT TAKES A LOT OF DISCIPLINE,
AND I ALWAYS WANTED TO
DO SOMETHING GOOD,
AND THIS WAS MY CHANCE TO PROVE
TO MYSELF AND TO OTHERS,
YOU KNOW,
THAT I’M A GOOD PERSON,
AND YOU KNOW, I COULD BE
A POSITIVE ROLE MODEL.
AND I WANTED TO DO
EVERYTHING RIGHT, YOU KNOW.
EVERYBODY WAS PULLING FOR ME.
THE WHOLE NEW YORK CITY
DEPARTMENT OF CORRECTIONS
WAS BEHIND ME.
AND WHEN I STEPPED
INTO THE RING,
I HAD NO FEELING, ACTUALLY.
I JUST WAS THERE.
AND IT FELT LIKE —
IT WAS LIKE AN OUT-OF-BODY
EXPERIENCE, ACTUALLY.
AS I WAS FIGHTING, IT WAS LIKE,
I COULD SEE MYSELF
NOT GIVING IT MY ALL.
I JUST SEEN ALL THE LIFE LEAVE,
AND IT WAS LIKE
I WAS OUTSIDE LOOKING IN,
WATCHING MYSELF LOSE,
AND I COULDN’T DO ANYTHING
ABOUT IT.
-WELL, I TOLD HER.
I SAID, “LOOK, ANYBODY
CAN LOSE A FIGHT, RIGHT?”
SO, I LOST FIGHTS,
AND I FOUGHT A LOT OF FIGHTS
ALL OVER.
SO, SHE COULD DO THE SAME THING,
COME BACK AND FIGHT.
-IT’S HARD TO BE SO DEDICATED
AND SO FOCUSED.
AND ALL I DID WAS WORK, TRAIN.
YOU KNOW, I NEGLECTED MY SON.
NOT BADLY, BUT YOU KNOW,
AS FAR AS,
I REALLY WASN’T THERE FOR HIM
BECAUSE I JUST —
I PUT EVERYTHING ASIDE.
-I SEE SOME OF THESE GIRLS,
THEY WORK JUST AS HARD AS
SOME OF THE FELLAS IN THE GYM.
MORE DEDICATED THAN
SOME OF THE GUYS THAT TRAIN,
AND EVEN HIT HARDER
THAN SOME OF THE GUYS,
SO I THINK IT DEPENDS ON THE
INDIVIDUAL, YOU KNOW, HERSELF.
-IT WAS A DEVASTATING LOSS
BECAUSE MY TRAINERS
BELIEVED IN ME,
AND I WORKED SO HARD FOR THEM,
AS WELL AS FOR MYSELF,
AND I FEEL LIKE I LET
ALL THE GUYS DOWN IN THE GYM.
BASICALLY, YOU KNOW,
I LET A LOT OF PEOPLE DOWN
BECAUSE THEY BELIEVED IN ME,
MAYBE EVEN MORE
THAN I BELIEVED IN MYSELF.
-MEN HERE,
THEY FIGHT GOLDEN GLOVES
BECAUSE THEY HAVE DREAMS OF
BEING WORLD CHAMPIONS SOME DAY
AND MAKING BIG MONEY.
WHERE DO YOU GO FROM HERE?
-UM, TO A BAR.
NO, I’M ONLY KIDDING.
-HAS ANYBODY ASKED YOU
TO FIGHT FOR MONEY?
-THEY ASKED
IF WE WANTED TO GO PRO,
AND I SAID PROBABLY NOT.
-WHY NOT?
-I TOLD PEOPLE BEFORE,
IF YOU ASKED ME FIVE MONTHS AGO
IF I WOULD HAVE FOUGHT
IN THE GOLDEN GLOVES,
I WOULD HAVE SAID,
“ABSOLUTELY NOT.
IT’S CRAZY.
I WOULD NEVER DO IT.”
AND HERE I AM, SO I DON’T KNOW
WHAT THE FUTURE —
-SO YOU’RE SAYING PRO?
-MAYBE, MAYBE NOT.
-MAYBE GONNA GO PRO?
-MM-HMM.
-I GOT INTO BOXING
AS JUST A WORKOUT,
AND I DID THE GOLDEN GLOVES
AS JUST FOR FUN,
AND I DID WELL IN IT.
AND I GOT ADDICTED
TO THAT WHOLE HIGH OF,
YOU KNOW, BEING IN THE RING
AND FIGHTING.
I LIKED THE FLASHINESS OF PRO
AND THE KIND OF
DOWN AND DIRTINESS OF PRO.
SO, I TURNED PRO.
IN THE GOLDEN GLOVES,
I HAD TWO FIRST-ROUND KNOCKOUTS,
AND I FIGURED
I’D JUST KNOCK HER OUT.
SO, I WENT IN THINKING
I’D JUST KNOCK HER OUT,
AND AFTER TWO MINUTES,
SHE WAS STILL STANDING.
AND I DIDN’T KNOW WHAT TO DO
BECAUSE ALL MY RING EXPERIENCE
WAS ABOUT 2 1/2 MINUTES.
PLUS I GOT HEAD-BUTTED,
AND I GOT A CUT OVER MY EYE,
AND I GOT DIZZY.
SO, IT WAS A REALLY BAD SCENE.
AS THEY WERE
STITCHING UP MY EYE,
I SAID — I SAID,
“I’M NEVER GONNA DO THIS AGAIN.
THIS IS THE LAST TIME.”
AND SOMEONE SAID TO ME
THAT THEY WERE THINKING,
“NEXT WEEK, SHE’S GONNA SAY,
‘I GOT TO DO THIS AGAIN.'”
AND SURE ENOUGH,
IT TOOK ABOUT TWO DAYS,
AND I WAS SITTING THERE,
AND I SAID —
IT HIT, AND I SAID,
“I HAVE TO DO THIS AGAIN.”
AT FIRST,
I JUST FELT HUMILIATED.
I LOST. I WAS CUT.
IT WAS SUCH A LETDOWN
FROM WINNING THE GOLDEN GLOVES,
AND IT WAS JUST
SUCH AN INCREDIBLE LETDOWN,
I DIDN’T EVEN —
I EVEN HAD THE OUTFIT
I WAS GONNA WEAR
AFTER THE FIGHT ALL PICKED OUT.
AND I ENDED UP IN A HOSPITAL,
YOU KNOW, LYING —
I LOOKED LIKE A HOMELESS PERSON
THAT FELL ON THE PAVEMENT
IN MY PAJAMA TOP.
IT WAS SO HUMILIATING, YOU KNOW?
I WAS, LIKE,
“THIS IS GOOD FOR ME.
IT’S BUILDING CHARACTER.”
AND I JUST, YOU KNOW —
AND THEN EVERYONE LOOKING AT YOU
LIKE YOU’RE PATHETIC.
“OH, I’M SORRY.”
YOU KNOW, LIKE — RIGHT AWAY,
THEY THINK THAT’S IT.
LIKE, YOU’LL DO IT WHILE
IT’S GLAMOROUS AND EASY AND FUN,
BUT THE MINUTE YOU GET HURT,
OR YOU LOSE,
WELL, NOW IT’S NOT FUN ANYMORE.
I’M NOT GONNA DO IT.
BUT THAT MADE ME
WANT TO DO IT MORE.
SO, EACH TIME I GO IN,
I DO BETTER AND BETTER.
I THINK A LITTLE MORE.
I GET A LITTLE FURTHER
IN THE FIGHT.
I BOX A LITTLE MORE
INSTEAD OF FIGHT.
I DON’T GET AS —
AS OUT OF CONTROL.
YOU KNOW, IF EACH TIME
I GET BETTER, THAT’S MY GOAL.
-BAH. BOOM.
THAT’S WHAT I WANT.
-AND WIN OR LOSE,
I’M GONNA DO IT AGAIN.
-AND FIGHTING
OUT OF THE RED CORNER,
WEIGHING IN AT 109 POUNDS,
WEARING BLACK TRUNKS,
NO WINS AND 1 LOSS,
FROM NEW YORK CITY,
JILL “ZION LION” MATTHEWS!
[ APPLAUSE ]
-ALL RIGHT, JILL.
[ BELL DINGS ]
-I WANTED A PAYBACK,
AND IN BOXING, IF YOU WIN,
THAT’S YOUR PAYBACK.
IF YOU WALKED OUT IN THE STREET
AND GOT HIT BY A CAR
AND DIED AT THAT MOMENT,
IT WOULDN’T MATTER
BECAUSE YOU’VE — YOU’VE ARRIVED
AT THE HAPPIEST, MOST SATISFIED.
EVERYTHING WAS WORTH IT.
AND EVERYTHING.
EVEN THOUGH
YOU JUST WON IN BOXING,
ALL THE WORK I’VE EVER DONE
IN EVERYTHING ELSE IN MY LIFE
SEEMS TO BE —
WELL, NOW I HAVE MY PAYBACK.
-RIGHT AFTER
THE INITIAL GOLDEN GLOVES,
WOMEN WERE GETTING INTO IT.
THEY OBVIOUSLY TURNED PRO,
LIKE MANY OF THE MEN DO.
AND LIKE THE MEN,
ABSOLUTELY NO DIFFERENCE.
THEY ALL HAVE A DREAM
OF BECOMING A WORLD CHAMPION
OR SOMEONE VERY WEALTHY
THROUGH THE SPORT.
DON KING HAS PICKED UP A FEMALE.
BOB ARUM HAS PICKED UP A FEMALE.
THEY HIGHLIGHT ‘EM.
THEY GIVE ‘EM A LOT OF MONEY.
THEY SHOWCASE THEM
AS UNDERCARD FIGHTERS
ON MAJOR EVENTS.
AND THE PUBLICITY IS THERE
TO FOLLOW THEM.
-I’M NOT A DEVOTEE
OF WOMEN’S BOXING,
BUT IT’S A PLEASURE FOR ME
TO PROMOTE LUCIA RIJKER.
-IT’S, YOU KNOW,
MY BREAKTHROUGH,
MY FIRST BIG FIGHT HERE
FOR — FOR TOP RANK
SO I HAVE TO PROVE, YOU KNOW —
I THINK
I’M THE FIRST FEMALE FIGHTER
THAT BOB PROMOTES ON A BIG CARD,
SO I HAVE TO PROVE
THAT I CAN FIGHT.
A COUPLE WEEKS
BEFORE THE FIGHT, I —
YOU KNOW, I FOCUS ON THE FIGHT,
AND I GO THERE IN MY MIND,
AND I VISUALIZE IT,
AND I FEEL IT.
BUT NOT JUST BEFORE THE FIGHT.
WHAT I DO TODAY IS JUST RELAX.
IT’S BEAUTIFUL.
-I THINK IT’S 18,000 IT HOLDS.
-I MET FREDDIE THROUGH A FRIEND.
IT REALLY WORKED WELL.
YEAH, WE CLICKED.
FINANCIALLY,
I’M NOT REALLY INTERESTED —
INTERESTING FOR HIM BECAUSE
HE TRAINS WORLD CHAMPIONS
WHO MAKE MILLIONS.
BUT I’M HAPPY
THAT HE WAS INTERESTED,
AND THAT HE’S TRAINING ME NOW.
-I HAD 54 PROFESSIONAL FIGHTS
AND 150 AMATEUR,
SO I HAD QUITE A FEW FIGHTS,
AND I CAN TELL YOU
AFTER A COUPLE OF ROUNDS
IF THEY CAN FIGHT OR NOT.
WHEN SHE’S AT HER BEST,
AND SHE’S SHARP,
SHE CAN BEAT ANYONE
IN THE WORLD.
SHE MAKES IT KIND OF FUN
TO WORK WITH.
LET’S GO, COME ON.
RIGHT HAND. RIGHT HAND.
RIGHT HAND.
AGAIN.
GOT IT.
I HAVE THREE WORLD CHAMPIONS
RIGHT NOW,
AND SHE WORKS JUST AS HARD,
IF NOT HARDER
THAN ALL OF THEM PUT TOGETHER.
OKAY?
-I JUST WANT TO COME
WISH YOU GUYS THE BEST OF LUCK.
LUCIA, I’M GLAD THAT FINALLY
YOU GET TO FIGHT IN NEVADA, SO.
-THANK YOU.
-ALL RIGHT.
I’VE SEEN YOU A LOT,
I WATCH ON TV.
-SHE’S GONNA DO WELL
AGAINST HER.
-SHE’S 30, AND KNOWS KICKBOXING,
A 4-TIME WORLD CHAMPION.
SHE REALLY — SHE’S —
YOU’LL BE IMPRESSED.
I WAS.
-YEAH.
-OKAY?
SOMEONE TOLD ME,
“THIS GIRL CAN FIGHT.”
I SAY, “OKAY,
SHE CAN FIGHT FOR A GIRL.”
SHE CAN FIGHT FOR ANYBODY.
LUC. LUCIA.
LOOSE. LOOSE.
JAB, JAB.
JAB.
TWO.
-SORRY?
-THIS HAND’S NO GOOD.
JAB.
-OH, I’M SORRY.
-TWO.
ONE JAB.
-FIRST FIGHT JUST STARTED,
FREDDIE.
-ONE, TWO. ONE, TWO. ONE, TWO.
RIGHT HERE.
AGAIN.
LOOSE, LOOSE, LOOSE.
-FOCUSING ON NEW CHALLENGE
AND LETTING GO.
FOCUSING ON A NEW CHALLENGE
AND THEN LETTING GO.
THAT’S WHAT TURNS ME ON IN LIFE.
BEFORE A FIGHT, YOU KNOW,
YOU’RE NOT REALLY IN THE WORLD.
YOU LIVE IN YOUR OWN WORLD
BECAUSE OF THAT LIFESTYLE
OF TRAINING AND DIETING
AND LIVING FOR THE SPORT.
-WEIGHING IN AT 125 POUNDS,
HERE IS LUCIA RIJKER!
[ CHEERING ]
-RIJKER!
-TAKE CARE OF BUSINESS, HUH?
[ BELL DINGS ]
[ CHEERING ]
[ CHEERING ]
[ BELL DINGS ]
-LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, THE TIME,
1 MINUTE, 43 SECONDS
OF THE FIRST ROUND,
THE WINNER BY TECHNICAL KNOCKOUT
AND STILL UNDEFEATED,
LUCIA RIJKER!
RIJKER!
[ CHEERING ]
-PLEASED.
PLEASED AS PUNCH.
-THIS IS HER FIRST FIGHT,
IN THIS A BIG VENUE
HERE IN RENO.
-FIRST TIME.
-AND A BIG HBO TITLE FIGHT.
A LOT OF PRESSURE ON HER,
AND SHE DID WELL.
SHE’S A LITTLE BIT NERVOUS
TONIGHT.
SHE FORGOT HER BOOTS.
-SURE.
-YOU KNOW, THEM THINGS HAPPEN.
-YEAH.
-NOW WE’VE GOT OUR START
HERE IN AMERICA,
AND WE’RE GONNA JUST
SHOOT RIGHT UP THERE.
-NEXT.
SHOOT.
IT’S BEEN THREE YEARS FOR ME
SINCE I FOUGHT IN HOLLAND,
AND I’M LOOKING FORWARD TO IT,
TO FIGHT FOR MY OWN PEOPLE.
A LOT OF PEOPLE FROM AMSTERDAM
ARE COMING.
IT’S THE CITY
THAT I’M BORN AND RAISED IN,
AND I’M EXCITED.
IT’S TOTALLY NEW — BOXING.
YOU KNOW, LAST TIME I WAS HERE,
I KICKBOXED,
AND YEAH, I’M VERY EXCITED TO —
I — I —
WHEN I — WHEN I’M IN MY BED
AT NIGHT, I DON’T SLEEP,
BUT I ONLY SEE THE FIGHT,
THE ARENA.
EVERYTHING, LIKE —
LIKE COMING BACK HERE
AND STARTING ALL OVER,
LIKE A NEW LIFE.
I’M THE FIRST REGISTERED
PRO FEMALE BOXER IN HOLLAND.
[ SPEAKING DUTCH ]
I FEEL GOOD WORKING WITH FREDDIE
BECAUSE HE REALLY WORKS WITH ME
AS AN INDIVIDUAL.
YOU KNOW, WORKS ON WHAT I NEED.
HE’S ONE OF THE TOUGHEST
FIGHTERS IN THE WORLD.
HE REALLY FOUGHT BATTLES.
HE DOESN’T
NEED TO PROVE HIMSELF.
HE’S THERE TO HELP YOU.
HE BRINGS OUT MY STRENGTH
BECAUSE HE LET ME BE STRONG.
-ATTAGIRL.
-I MADE A CONSCIOUS DECISION
THAT I WANT TO BE A BOXER,
AND I WANT TO GRAB THE BELTS
THAT ARE OUT THERE.
HE LOVES WHAT HE DOES.
HE CAN FEEL
THAT I LOVE WHAT I DO.
IT, LIKE, WORKS TOGETHER.
-A LOT OF FIGHTERS —
EX-FIGHTERS
DON’T MAKE GOOD TRAINERS
BECAUSE THEY TRY
TO MAKE THE FIGHTER
TOO MUCH LIKE THEMSELVES.
WHAT I FOUND TO BE THE BEST WAY
IS TO TAKE THEIR NATURAL ABILITY
AND JUST IMPROVE ON THAT,
AND MAKE THEM BELIEVE
IN ME AND THEMSELVES.
BECAUSE WHEN SHE COMES BACK
TO THE CORNER,
IF SHE’S NOT COMING BACK
TO SOMEBODY
THAT SHE TRUSTS AND BELIEVES IN,
SHE’S NOT GONNA LISTEN.
-WHEN I’M AT MY BEST
IS WHEN MY MIND IS EMPTY.
YOU KNOW,
YOU CAN SABOTAGE YOURSELF
OR MOTIVATE YOURSELF.
I JUST WANT IT CLEAR.
-[ SPEAKING DUTCH ]
MORE ENERGY NOW.
-THAT’S NEW.
I NEVER HAD THAT TREATMENT
BEFORE THE FIGHT.
YOU KNOW, I DECIDE TO BOX
AND DO IT RIGHT,
SO WHY NOT, YOU KNOW,
TAKE ALL THE HELP YOU CAN GET?
‘CAUSE IT’S OFFERED.
EVERY LITTLE BIT WILL HELP.
IT’S NOT JUST ME.
IT’S A COMBINATION
OF PEOPLE AROUND YOU
THAT MAKES YOU SUCCESSFUL.
-THE FIRST THING
PEOPLE ALWAYS ASK IS,
“IS LUCIA STRONGER THAN YOU?
DOES SHE HIT YOU?”
YEAH, YEAH, YEAH, YEAH, YEAH.
I SAY, “ALWAYS, YEAH, YEAH,
YEAH,” BUT IT IS TRUE.
I’M BIGGER, YOU KNOW,
BUT SHE’S NOT EASY.
-12 MINUTES STRAIGHT.
-YEAH.
TWO DOWNSTAIRS.
OKAY, ONE BIG HIT RIGHT HERE.
THERE YOU GO.
JUST GO OUT THERE AND BOX.
SHOW YOUR SKILLS, OKAY?
EVERYTHING BEHIND THAT LEFT JAB.
ONCE THAT STARTS HITTING HOME,
EVERYTHING’LL COME, OKAY?
YOU LOOK LIKE A PRO OUT THERE,
ALL RIGHT?
AND YOU’RE USING YOUR FOOTWORK,
ALL RIGHT?
FEINTS, HEAD MOVEMENT,
EVERYTHING.
PUT IT ALL TOGETHER NOW, OKAY?
GOOD JOB, GOOD JOB.
DEEP BREATH.
[ BREATHES DEEPLY ]
♪ RHYTHM, RHYTHM ♪
♪ RHYTHM, RHYTHM ♪
♪ RHYTHM, RHYTHM ♪
-LUCIA RIJKER!
[ CHEERING ]
[ BELL DINGS ]
-IT’S NOT THAT I TRY TO HURT
SOMEONE OR DESTROY SOMEONE.
IT’S JUST, I TRY TO WIN
BECAUSE IT’S IN MY WAY.
I HAVE TO,
YOU KNOW, ELIMINATE IT.
I FELT SORRY FOR HER AGAIN
BECAUSE I DIDN’T WANT TO
HURT HER.
IT’S HIT OR GETTING HIT.
YOU NEVER KNOW,
SOME PEOPLE GROW IN A FIGHT.
AND SO, I’D RATHER
JUST KEEP THROWING PUNCHES
UNTIL SHE DOESN’T WANT NO MORE.
THEY THREW THE TOWEL,
AND I THOUGHT
THAT WAS THE RIGHT THING.
[ CHEERING ]
-I WANTED TO THANK
ALL THE PEOPLE
WHO HELPED ME FINANCIALLY,
EMOTIONALLY, AND SPIRITUALLY.
AND I ALSO THANK THE PEOPLE
WHO TRIED TO SABOTAGE ME
BECAUSE THEY HELPED ME
TO BECOME WHO I AM
AND A PART OF MY SUCCESS,
AS WELL.
[ CHEERING ]
I DON’T WANT MY PARENTS
TO BE HERE
BECAUSE THEY WERE NEVER THERE
WHEN I STARTED.
THEY DON’T KNOW ANYTHING
ABOUT FIGHTING.
I MEAN, WHEN I HAVE A DAUGHTER,
I WILL BE THERE.
I PROBABLY WILL TRAIN HER
BECAUSE I KNOW THE SPORT,
BUT THEY DON’T KNOW THE SPORT,
AND IT’S VERY PAINFUL TO SEE
YOUR DAUGHTER GETTING HIT.
IT’S, YOU KNOW,
PART OF THE GAME.
BLOOD IS PART OF THE GAME.
PAIN IS PART OF THE GAME.
I DON’T WANT TO DO THAT TO THEM
UNTIL IT’S DONE
SO THEY CAN SEE LATER.
-[ SPEAKING DUTCH ]
-SHE VISUALIZES
WHAT SHE’S GONNA DO,
WHAT SHE WANTS TO DO.
SHE REALLY WANTS TO BE
WHAT SHE IS, SO THAT’S WHY —
GIVES HER JOY.
SHE — SHE’S —
SHE RESPECTS ME FOR THAT,
FOR MY DETERMINATION,
MY STRENGTH.
IT’S KIND OF HARD, THE WAY I —
I’M KIND OF HARD ON MYSELF,
AND SHE KNOWS THAT.
-YEAH.
[ SPEAKING DUTCH ]
[ BOTH LAUGH ]
-MY HAND’S A LITTLE COLD.
BUT IT’S NICE BECAUSE
I NEVER HEAR HER, YOU KNOW,
TALK ABOUT ME LIKE THIS.
AND I LOOK LIKE HER A LITTLE BIT
IF YOU LOOK —
BIG EARS,
AND HER EYEBROWS AND EYES.
BUT MY NOSE IS A LITTLE SMALL.
[ LAUGHTER ]
THAT’S BECAUSE OF MY DAD.
-BIG NOSE.
-WHAT SURPRISES ME IS THAT
THEY NEVER TALKED ME OUT OF IT
BECAUSE IT’S A DANGEROUS SPORT.
[ CHEERING ]
[ CHEERING ]
-YEAH!
[ CHEERING ]
-LUCIA RIJKER!
-I LOVE TO BE HOME.
I’D LIKE TO REINTRODUCE MYSELF
AS A BOXER HERE.
BUT MY GOAL IS AMERICA.
‘CAUSE WHEN YOU CONQUER AMERICA,
YOU CONQUER THE WORLD.
-LUCIA IS YOUNG, AND SHE COULD
FIGHT FOR A LONG TIME,
BUT I’D LIKE TO SEE
AFTER A COUPLE YEARS,
HER ACCOMPLISH HER GOALS
AND YOU KNOW, BECOME THE BEST
WOMAN FIGHTER IN THE WORLD
AND MAKE SOME MONEY
AND GET OUT HEALTHY, YOU KNOW.
THIS IS A VERY DEMANDING SPORT
AND, YOU KNOW, GO OUT ON TOP.
THAT’S THE BEST WAY, I BELIEVE.
-THROUGH FIGHTING, I’M FORCED
TO WORK THROUGH THINGS
THAT I WOULD NORMALLY NEVER GO.
IT’S TOO SCARY
TO GO CERTAIN PLACES.
I HAVE THIS NEWSPAPER
ON MY MIRROR
ABOVE A PICTURE OF ME AS A BABY,
AND IT’S ABOUT A FIGHTER
WHO DIED IN THE RING
‘CAUSE I WANT TO
REALLY STAY AWARE
OF THE SIDE EFFECTS OF BOXING.
SO, I’LL BE OUT OF THERE
IN TIME,
‘CAUSE YOU GET ADDICTED,
YOU KNOW, TO THE PUBLICITY,
TO THE MONEY, THE FAME.
BEFORE YOU KNOW IT,
YOU’RE HOOKED.
AND LIKE, YOU KNOW,
MANY OTHER FIGHTERS
WHO KEEP MAKING COMEBACKS.
LIKE, WHEN YOU SEE MUHAMMAD ALI
BEING, LIKE —
I’M LIKE, “GOD.”
YOU KNOW, AND THERE ARE A LOT
OF OTHER FIGHTERS WHO,
YOU KNOW,
YOU DON’T REALLY SEE IT.
BUT THEY’RE SLOWER,
THINK SLOWER.
THEY MOVE SLOWER.
THEY CAN’T READ.
YOU KNOW, CAN’T CONCENTRATE.
I MEAN, IT’S, I GUESS,
PART OF THE JOB,
BUT I HOPE I’LL BE OUT OF THERE
IN TIME.
I DON’T WANT TO
BECOME ONE OF THEM.
-PART OF GROWING UP
IN MY FAMILY.
MY DAD WAS A FIGHTER.
ALL MY BROTHERS ARE BOXERS,
SO IT’S JUST PART OF GROWING UP.
THAT’S MY DAD THERE.
HE WAS NEW ENGLAND FEATHERWEIGHT
CHAMPION IN 1947,
AND THEN I WON THAT TITLE
IN 1979.
AND THAT’S ME
TOWARDS THE END OF MY CAREER.
A LITTLE BIT BEAT UP.
[ LAUGHS ]
-I DON’T HAVE TO BE A BOXER.
I DON’T HAVE TO CONFRONT MYSELF
WITH MYSELF.
SOME REASON I DO, AND I GET
A LOT OF BENEFITS OUT OF IT.
IT’S ONLY AFTERWARDS, OF COURSE,
YOU REALIZE THAT
IN THE HEAT OF THE MOMENT,
YOU’RE JUST TRYING TO SURVIVE.
I KNEW THAT SOMETHING WAS WRONG,
THAT MY OPPONENT WAS, LIKE,
UNEXPECTEDLY DIFFERENT
THAN WOMEN IN GENERAL —
STRONGER THAN WOMEN
IN GENERAL PHYSICALLY.
BUT ALSO APPEARED
LIKE VERY MASCULINE.
I THOUGHT,
NO MATTER WHO MY OPPONENT IS,
I JUST HAVE TO BE STRONGER
AND BETTER.
THAT’S ALL.
A SWORD IS USELESS
IN THE HANDS OF A COWARD.
-TOUCH ‘EM UP. LET’S DO IT.
-I GO WITHIN,
AND I JUST FIGHT WITH MYSELF.
[ BELL DINGS ]
THE MOMENT THE BELL RANG,
I JUST WANTED TO BOX,
BUT SHE CAME AT ME LIKE,
SHE JUST WAS IN MY FACE.
SO I KIND OF PANICKED
AND THOUGHT,
“OKAY, LET ME HOLD YOU,”
AND THEN THINK, WHAT CAN I DO?
AND I REMEMBER HER MAKING FACES,
LIKE SHE WAS, LIKE, WILD.
AND THE ONLY THING I THOUGHT
WHEN I WAS HELD HER.
“HOW CAN I CONTROL HER?
“HOW CAN I MAKE HER CALM DOWN
SO I CAN, YOU KNOW,
HAVE A LITTLE CONTROL HERE?”
-SHE DOESN’T CARE ABOUT WHETHER
THE REPUTATION LUCIA RIJKER HAS.
SHE HAS COME RIGHT OUT
AFTER HER,
AND HALLBACK IS UNAFRAID.
THIS IS SHADES
OF HEARNS AND HAGLER.
[ BELL DINGS ]
-WHEN I WENT BACK TO MY CORNER,
FREDDIE WAS SO CALM
IN THE CORNER,
AND HE GAVE ME THE RIGHT ADVICE,
AND IN THE THIRD ROUND,
HE TOLD ME, “ONE, TWO, THREE,
STEP OFF TO THE SIDE.”
-JUST LIKE WE DID IN THE GYM,
LATERAL MOVEMENT, OKAY?
THREE-PUNCH COMBINATION,
OFF TO THE SIDE.
THREE-PUNCH COMBINATION,
OFF TO THE SIDE.
MAKE HER TURN TO YOU, OKAY?
DON’T TRY TO GRAB HER
‘CAUSE THAT’S WHERE
SHE’S STRONG, INSIDE, ALL RIGHT?
[ BELL DINGS ]
-THAT MADE ME WIN MY FIGHT,
AND THAT MADE ME KNOCK HER
OUT OF THE RING.
-SHE’S CLOSE TO FINISHING IT
NOW, AND DOWN GOES HALLBACK.
[ CHEERING ]
-FIVE, SIX, SEVEN.
AT THE COUNT OF EIGHT,
SHE IS UP,
MANDATORY EIGHT COUNT.
-A COUPLE OF MORE PUNCHES,
AND I THINK
THEY SHOULD STOP THIS FIGHT.
-HALLBACK
IS A VERY WEARY FIGHTER.
SHE CAN’T HOLD UP ANYMORE
IF SHE CAN’T KEEP RIJKER OFF.
SHE’S TRYING TO FIGHT BACK,
BUT SHE IS SO FATIGUED,
SHE CAN’T GET ANY LEVERAGE —
SHE’S DOWN AGAIN
AND THROUGH THE ROPES,
AND THIS FIGHT IS OVER.
LUCIA RIJKER
HAS FACED A TEST HERE TONIGHT
AND PASSED THE TEST.
-I MADE IT.
NO MATTER
WHO THEY PUT ME IN WITH,
I PROVED THAT I CAN FIGHT.
-AND THAT WAS A FIRST.
SHE PICKS UP HER TRAINER.
-SHE PICKS UP HER CORNER MAN.
-YES, YES!
-THERE’S LUCIA.
SHE’S HAPPY YOUNG LADY.
-THAT’S NICE.
IT’S NICE TO SEE, WHAT CAN I DO,
WHAT I’M WORTH, YOU KNOW,
HOW FAR CAN I GO?
-THIS IS LIKE AN OLD-FASHIONED
TYPE OF TRAINING FACILITY
TO GET AWAY
FROM ALL THE DISTRACTIONS
FROM THE CITY LIFE, YOU KNOW.
THE NOISE AND THE NIGHT CLUBS
AND THE FRIENDS.
THIS GIVES YOU ISOLATION
AND FOCUS.
SHE LIVES WITH THE GUYS,
WITH THE WHOLE CREW,
SPAR PARTNERS,
AND JAMES TONEY,
FIVE-TIME WORLD CHAMPION.
-HERE WE GO, ANOTHER DAY
AT THE OFFICE FOR THE PONY.
IF YOU DON’T PAY THE BILLS,
THE LIGHTS MUST GO OUT. POW.
I SPOKE WITH HER ABOUT THAT
BRIEFLY YESTERDAY,
AND SHE SAID THAT, YOU KNOW,
IT WAS KIND OF STRANGE AT FIRST
‘CAUSE OF, YOU KNOW,
BEING IN THE SETTING
WITH JUST MALES ONLY.
YOU KNOW, HAD THE MALE LANGUAGE,
HAD THE MALE
LOCKER-ROOM LANGUAGE
AND THE MALE ATTITUDE, BUT —
I THINK SHE’S STARTING
TO TAME THEM WITH HER CHARM.
-ALL THE TIME, THEY JOKE
OR THEY, LIKE, YOU KNOW,
YOU REALLY HAVE TO —
WHEN YOU COME OUT OF THE SHOWER,
YOU HAVE TO BE CAREFUL
WHAT YOU’RE WEARING
BECAUSE EVERY PART OF YOUR BODY
THAT YOU SHOW,
THEY MIGHT JUST, LIKE,
“HEY, BABY.”
SO, I WALKED OUT IN A T-SHIRT,
AND THERE WAS THIS GUY, JODY.
“DID YOU SEE HER THIS MORNING?”
AND I’M, LIKE,
“WHAT? WHAT WAS UP?”
“OH, YEAH.”
‘CAUSE I WASN’T WEARING —
I WAS WEARING SHORTS,
BUT YOU COULDN’T SEE BECAUSE
MY T-SHIRT WAS HANGING OVER IT.
AND THEN THAT’S THE TALK AT
BREAKFAST — WHAT I WAS WEARING.
[ LAUGHS ]
BUT I UNDERSTAND IT,
YOU KNOW, AND I SAID TO THEM.
I SAID TO ONE OF THEM, I SAID,
“WITHIN A WEEK,
I’LL LOOK SO — EVEN MORE
FEMININE AND BEAUTIFUL, AND –“
BECAUSE THERE’S NO WOMAN AROUND,
AND, YOU KNOW,
THEY DON’T HAVE ANYBODY.
SO THEN THEY START TO JUST
LOOK FOR ME,
THE ONLY WOMAN IN THE HOUSE.
SO I’M, LIKE,
“OH, YOU’LL GET OVER IT.”
BUT IT’S FUN.
IT’S REALLY — I LEARN A LOT.
I LEARN — I LEARN TO SEE
WHERE A REAL BOXER COMES FROM.
-BOXING HAS BEEN MY LIFE
FOR 18 YEARS.
AND WHEN I HAD TO RETIRE,
IT WAS, LIKE, A TOTAL SHOCK.
I WAS CRYING EVERY NIGHT
FOR, LIKE, THE LAST
YEAR AND A HALF, TWO YEARS,
YOU KNOW WHAT I MEAN?
I’M JUST LIKE THE —
I GUESS THE CAMP AIDE,
YOU KNOW WHAT I MEAN?
I HAVE NO EXACT TITLE,
JUST THE GUY WHO HELPS PEOPLE,
HELPS GUYS
MAKE LITTLE ADJUSTMENTS
IN THEIR FIGHTING STYLE.
I SEE A LOT OF THINGS,
AND I GET TO MAKE SUGGESTIONS.
IF I HAD A CHILD,
A SON OR A DAUGHTER,
THEY WOULDN’T BOX, YOU KNOW.
-THEY GET UP IN THE MORNING,
AND THEY RUN.
THEY HAVE BREAKFAST.
THEY GO TO THE WEIGHT GYM.
THEY COME BACK.
THEY REST A LITTLE WHILE.
THEY GO IN AND DO THEIR SPARRING
OR FLOOR WORK.
-LUCIA’S SPARRING PARTNER,
THIS GUY WAS GOOD FOR HER.
HE’S A YOUNG MAN FROM NEW YORK.
A ROUGH, TOUGH CUSTOMER, AND
HE’S NOT HOLDING BACK AT ALL,
WHICH’LL MAKE IT GOOD FOR HER
WHEN SHE FIGHTS FEMALES.
[ BELL RINGS ]
-[ SPEAKING SPANISH ]
OKAY.
-WE ALL YEARN FOR, YOU KNOW,
THAT INSTANT ROAR OF THE CROWD,
INSTANT GRATIFICATION.
AND FIGHTING IS ONE OF THE FEW
ENDEAVORS THAT ALLOW THAT,
YOU KNOW WHAT I MEAN?
YOU’RE THE MAN FOR A SECOND
OR, IN LUCIA’S CASE,
THE WOMAN FOR A SECOND.
NOW THAT I’M RETIRED,
AND SHE’LL BE RETIRED SOME DAY,
YOU TAKE IT FOR WHAT IT’S WORTH,
YOU KNOW?
YOU CAN’T TAKE IT PERSONAL.
JUST ENJOY IT FOR THE MOMENT,
HAVE A GOOD TIME.
‘CAUSE IT’S GONNA END, YOU KNOW?
-DURING THE DAY,
WE’RE KIND OF ON OUR OWN,
THEN AROUND 5:00, 6:00,
WE GO OFF TO STAN’S HOUSE,
AND WE HAVE
A GREAT, GREAT DINNER.
HIS WIFE IS A GREAT COOK.
AFTER MY WORKOUT, I REALLY
LOOK FORWARD TO EATING THERE.
WHAT I LIKE ABOUT IT,
IT’S LIKE THIS BIG, HUGE TABLE,
AND WE’RE IN THERE
WITH, LIKE, 10 TO 15 PEOPLE
ENJOYING OUR MEALS
AND TALK BOXING.
-YES, SIR.
-ALI WAS MY CHAMPION, SIR.
-YES, HE WAS, SIR.
-STANLEY?
-I’M JUST TRYING TO THINK.
-NO, HE WASN’T.
THAT WAS PRIOR TO LISTON, SIR.
THAT WAS 1960–
-I SAID, BUT, SIR,
THIS WAS MY NEXT THING.
BUT I’M SAYING,
BUT HE DID FIGHT ALI.
YES, HE DID.
-HOW MANY TIMES DID ARCHIE MOORE
CHALLENGE FOR
THE HEAVYWEIGHT CHAMPIONSHIP?
DON’T CHOKE ON THE CHICKEN.
EVERY TIME HE FOUGHT
FOR THE TITLE, HE GOT STOPPED.
-WHO WERE THEY?
-THERE WERE — ONE WAS MY MAN,
ROCKY MARCIANO.
-WHO WAS THE FIRST FEMALE
WORLD CHAMPION?
-YOU MEAN NOW?
-NOW.
-OH, MY GIRL.
THAT’S MY — MY HOMEY,
MY COMPADRE.
LUCIA RIJKER.
-NO. NO.
-AKA, RIJKER’S ISLAND.
[ LAUGHTER ]
THAT’S THE NAME.
FOR REAL, MAN.
-OKAY.
-YES, MA’AM.
-WHAT’S JAMES TONEY’S
FIRST GIRLFRIEND?
[ LAUGHTER ]
-OH, MAN.
-HEY, VANESSA WILLIAMS.
[ LAUGHTER ]
-HERE’S ONE FOR YOU.
YOU, TOO.
-WHY DON’T YOU TELL —
ABOUT FEMALES?
-WHO’S THE LAST BOYFRIEND
THAT —
[ LAUGHTER ]
MISS RIJKER HAD KNOCKED OUT?
[ LAUGHTER ]
DAMN.
AS A MATTER OF FACT —
MATTER OF FACT,
HE’S A FATAL ATTRACTION NOW.
HE STILL CALLS.
SHE BEAT HIM UP SO BAD,
HE BECAME FATAL.
HE ALWAYS COME BACK
FOR THE WHOOPINGS.
-I TOLD HIM, “DEREK.”
I SAID, “MAN, HOW DO YOU
HAVE RESPECT FOR YOURSELF?
“YOU KEEP CALLING A WOMAN
THAT WHOOPED YOUR BUTT
TIME AND TIME AGAIN.”
“MAN, I JUST LOVE HER.
I LOVE HER WHOOPINGS.”
-IT’S A VERY GROWING EXPERIENCE
TO BE IN THE ONE HOUSE
WITH, I THINK, EIGHT MEN.
OR SHOULD I SAY EIGHT ANIMALS?
[ LAUGHS ]
THESE GUYS SCREAM.
THEY HAVE LOUD MUSIC.
YEAH.
YOU KNOW WHAT?
I THINK FOR ME,
IT WOULD HAVE BEEN BETTER
TO STAY IN L.A.
BECAUSE I AM VERY FOCUSED,
BUT I CAN RELAX
ON THE WEEKENDS.
I DON’T GET AGGRAVATED
BY PEE IN THE SHOWER,
BY THE CARPET IS WET
IN THE BATHROOM,
BY DISHES WHO ARE NOT WASHED,
BY LOUD MUSIC AT NIGHT,
THE BASS, 5:30 IN THE MORNING,
TURNS ON THE BLAST.
BOOM, BOOM, BOOM.
THAT’S HOW I WAKE UP.
-SECOND LAW OF NATURE, YOU KNOW,
IS TO BE CIVIL
IN THE PRESENCE OF A LADY,
REGARDLESS OF HER OCCUPATION.
-TO STAY SANE, I CHANT.
IF I DON’T,
I BECOME LIKE THEM, YOU KNOW?
I BECOME ANGRY, AND —
AND START TO USE INTIMIDATION,
TOO, TO GET WHAT I WANT,
AND I DON’T WANT TO GO THERE.
LIKE, WHEN I WANT TO
MAKE A PHONE CALL TO INTIMIDATE,
WHEN I WANT THE CHANNEL ON
THAT I WANT ON.
NO.
TO STAY AWARE, I CHANT.
[ CHANTING ]
-I WAS TELLING LUCIA YESTERDAY,
YOU KNOW, I BOXED FOR 18 YEARS,
AND I’VE DONE
A LOT OF DIFFERENT THINGS.
THIS IS THE TOUGHEST THING
I HAVE DONE MENTALLY,
PHYSICALLY, SPIRITUALLY,
EMOTIONALLY, YOU KNOW.
YOU KNOW,
I’VE NEVER GIVEN BIRTH,
SO, YOU KNOW,
I CAN’T EXPERIENCE THAT.
BUT I’VE SPOKEN TO MANY WOMEN,
AND MY MOTHER SAYS THAT, LIKE,
YOU KNOW, GIVING CHILDBIRTH
IS THE TOUGHEST THING
THAT SHE EVER EXPERIENCED.
AND ASIDE FROM THAT,
I THINK THAT THIS IS
THE TOUGHEST THING
THAT SHE’LL EVER EXPERIENCE —
LUCIA, I MEAN.
-OF COURSE, I’M USED TO
A CERTAIN DEGREE OF ABUSE,
OR ELSE I WOULDN’T BE A BOXER.
BUT WHEN I KNOW WHY I’M A BOXER
AND WHERE I WANT TO GO WITH IT,
I CAN TAKE IT.
IT’S SOMETHING I KNOW
HOW TO DO WELL OR BEST SO FAR,
SO IT’S A TOOL FOR ME.
WHEN YOU ACCOMPLISH SOMETHING,
IT GIVES YOU A CERTAIN POWER,
SO I CAN USE THE FAME
TO CREATE SOMETHING.
ESPECIALLY WHEN YOU WANT TO
WORK WITH CHILDREN,
IF YOU HAVE A NAME,
IF YOU ACCOMPLISH SOMETHING,
PEOPLE RESPECT YOU
AND WILL LISTEN TO YOU.
THAT’S WHY I DO WHAT I DO.
EVERY FIGHT, I GROW,
AND I LEARN A LOT ABOUT MYSELF
AND ABOUT LIFE,
AND THAT WISDOM I CAN PASS ON
TO A NEW GENERATION.
IF I DIDN’T KNOW
WHERE I WAS GOING,
I COULD NOT DEAL WITH IT.
YOUR ENVIRONMENT
ARE PEOPLE WHO’VE BEEN ABUSED,
SO ARE USED TO ABUSE.
IT BECOMES NORMAL.
SUCK IT UP, WHATEVER,
BUT WE HAVE TO PROTECT OURSELVES
AS A HUMAN BEING.
YOUR ENVIRONMENT IS,
THEY WANT YOU TO WIN.
RESULTS, RESULTS, YOUR FANS,
THEY WANT YOU TO WIN.
A BOXER DOES WHATEVER
TO BECOME A CHAMPION.
IT’S VERY ADDICTIVE.
IT’S VERY ADDICTIVE BECAUSE
YOU GET USED TO THE ATTENTION.
YOUR PERFORMANCE TODAY
IS YOUR SELF-WORTH.
YOU’RE BAD, YOU’RE BAD.
YOU’RE GOOD, YOU’RE GREAT
IN THE RING.
SO IF YOU STOP DOING —
STOP BEING GOOD,
THEN YOU THINK YOU’RE WORTHLESS,
AND THE ATTENTION GETS LESS.
YOU THINK THAT YOU’RE UNLOVED.
-WE LOVE THAT PERENNIAL
TAP ON THE BACK, YOU KNOW,
THAT,
“HEY, CHAMP. HOW YOU DOING?”
WE LOVE THAT, AND ALL BOXERS DO.
-IT’S PART OF MY PERSONALITY.
I NEED AN AUDIENCE,
BUT IT DOESN’T
NEED TO BE BOXING.
I HOPE BY THE TIME THAT
I’M A RECOGNIZED WORLD CHAMPION,
THAT I MADE SOME MONEY,
THAT I CAN DO SOME THINGS
ON MY OWN.
TO ME, WINNING IS IMPORTANT,
BUT ALSO MY HEALTH.
WHEN A DOCTOR TELLS YOU TO STOP,
WHEN I TELL YOU THAT YOUR BRAIN
IS FROM A 70-YEAR-OLD WOMAN,
IF YOU CONTINUE BOXING,
YOU’LL BE LIKE A PLANT,
YOU HAVE NO CHOICE.
AND ALL THESE THINGS
ARE PART OF THIS GAME,
AND IT MAKES ME AWARE
WHAT I GOT MYSELF INTO.
IT DOESN’T TAKE AWAY
THE BEAUTY OF THE GAME
BECAUSE I THINK IT’S BEAUTIFUL.
BUT IT’S THE OTHER SIDE
OF THE MEADOW.
IT’S A PRICE YOU PAY.
[ INDISTINCT CHATTER ]
-NIGHT, BABY.
-I’M GONNA TAPE HIM
AT 8:30, OKAY?
-WHAT TIME IS IT NOW?
-AND THEN I’M GONNA GLOVE YOU.
IT’LL TAKE ME 15 MINUTES, OKAY?
-OKAY.
ALL RIGHT, TONEY.
-FEELING GOOD.
-OKAY, ALL RIGHT.
-IT PAYS BILLS.
THE LIGHTS MUST GO OUT TONIGHT.
LONG OVERDUE.
YOU KNOW WHAT I’M SAYING?
LIGHTS OUT.
-OKAY?
[ INDISTINCT CHATTER ]
-OKAY? WANT TO STRETCH OUT?
-I NEED THE PADDING IN HERE.
-HMM?
-OKAY?
-ALL RIGHT.
-OKAY, LUCIA.
YOU GET READY TO RUMBLE.
-HANDLE YOUR BUSINESS, LUCIA.
-OKAY, LET ME SIGN THESE.
-SEE, THIS AIN’T WALLS.
THESE ARE CURTAINS.
YOU CAN’T LEAN ON ‘EM.
[ LAUGHS ]
-SHE JUST LIKES TO TOUCH ‘EM.
-YEAH.
-SHE’S BEEN TOUCHING THEM
FOR A WHILE NOW.
I’M STARTING TO LIKE IT, TOO.
-MY BUTT’S HITTING HIM
IN THE BACK.
-YES.
-IT’S YOUR NIGHT, BABY.
DO YOUR THING.
-TWO.
THREE.
THAT’S IT.
ONE, TWO.
ONE, TWO.
ONE, TWO, HOOK.
ONE, TWO, HOOK.
ONE, TWO, RIGHT HAND.
NICE.
SLOW, SLOW, SLOW.
JAB.
SHE’S GONNA COME AT YOU
WITH THAT WILD SET.
YOU GOT IT. THAT’S IT.
OKAY, HERE.
THAT’S IT.
THAT’S A GIRL.
ATTAGIRL.
-WHEN I GO TO FIGHTS,
I SEE THEM POUNDING INTO
EACH OTHER AND BLOOD AND CUTS.
I’M, LIKE,
“AM I DOING THAT, TOO?”
I CAN’T PICTURE MYSELF
IN THE RING DOING THAT,
BUT I DO IT.
-JAB HERE.
RIGHT HAND TO BELLY.
-I DON’T THINK OF
HURTING SOMEONE AND HEALTH ISSUE
BECAUSE THEN I’LL STOP.
-GOOD COMBINATION.
NICE AND LOOSE.
JAW.
YEAH?
WE’RE READY, ALL RIGHT?
READY TO GO?
-YEAH.
-LET’S GO.
-AND I SAW
ONE MOMENT OF WEAKNESS IN HER
BECAUSE SHE LOOKED AT ME,
AND SHE THOUGHT, “WOW,”
FOR ONE MOMENT.
AND THEN I THOUGHT,
“NOW, YOU’RE MINE.
I BROKE YOUR SPIRIT.”
-UNDEFEATED
IN FIVE PROFESSIONAL BOUTS,
ALL FIVE WINS
COMING BY WAY OF KNOCKOUT.
SHE NOW HAILS
FROM LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA.
HERE IS LUCIA RIJKER!
RIJKER!
[ CHEERING ]
♪ WHAT YOU GONNA DO? ♪
♪ WHAT YOU GONNA DO? ♪
♪ WHAT YOU GONNA DO? ♪
♪ WHAT YOU GONNA DO? ♪
♪ WHAT YOU GONNA DO? ♪
♪ WHAT YOU GONNA DO? ♪
[ BELL DINGS ]
♪ WHAT YOU GONNA DO? ♪
♪ WHAT YOU GONNA DO? ♪
♪ WHAT YOU GONNA DO? ♪
-IT’S HUMAN NATURE TO AVOID PAIN
AND TO AVOID
DIFFICULT SITUATIONS.
BY FIGHTING, YOU CONFRONT
YOURSELF WITH ALL THESE THINGS.
YOU CAN GET HIT.
YOU CAN GET HURT.
YOU CAN GET KNOCKED OUT.
SO IT’S LIKE REAL LIFE IN THERE.
IT’S LIKE REAL LIFE.
♪ WHAT YOU GONNA DO? ♪
♪ WHAT YOU GONNA DO? ♪
[ BELL DINGS ]
-IT’S NOT JUST FIGHTING.
IT’S MORE THAN THAT.
A LOT OF WOMEN CAN FIND STRENGTH
IN SEEING OTHER WOMEN FIGHT
AND BE STRONG.
THEY CAN FIND SOMETHING THERE
THAT THEY HAVE, AS WELL,
EVEN THOUGH THEY’RE NOT BOXING.
IF I KNOW I WON’T GET HURT,
THEN IT’S LESS OF A CHALLENGE.
[ BELL DINGS ]
♪ WHAT YOU GONNA DO? ♪
♪ WHAT YOU GONNA DO? ♪
♪ UH-HUH ♪
♪ UH-HUH ♪
[ BELL DINGING ]
-I THANK HER
FOR GIVING ME THE OPPORTUNITY
TO SHOW MY STRENGTH
AND TO OVERCOME MY WEAKNESSES
BECAUSE WITHOUT MY OPPONENT,
I CAN’T GO THERE.
-LADIES AND GENTLEMEN,
ONE MORE TIME
FOR THESE TWO FINE COMPETITORS.
THEY DESERVE YOUR APPLAUSE.
DORA WEBBER AND LUCIA RIJKER.
-VERY GOOD.
VERY GOOD FIGHT, LUC.
SHE WAS A TOUGH GIRL.
-IT WAS AN EXCELLENT FIGHT.
-YOU DON’T HAVE TO
KNOCK EVERYBODY OUT.
YOU BEAT ‘EM UP.
-HOW’S YOUR HAND FEEL?
-VERY GOOD.
-GOOD.
LUC, BELIEVE ME, YOU FOUGHT
A BEAUTIFUL FIGHT OUT THERE.
THAT GIRL’S TOUGH.
-THANK YOU.
-VERY GOOD FIGHT.
-EVEN IF YOU LOSE,
IT DOESN’T MATTER,
BECAUSE YOU DID IT.
YOU CONFRONTED YOURSELF
WITH WHAT WAS OUT THERE.
-SMILE. COME ON, COME ON.
YOU’RE A BEAUTIFUL GIRL,
AND YOU FOUGHT A GREAT FIGHT.
BELIEVE ME, OKAY?
I WOULDN’T TELL ONE LIE TO YOU.
I WOULDN’T LIE TO YOU, OKAY?
-THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
-ALL RIGHT?
-YEAH.
[ BELL DINGING ]
-LADIES AND GENTLEMEN,
WE HAVE A UNANIMOUS DECISION.
ALL THREE JUDGES AT RINGSIDE —
LOU BOGASH, ROBERT PAOLINO,
AND BOB O’BRIEN —
SCORE IT 60-54 TO THE WINNER
BY UNANIMOUS DECISION,
LUCIA RIJKER!
RIJKER!
-THERE’S NOTHING
THAT CAN GIVE YOU THAT HIGH.
IT’S LIKE YOU FLY,
AND YOU WALK ON CLOUDS.
THE HEIGHT
WOULD BE TO BE WORLD CHAMPION.
WE’LL SEE.
♪ READY, READY, READY, READY ♪
♪ READY, READY, READY, READY ♪
♪ READY, READY, READY, READY ♪
-GETTING READY
FOR THE WORLD TITLE FIGHT.
THIS IS,
YOU KNOW, WHAT SHE WANTS.
SHE WORKED VERY HARD
TO GET THERE.
♪ ONE TIME ♪
♪ ONE TIME ♪
-THIS GIRL FROM GERMANY,
I REALLY DON’T KNOW
WHAT TO EXPECT.
WE HAVE TO GO OUT THERE
IN THE FIRST ROUND
AND FEEL HER OUT A LITTLE BIT,
AND WE’LL JUST GO FROM THERE.
♪ READY, READY, READY, READY ♪
♪ READY, READY, READY, READY ♪
♪ READY, READY, READY, READY ♪
-I JUST WANT TO SEE HER FIGHT.
♪ ONE TIME ♪
♪ COME ON ♪
♪ COME ON, COME ONE ♪
♪ COME ON, COME ON, COME ON ♪
♪ READY, READY, READY, READY ♪
♪ READY, READY, READY, READY ♪
-YOU GOT IT.
♪ COME ON, COME ON ♪
-I DON’T LIKE IT
WHEN OTHER WOMEN FIGHT,
BUT WHEN SHE FIGHTS,
I CONCENTRATE ON HER TECHNIQUE
AND HOW SHE THROWS PUNCHES,
AND I REALLY ENJOY IT.
-TWO.
ONE.
ONE.
♪ ONE TIME, ONE TIME ♪
-I WOULD RATE HER AS ONE OF
THE MOST TALENTED FIGHTERS
IN THE WORLD TODAY.
FORGET BEING WOMEN BOXING.
SHE DOES EVERYTHING.
♪ ONE TIME ♪
-I THINK THAT
SHE’S A GREAT PERSON,
A VERY ATTRACTIVE PERSON,
AND A GOOD FIGHTER.
♪ READY, READY, READY, READY ♪
[ CHANTING ]
-YOUR WORLD OUT THERE.
YOUR WORLD. LET’S GO NOW.
[ CHANTING ]
-ALL RIGHT.
-ALL RIGHT.
-SHOW TIME.
[ CHANTING ]
[ CHEERING ]
-WIBF SUPER LIGHTWEIGHT
CHAMPIONSHIP OF THE WORLD.
IN THE BLUE CORNER,
COMING FROM THE GREAT COUNTRY
OF HOLLAND
AND MAKING HER HOME NOW
IN LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA,
SHE WEARS BLACK TRUNKS
AND WEIGHS IN AT 136 POUNDS.
SHE IS UNDEFEATED
IN 8 PROFESSIONAL BOUTS
WITH 7 WINS
COMING BY WAY OF KNOCKOUT.
HERE IS LUCIA RIJKER!
[ CHEERING ]
[ BELL DINGS ]
-I DID NOT KNOW
WHAT TO EXPECT AT ALL.
I REMEMBER
GETTING HIT ON MY EAR.
I SAW EVERYTHING IN SLOW MOTION.
AND I THOUGHT,
“OKAY, YOU LOST YOUR HEARING,
“BUT YOU STILL HAVE YOUR EYES,
SO JUST —
YOU KNOW,
YOU DON’T NEED YOUR EARS.”
[ BELL DINGS ]
[ VOICE SLOW, MUFFLED ]
-YOU HEAR ME?
[ VOICE SLOW, MUFFLED ]
-ALL RIGHT, LUC?
YOU HEARING ME?
[ VOICE SLOW, MUFFLED ]
-PART OF ME SAID,
“YOU’RE ON YOUR OWN NOW.
“AND THAT’S GOOD.
YOU KNOW WHAT TO DO.
IT’S YOU AND YOURSELF,
AND YOU GOT TO DO IT.”
[ BELL DINGS ]
THE OPPONENT COULD BE SOMETHING
IN LIFE THAT YOU’RE AFRAID OF.
PEOPLE HAVE MANY FEARS IN LIFE.
AND I FACE THEM
THROUGH FIGHTING.
[ CHEERING ]
WHEN I HAVE TO, I CAN DRAW
FROM THIS POWER WITHIN ME.
I CAN GO THERE
‘CAUSE I’VE BEEN THERE.
THERE’S THIS STRENGTH
INSIDE EVERYONE.
I WENT THERE
‘CAUSE I HAD TO GO THERE.
-THE NEW WIBF SUPER LIGHTWEIGHT
CHAMPION OF THE WORLD,
LUCIA RIJKER!
[ CHEERING ]
-I REALLY GO WITHIN,
FIND MY STRENGTH.
THERE’S NOTHING
THAT CAN STOP ME.
♪ IT’S ALL ABOUT LOVE ♪
♪ IT’S ALL ABOUT LOVE ♪
♪ IT’S ALL ABOUT LOVE ♪
♪ IT’S ALL ABOUT LOVE ♪
♪ IT’S ALL ABOUT LOVE ♪
[ MUSIC PLAYING ]
[ MUSIC CONTINUES ]
[ MUSIC CONTINUES ]
[ MUSIC CONTINUES ]