By Sue TL Fox
May 27, 2004
On May 20, 2004, in Amsterdam, Holland, Lucia Rijker of Holland faced United States Sunshine Fettkether in a 10-round non-title bout. Lucia won that fight with an unanimous decision, in front of a sold out crowd of over 15,000! WBAN got an opportunity to talk with Rijker about her fight with Fettkether!
TL Fox: What made you decide to fight Sunshine Fettkether as your next opponent?
Rijker: After Lisa (Holewyne) flaked out of the fight in Holland, and she wanted the Los Angeles (L.A.) fight, my old sponsor in Holland picked Sunshine, and I said ‘yes’ because my mind was with my fight in L.A. and I was glad to have someone who wanted to fight, so I was happy we found a great warrior.
TL Fox: The event was sold out in the Amsterdam Arena where you fought with over 15,000 boxing fans……Did you feel a lot of pressure fighting in your country with so many coming out to see you fight?
Rijker: I was more nervous, than I had been in many years because my old kickboxing fans were there and the last time I fought in Amsterdam, I got KO’d by a male kickboxer. So, yes, there was a lot of pressure.
TL Fox: You had recently experienced an injury just about three or four weeks before your fight with Fettkether, how did that affect you, and your training?
Rijker: I wasn’t able to train for over two weeks, and I only sparred three times because, I had no lateral movement for a while, but I couldn’t let my people down again, so I overcame injury, change of trainers, I basically had three jobs, manager, trainer, and athlete, and it feels good to still be on top.
TL Fox: WBAN was told that when the fight ended on the eighth round, that you thought the fight was over, but that it actually went two more rounds. Were you told that the fight was eight rounds and not ten?
Rijker: Against Lisa (Holewyne), it was going to be a title fight of 10 rounds, but Sinds, the promoter, changed that, and we agreed on eight rounds. After the eighth round, I thought, I was done—but I wasn’t.
TL Fox: Did you prepare to fight Fettkether in Holland, or in the United States?
Rijker: I was injured in the states. I worked three times at Sylvas gym in Ventura, and I had 10 days with a new trainer in Holland.
TL Fox: How much did you know about your opponent before fighting her? Did you ever get an opportunity to see Fettkether fight?
Rijker: I was promised a tape by a friend of mine, but the tape never made it to my apt. So the only thing I knew was from ‘hearsay’, and that was she was strong and after overhearing an interview she gave to the Dutch media, she said she was stronger than ever, and she worked harder than ever, and that she had been training and waiting for this fight for a long time. She also said, that she had a lot of kickboxing experience and I was delighted to hear she was ready and strong and experienced, because I can only gain from fighting a strong opponent and with the little prep and improvising, I did a hell of a job.
TL Fox: Now that you have had two very impressive wins, against Jane Couch, and now against Fettkether…..Where do you go from here?
Rijker: I still want Christy Martin because this is a goal I set out to accomplish and than I will gain 10 pounds to fight Laila, and then I will retire and help other women to be the best they can be.
TL Fox: WBAN has heard that there is a real possibility that you may finally meet up with Martin…..Is this fight in the making for this year?
Rijker: I have been told the same, but, in my 22 year career, I have been told and promised a lot of things, and with Christy still being insecure (out of shape) she might never be ready, but I believe you are ready when you choose to be ready and I have proven that in my last fight, winning is all in your determination. If you want it and if you “believe” you deserve it and if you worked hard for it you will get what’s yours.
TL Fox: Is there anything you would like to talk about that I may not have asked you?
Rijker: I want to thank all the people who believed in me and supported me, when things were not so great, and I want to encourage the amateurs to stay focused for 2008, because after I hang up the gloves, we will go to work to bring in the gold.
WBAN would like to thank Lucia for taking this time to be interviewed!
