By Andy Rivera
When the super-fight between Christy Martin and Lucia Rijker was canceled, Martin was disappointed that she wouldn't get a chance to win the Million Dollar match-up, as well as finally fight the woman whom she says “doesn't really want to fight her”. Rijker tore her tendon in her leg a week before the fight.
Martin received a call from New Mexico Promoter Lenny Fresquez asking her is she would be willing to come to Albuquerque to battle Holly Holm. Martin was surprised, considering that Holm has had only 13 professional fights compared to her 51 fight career. Martin excepted the offer and this Friday she will battle Holm.
Martin has nothing more to prove in boxing, but still has the fire to continue in order to reach a goal of 50 wins. Martin says that once she reaches 50 wins, she will see what happens from there.
Although her dream fight was cancelled and is rumored to be rescheduled, Martin says it may never happen.
"We have tried many times to get a fight with Rijker, but it never comes through." Stated Martin " When I was with Don King, we had her in the office many times to set up a fight but it never came through, I don't think she really wants to fight anymore".
When the question comes up about how long Martin will continue boxing, she feels she still has a lot left, having taken two years off before stepping back into the ring earlier this year. Martin felt the time off rejuvenated her.
"The time off after I fought Laila Ali did me some good, I got to take some time rest a little and then we were ready to take on Rijker, I was in great shape, I spared over 200 rounds and was looking better each time out. Then the fight got cancelled so it was pretty discouraging."
It didn't take long for Martin to get a call for another fight, as Fresquez called her to see if she wanted to take on Holm.
Holm has a 10-1-2 record, and is New Mexico's biggest female boxing draw, is taking the biggest step in her career by taking on Martin, who has more experience then Holm by leaps and bounds. In fact, the word "leap" is a word that seemed to light more fire to Martin.
At the press conference to announce the fight, Holm's trainer Mike Winkeljohn made a comment that Martin hasn't forgotten.
"Her trainer said she was going to leap over me and move on to bigger things, I haven't forgot that and can't keep it out of my head." says Martin "I want to hurt her real bad for that, I will hit her with no respect, she can thank her trainer for the beating she's going to get."
Martin, who arrived in Albuquerque this week to prepare for this Friday's fight, was told by people when she took the fight, "Don't go to New Mexico, the judges aren't fair and she will have a huge crowd for her." Martin has no worries, in fact when asked about the issues that were brought to her attention, she said she'll have her fans there as well.
"People will be surprised that there will be a lot of Christy Martin fans at the fight, not just people there for Holly."
Martin's popularity was obvious on Tuesday, as a crowd of about 50 waited for her to train at former Holm opponent and professional boxer Stephanie Jaramillo's gym. They cheered Martin on during the training session.
" We want to get to 50 wins and see what happens, once we do that, I could walk away but like I said, I am in great shape and there is still a lot of business I need to take care of in the ring."
Once Martin calls it a career, she plans to still be involved in boxing. In fact she is managing three fighters, Super-Middleweight Roland Bryant who is 12-0, Baklin Medrano, 9-2-1 and Juan Perez, but first she has Holm to deal with.
"I have not seen much on her, except her being tall and left handed, but she has never, ever faced anything close to the fighters I have faced in my career, that will make a huge difference, the is no substitute for experience, home crowd or not. I can't see her winning at all, in fact I said recently that I'm coming for her to take over I meant it."
Husband and trainer, Jim Martin, said that they like Albuquerque so much, they are actually looking to possibly buy a house in the city.
"The city is beautiful and the people here have been great to us, hopefully they wont be to upset when Christy beats their hometown fighter.
