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(JULY 20) Las Vegas - Superstar Lucia Rijker is injured, sustaining a
ruptured Achilles tendon while training and as a result Top Rank's 'Million
Dollar Lady' championship boxing card at the Mandalay Bay Events Center on
July 30 is off.
Bob Arum of Top Rank made the announcement today.
Rijker, wearing a soft cast and on crutches today, is scheduled for surgery
with famed sports orthopedic surgeon Dr. Tony Daly in Los Angeles on
Thursday.
Rijker was scheduled to take on Christy Martin to headline the 'Million
Dollar Lady' championship event at the Mandalay Bay Events Center on July
30.
However, while training yesterday, Rijker told her handlers she heard a
'loud popping sound' and felt a sharp pain.
Rijker, born in Amsterdam, has a professional record of 17-0 with 14
knockouts. Martin has a record of 46-3-2 with 21 knockouts. She lives and
trains in Orlando, Fla.
The Review Journal in Las Vegas reported,
"Boxing won't have its first "Million Dollar Lady" after all. At least not
in the near future. The July 30 fight between Lucia Rijker and Christy
Martin at Mandalay Bay, in which the winner would have received $1 million,
was canceled Wednesday after Rijker sustained a ruptured left Achilles'
tendon during training. Rijker, a 37-year-old native of Amsterdam,
Netherlands, suffered the injury Tuesday night at the Top Rank Gym. She
underwent an MRI exam on Wednesday, and the Showtime pay-per-view card was
canceled later in the day. Dr. Tony Daly, one of the nation's leading sports
orthopedic surgeons, will repair the tendon today in Los Angeles. Rijker,
17-0 with 14 knockouts, is expected to be sidelined at least four months."
Reaction from promoter Bob Arum of Top Rank: "This just comes as a
real shock. I'm sorry for the ladies. They both worked really hard."
Martin's Reaction: "I have fought everybody. Who has she fought? I
still can't believe it. It's a bad dream."
Martin was wondering if Rijker was bailing out of the fight, and wondered
about the validity of the injury.
According to the Review Journal, they apparently tried to contact Rijker,
but she did not return a phone call seeking comment.
The reported purse: Both boxers would have a guaranteed of $250,000 and the
winner another $750,000."
Comment from WBAN - 2012: It is
unfortunate in retrospect that this fight could not be made years and years
before when the iron was hot. Despite the massive media coverage and
banners, etc on websites, the tickets sales were reported to be dismal.
This could possibly have been one reason that after Rijker healed up that
the fight was never again put on the table...
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