(JAN 25) My
thoughts go back 15 years in time when I first set my feet on
American soil. I was excited and looked forward to a career as a
professional boxer. Little did I know that there was no women’s
boxing going on at the time. The few women boxers from the 70’s and
80’s had retired. I called all the athletic commissioners in all the
states in the country to research. I found two female boxers. One in
Florida called Christy (Martin) that back then used her maiden name,
but at the time was two weight classes lower than I was. The other
women boxer I found was Chris Kreuz in Chicago, she was also in a
lighter weight class (these two ended up fighting each other years
later in Las Vegas).
Back in Norway
where I am from, I remembering watching tapes of Benny the Jet
and his sister Lilly Rodriguez. She was the first women boxer I ever
saw, and I remember she was wearing a green T-shirt. I don’t
remember who she was fighting, but she was something else, WOW! I
was so impressed, and this inspired me even more to continuing my
own boxing.
When I arrived in
LA, I knew I had to look up their gym. I did not know anyone in the
US and I went to different boxing gyms in LA by myself, and people
just looked at me like I was crazy that wanted to box, and I did not
feel welcome as a woman. I finally found the “Jet Center” in Van
Nuys and met my heroes Benny Urquidez and his sister Lilly
Rodriguez. They all welcomed me with open arms, and I felt at home
right away. I moved to an apartment one block from the gym and spent
hours there every day. I will forever remember that first year I
spent there in the US and the great gym team I meet like Hershel
Jacobs (Jake) my trainer who “adopted” me, Blinky Rodriguez,
Thunderwolf, Stan Ward and I sparred with Pete “Sugarfoot”
Cunningham, big Alex, O’Kane and many, many more. Because of Lilly’s
brothers international fame their gym was always packed with top
fighter from the whole world. Lilly always had good advises to give
and was very helpful in so many ways.
Last week I met
with my friend and former trainer Emanuel Steward, and he started to
talk about women boxing and I felt tears come down my cheek. I told
him about Lilly and how she had inspired me and so many others
fighters from all over the world, and that she will always be my
favorite nr.1 woman boxer. In your lifetime there is a few people
that will stick to your memory “forever”. Lilly is one I will always
remember. Not only because she was a great fighter, but because the
goodness of her “heart” and her willingness to help and
care for others that needed her help. She had so much knowledge
and so much to give.
It is not
always about what we can achieve for us self in this world such as,
success, material things, fame, and money. Sometimes God have a
different plan for us and put us in a position that we might do
greater things with helping others. In my heart I believe Lilly
Rodriguez was one of these special people and she did it all to the
fullest. I wish for a peaceful journey to
whatever plans our lord has for her next. THANKS LILLY!!!
Helga Risoy
