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No TV, No St. John Against Rijker
By David A. Avila (May 25, 2003)
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It could have been a blockbuster fight card for women’s boxing with three of the best-known women on the same fight card. But it’s not going to happen. Mia Rosales-St. John was just a signature away from fighting Lucia Rijker in what would have been a head turning match up on the June 21 fight card at the Staples Center in Los Angeles. The main event will feature Lennox Lewis defending his WBC title against Kirk Johnson.
Rosales-St. John said no, but not for the reasons you may think.
“They didn’t want to give me the money and they didn’t want to put the fight on television,” said Rosales-St. John (27-3-1, 13 KOs). “It just wasn’t a good deal.”
Rosales-St. John was offered $30,000 to fight Rijker (15-0, 14 KOs), who many consider one of the top female fighters in the world. The fight would not have been televised at all.
“It was going to be the undercard of the undercard,” Rosales-St. John said.
Currently, only Laila Ali will fight on the Staples Center card which is banking on her considerable appeal to draw fans to the fight. But just like Mia, Ali’s fight will not be televised.
“I will gladly fight Lucia Rijker on another network. HBO doesn’t air women boxing which is discrimination. I don’t need to fight on the HBO card,” said Rosales-St. John, who is coming off a large gate attraction against Jennifer Alcorn that drew more than 7,000 people at Selland Arena promoted by George Chung Promotions in Fresno last month. “It wasn’t a good deal and I don’t think the money is all that great. They wanted somebody that could sell the fight to the Spanish media.”
Three fights ago, the pretty brunette fought Christy “Coal Miner’s Daughter” Martin in an entertaining 10-round fight. Rosales-St. John made $150,000 for that fight shown on pay-per-view.
“I’ll still fight Lucia Rijker but we can get a better deal that doesn’t discriminate, if she wants to fight on ESPN for the same amount of money or on any network that will show women,” Rosales-St. John said.
Ali (14-0, 11 KOs), who is considered by many the top female fighter, will be fighting on the under card against Valerie Mahfood (13-5). Despite Ali’s numerous fans and fan appeal, her bout will not be televised by HBO.
“It doesn’t make sense,” said Johnny McClain, husband and manager of Ali. “Fans like to watch women fight.”
Rijker, who has not fought in more than a year, would have made a decent payday, but the proposed fight against Rosales-St. John would have been a waste of a marquee fight at a small price. Plus, it would not have received any exposure. Attempts to reach Rijker were unsuccessful.
Rosales-St. John said her next bout will be on July 11 on ESPN.
“Me and Lucia can still fight,” Rosales-St. John said. “I’d love to fight her, but we deserve more money and more exposure for a fight like this.”
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