Born Lucia Frederica Rijker on December 6, 1967 in Amsterdam, Netherlands.
A championship martial artist, Rijker posted a 37-0 kickboxing record before moving to Los Angeles in 1994 to pursue a career in boxing and made her pro debut in 1996. In the following eight years she went undefeated, posting a 17-0 (14 KOs) record. She initially honed her craft at the Ten Goose Boxing Club in 1995 under the watchful eye of Joe Goossen. Soon after turning pro, she switched to trainer Freddie Roach and signed a promotional contract with Bob Arum’s Top Rank. With strong skills and ring savvy, the 5’6 ½ ” Rijker captured the WIBF super lightweight title in 1997 and the IBO super lightweight title in 1998. The first licensed female boxer in her home country, she scored wins over Chevelle Hallback, Andrea DeShong and Jane Couch among others. In 2005, she portrayed “Billie The Blue Bear” in the Academy Award winning motion picture Million Dollar Baby, starring alongside Hilary Swank, Morgan Freeman and Clint Eastwood. A proposed super-fight with Christy Martin was scheduled in 2005 but was cancelled due to an Achilles tendon injury.
Rijker, who also trained with Emanuel Steward at the Kronk Gym, last fought in 2004 but has remained in the sport as a trainer, guiding Diana Prazak to a WBC world title.
Born: Dec. 6, 1967
Bouts: 17
Won: 17
Lost: 0
KOs: 14
Induction: 2020
Lucia Rijker
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