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The
fight between Lucia Rijker and Marcela Acuna had a very familiar ring to it, and I
not talking about a boxing ring. Just when I thought that women boxing was making
headway---in this fight and Acuna's last fight with Martin, I see some
similarities that emulate the the 70’s. [photo: by Mary
Ann Owen] When
have you seen a top male contender, pound for pound "one of the best", fight an opponent, that has never had one professional boxing
match? But then see the "green horn" lose that bout, and immediately
get matched up with an opponent that is known to be the "best of the best"?
Well, that’s what happened in women’s boxing when Marcela
Acuna, first fighting her
debut against Christy Martin and losing that bout.
Then being thrown into the fire pit with her next opponent, Lucia
Rijker, that most people would agree
would wipe Martin off the canvas. She was KO'd in the 5th round.
Acuna didn’t have a chance.
Who is the
"great one" that decided to take such a young and talented fighter as
Acuna, and
stack the odds against her early in her career. People say, well, Acuna
was a kickboxer who was 17-1-1 in Argentina. Well, wake up folks, this
is boxing. Boxing with the very best competition that the sport has to
offer. I remember all too well,
when my newly found manager booked me with the very best fighter in the 70’s for my
debut. The only difference is I didn’t know who I was being matched up against.
I can still recall how I kept trying to keep from reverting back to my karate moves.
I had to concentrate, to just keep from kicking, as my opponent drilled me into the
ropes.
Acuna, in the 90’s has as much in common with
me when I fought in the 70’s, in that we both started our early boxing careers
fighting the very best. Her nemesis was Martin and Rijker, mine was
Theresa Kibby.
So where does Acuna go from here?
I
have no doubt that she will possess and rightfully earn a World title down the
road. But, the cards have been stacked against her. What will she do now, when she rematches with them? How many opponents did she pass up
that could have helped season her enough to compete with Martin or
Rijker.
It’s like she was dealt four aces, and exposed her hand before placing a bet. There
would have been many opponents that she could have been matched up against, if she had
played her hand more carefully.
Acuna now possesses a 0-2 record.
I also began my
career with a 0-2 record. It’s not a good feeling. Especially
when in actuality, it’s not bad if people know WHO you fought. But down
the road, when it is all forgotten, and believe me I now know that we can ALL be
forgotten. The fighter who decides to start a boxing career with fighting the best,
will more than likely have deep regrets later down the road.
I wonder how she will feel when stepping into the ring
her third time out. I remember what thoughts ran through my
mind. I remember thinking that I was going to quit, if I
experienced one more loss. My ego could not take a 0-3 record. They will now have to
inevitably match Acuna with someone that they know she can defeat----just to initiate
damage control they have already done to her fighting career. |
