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DON:
Hi, you are a true women's boxing champion. Someone
building a legacy. I feel like you came from another
Planet though. You don't look like a lesbian or a tom
boy. What gives?
BRIDGETT: Yeah, some of my opponents have had that buzz
hairdo, chewing tobacco in the back pocket, deep voices,
were flannel shirt wearing, held lifetime subscriptions
to Playboy, were male bashing.... NOT THAT THERE'S ANYTHING
WRONG WITH THAT.... To each their own, and I'm
not mad at em. Smiles, but come on, it's a lose
lose situation. Women who are a bit on the "rugged"
side, get slammed and don't promote us well. Women who
are on the "pretty girl" side get reamed too but even
so, it's not about being pretty. It's about being a
woman. I like being a GIRL, and having said
that, I like just as much, knocking my opponents
OUT. I just happen to be a competitor. But all woman.
DON:
I hear you loud and clear. It's not about appearance
as in what you are born with, it's about class and having
a dime's worth of manners. Let's not forget that in
July this year you were ranked number 2 in the World.
So you're no pushover. What supplements or product lines
do you use or who are you signed with?
BRIDGETT: Products I use.... TONS of makeup products.
Laughs. I LOVE makeup. I love clothes too. Too
many to name, I'm bad! The top hair products are all
I use. Equipment, I like Nike, Adidas, and Fila.
But I prefer Reyes boxing gloves. They rock Don!
Supplements? I did an Iron Man Twin Lab commercial once.
Cha - ching. I need more of those babies. :)
Met-rx bars? (I know you hate them) but the Java Chip
is yummie. I need a sponsor so I can get a GRIP
on a bunch of bars! Several other supplements are on
my hot list, like amino acids, minerals, fatty acids
and vitamins which are all a big part of my nutrition.
I'm not signed with any one at the moment obviously,
and I'm looking to change that... pronto. Smiles.
DON:
Metrx blows and if you read my article on fake sugars
you'd never eat them. If they taste like candy and you're
cheating, THEY ARE CANDY! Laughs. Total junk. I will
spread the word for endorsements. Tell me.... Today's
diet was.....
BRIDGETT: Today's diet... Oatmeal for breakfast. Home
made chicken vegetable soup later and yogurt for lunch.
Chicken and veggies for dinner. Fruit to snack on at
some point. BORING? No not really it's not so
bad. I use spices and I feel good about myself.
DON:
Most people do not realize that diet has a lot of variables
in it. You can rearrange cereals, have eggs instead,
different meats, veggies, etc., so.... Your typical
exercise routine is.... What? And how does that differ
when traveling?
BRIDGETT: Typical exercise for Bridgett is... Road work
(running) w/ my boxing team at 6:30 am - (2 to 6) days
a week. And we go anywhere from 2 to 6 miles per
session too. It varies as does the duration
and endurance requirements of a boxing fight changes
from round to round. My boxing training is 3 to 6 days
a week. And my weight training is 2 to 3 days a week
up until a couple weeks before any scheduled fight.
When traveling, I try to run as much as I can if I cant
get to a gym.
DON:
Its not everyday you get to escape work and have a relaxing
experience then. But honestly I think most people believe
you spent 8 hours a day everyday training. But you do
not. What do you do to relax?
BRIDGETT: To relax... I love going to the movies.
I like saunas, hot tubs, and massages - BIG TIME.
SUPER SIZE that on massage. I like lighting a bunch
of candles, listening to my music and just kicking
back. Oh. To really let loose.... Play Station's Tomb
Raider! That's good!
DON:
Music? What kind? Last CD Bought and last concert saw?
BRIDGETT: Nothing relaxing! The last CD I
bought was Methods of Mayhem with Tommy Lee from Motley
Crue. That cut, "Get Naked" Is off the hook!! The last
concert I was at ... wow ... let me think here...
Many many moons ago when I was in Sidney, Australia
filming the Mighty Morphin Power Rangers Movie. (That's
a mouthful to say.) We saw BOYS 2 MEN. They
were great!
DON:
I am friends with Jason David Frank. The former 'leader'
of the Power Rangers. Tell me something funny about
him and more about how you were involved with the movie
in OZ!
BRIDGETT: Something funny about Jason David Frank...
Jason is just plain funny. He had me busting up
laughing all the time! He was really eager to work w/
the stunt team and try new things too, and he always
just 'went' for it, and gave 100% while trying.
Jason's cool people. I was involved w/ the movie mainly
to do gymnastics, stunts, and fighting as the Yellow
Power Ranger. But I also worked as one of the purple
"OOZE" bad guys. I was a bird too.
DON:
What?
BRIDGETT: Hey there's no shame in my game! We actually
had a lesson on proper squawking and how to move more
... Ummm... birdlike. This was like freakin comedy central
at its best. I squawked w/ the best of em Don!
I filed this one under: Due paying. I even doubled the
"jungle woman" who taught skills to the Rangers.
It was a great experience and I learned a lot about
many things on this film.
DON:
Speaking of films, what was the last movie you rented
and the last you went to see....
BRIDGETT: I really don't rent movies anymore because
I have that satellite gizmo that gets all the PPV movies.
The last one I saw there was... BIG DADDY... I NOW am
an Adam Sandler fan. I wasn't before but I liked it
a lot. The last movie I saw in a theater was... YIKES,
I can't remember. It has been a while because
I am in training and in bed early. I read though, does
that count?
DON:
YES actually. Name the last book you read and if you
had one too many books in your library, who would be
the most predominant writer in your collection?
BRIDGETT: The last book I read, I am still reading
is... Into The Garden. I read ALL V. C.
Andrews books. I'm hopelessly devoted!
DON:
It's a funny mix of boyish traits but total feminism
you have. Interesting. I liked how we started this off
with the differences between you and other or at least
some of the other boxers. You think women's boxing is
losing it's spark or is it gaining it's edge because....
BRIDGETT: I think women's boxing is losing it's
spark because promoters won't give SEVERAL of us that
DESERVE it... TV. We need to be seen.
DON:
EXPOSURE huh? What's the solution?
BRIDGETT: We need MORE women fighting on
televised cards. Not just one or two, but MANY
more. This must happen. It's the only way to educate
the general public. There are VERY talented female fighters
out there who are being kept hidden. IT REALLY
STINKS. I am fighting outside the ring as much
as I am inside there to remedy this disease!
DON:
Speaking of disease, do you have brain damage? I wouldn't
want to fight for a living no matter how good I was!
When people meet you, what is the one thing you are
asked the most besides "Can I take a picture or get
an autograph"?
BRIDGETT: I am asked repetitively... WHY DO YOU
WANT TO BOX AND MESS UP THAT FACE? I wish I had a dollar
for every time I heard that one.
DON:
It's a definite compliment. I saw how people looked
at you when we were at the convention in November. I
had to remind them you were a fighter. Funny huh? And,
you must be good, I haven't noticed any scars. What
one thing makes you cringe? Not necessarily in boxing.
But it could be....
BRIDGETT: I will be frank ... One thing that really
makes me cringe in the most cringiest of ways of cringing...
It is when a woman does not get the same opportunity
to display her talent let alone receive equal compensation
for that talent as a man... Especially when she excels
and if she works just as hard, if not harder because
of the same facts... There is an awful lot to prove
it seems. Having said that... I'm not bitter. They are
facts. It's frustrating. But it's what we do in the
face of challenge that makes us leaders isn't it? I'm
just going to keep working my booty off and make positive
change.
DON:
I think you already have just with this interview. In
twenty years, where do you see yourself?
BRIDGETT: In 20 years.... I see myself... God
willing... HAPPY. And, oh, and HEALTHY and definitely
REGRETTING NOTHING!
DON:
I love your views on this sport and I can't get enough...
In men's boxing we have what? And in women's boxing,
we have what else?
BRIDGETT: In men's boxing we have... Many televised
cards. Many many many more athletes, period,
in that 'half' of the sport. They have much bigger
pay days. Are better organized (if I can seriously
use the word 'organized' in the sport of boxing). THE
OLYMPICS. The men have the Olympics. In women's boxing
we have... ACTION ACTION and a little more ACTION. Fighters
trying to prove themselves. I see women athlete's becoming
more and more skilled at their craft. Limited exposure
in a consistent manner pertaining to televised
fights on male cards is tough, but it's ok. At least
we know who is doing it for the love of the game don't
we?
DON:
What do you think of Muhammad Ali's daughter fighting
now? Is it all hype?
BRIDGETT: I know Leila and she seems to carry herself
well. We train out of the same gym but at different
times, so I haven't been able to see a whole lot of
her ability. What I have seen, is that she shows
promise. As far as hype, I had heard she made
$50,000 for her FIRST fight. YIKES! Somehow,
I found the strength to not throw myself off a very
tall building. I'll just file this one under:
Life is not fair, deal with it! Laughs, and turn
the page. Not to mention that this girl has serious
NAME POWER, and that goes a LONG way. I do think that
she can bring an enormous amount of attention to female
boxing in a positive manner, and hey, I'm all for that.
I've come to terms that this game and life in general
is not always fair and I cant get caught up in what
others are getting and what I'm not. I will just work
to improve upon myself and keep stepping forward.
I encourage other female athletes to not get discouraged
either by the unfairness of opening up unbelievable
doorways for someone that hasn't earned their stripes.
It's not about being better or worse. It's about working
for it.
DON:
Speaking of exposure. And EARNING that exposure... How
about the Playboy playmate? What's her name? She
now boxes too? What is going on here? A face lift for
Women's Boxing?
BRIDGETT: Exactly. What's her name? That's
funny you do not know her name! OK Here we go.
I know Mia. In person she is so sweet to me that
I get cavities shortly after just walking past her.
She has always been nice to me when we are face to face,
and very humble. I do think she tries. Her promoter
does not approve of female boxing, and I think he backs
up his opinion by placing a fighter of this, less than
amateur ability and level, on TOP TOP HIGH PROFILE fight
cards like he does. Boxing is not what Mia's promoter
is trying to sell. Anyone w/ half a clue can figure
this one out for it does not take a rocket scientist
to see what's going on here. Mia of course is laughing
all the way to the bank.
DON:
You mention earnings a lot. I know your envy comes from
your working so hard so long for so little pay just
to get a title and earn that pay. Then here comes a
puppet for the public to stare at. It's not like Oscar
DeLaHoya who just happens to be a pretty face, like
you are too. These are puppets. It's a 'work' I think
too.
BRIDGETT: I guess you can't blame her, she's raking
it in. This is a manipulation of the sport of boxing
though. She is queen of the four rounds.
Hence the word "four." Why does she not fight
ten rounds? Hmmm... or at least six to eight.
I hope I'm not collecting social security by the time
she would miraculously fight someone who knew how to
throw a punch. I have no clue where they have
found that many opponents that practically fall down
during the stare down but some people have no shame.
Once in a while, yes, a fighter is brought a long, but
NOT every single time and not just to takes a fall as
soon as you step in the ring.
DON:
Funny how now, we do not even hear anything else about
her. Did her publicist give up? Was that her choice?
BRIDGETT: OK, on the Playboy spread... "Spread" - That's
funny - no pun intended. We are all responsible
for the choices we make in life, and I judge NO ONE.
I will leave that up to God. I do take my position
as role model serious and I have a completely
different message I want to send out to our youth and
ladies than Mia and her manager do. I want people
to use their minds and get an education. To work
hard using persistence towards goals. Not trying to
take a short cut, easy routes and that, because when
it's all said and done, there is a price to pay for
selling out. Women who choose to do Playboy, do so because
they want to. When Mia states that she did it
to bring more exposure to women's boxing - to expand
the perception of female fighting... PUH-PLEASE!
Save the drama for your mama. ALL she brought
exposure to was her body, and all she expanded was her
bank account. I'd rather flip fries at McDonald's than
exploit what many many other females have fought tooth
and nail for. And that's all I've got to say about that.
DON:
I personally think because boys in America are told
to defend girls they feel threatened by a self striving
woman. I also think because MORE boys WANT to fight,
it's more profitable to market to a larger customer
base (so to speak). You sound like you are on top of
things though. Confident and feeling good about just
being you. That's a great thing. Self secure. When you
looked your absolute best however, who wrote up your
routine and diet?
BRIDGETT: When I looked my best... My fitness
trainer wrote up the diet and weigh lifting routine.
I wouldn't get by without that portion of the fight
prep. My boxing trainers however were obviously in charge
of my running, sparring, and fight training. I
recently joined up with Javier Capetillo, an amazing
boxing trainer, to really stay on top and get better
at boxing.
DON:
You said no regrets earlier. If you could go back and
redo one thing in life it would be....
BRIDGETT: Hmmm.... If I could go back and redo
one thing in life... I really don't live to regret anything
because I feel it is all part of growth and the process
of becoming a better person. But If I could redo one
thing... I'd have taken Spanish ALL FOUR YEARS OF HIGH
SCHOOL. Laughs. Coming from the Midwest, I had NO idea
I'd EVER need or use Spanish. Now my entire team
are Spanish and I am in dire a crash course!
DON:
Good thing they aren't Canadian so you'd need French
and Spanish living here in LA! Your fight against Lahsen
in 98 was voted fight of the year.... I have to ask.
What the hell made you want to fist fight for a living?
BRIDGETT: Laughing out loud! What the hell made
me want to fist fight for a living? Point blank huh?
Because I'm good at it. And I like being good
at things. Laughs.
DON:
If you had your way......
BRIDGETT: If I had my way... I'd be a female Michael
Jordan with so many endorsement deals that I wouldn't
know what to do with them all and all the little girls
in the world would know who I am and then men would
understand it's ok to be whomever you really are.
DON:
WOW! Ok, I like that. What's your favorite food or meal?
BRIDGETT: My favorite food is PIZZA. Hands down!
It has been 2 years since I've had it though. I like
the idea of the pizza prep you recommend. If I really
eat like that I can't get fat? Amazing. I gave it up
as a sacrifice for my dreams. UGH. Junk food.
It's actually not as difficult as I thought or should
I say convinced myself at first it would be. I do love
Ben and Jerry's Chocolate Fudge Brownie Yogurt. YUM.
I like pasta too but fat free carb meals aren't bad,
right? I like a lot of the bad food that I'm not
allowed to eat any ways. I think that stinks.
I really do. But I don't want fat or ugly or out of
condition for work either.
DON:
Plus it's healthier. It's about health. You can look
good, feel good and BE good if you do it right.
BRIDGETT: Yeah. Plus, when I was a kid I could
eat ANYTHING and EVERYTHING and stay thin. Now it's
a totally different story. I do know I need to
eat healthy to perform and train the way I do. But it's
crazy how as kids we can eat it all. Maybe it's our
activity at that age. It cant possibly be good for us
either way.
DON:
It's not. That's for sure. Ask any fat kid. If you could
change one more thing in this sport it would be....
And even though you've said a lot already... I want
to know also because why.....
BRIDGETT: If I could change one thing in this
sport it would be... ONLY ONE THING... This is tough.
There are SO MANY things that NEED to be changed and
cleaned up in a BIG way.
DON:
Tick, tock, tick, tock, the timer Bridgett....
BRIDGETT: Laughs! SHUT UP! The sport of Boxing
needs a big fat face lift period. It needs uncorrupted
organization. Promoters totally need reality checked
and regulated.
DON:
What did you think I would ask during this interview?
BRIDGETT: I don't know... This was one of the
funniest interviews I've done! That is wicked cool about
all the traffic you get at your site, I am looking forward
to people reading this. SO RIGHT ON!!!! Thank you so
much for taking an interest in me. I truly appreciate
it!
DON:
So. What's next?
BRIDGETT: Well, I may be fighting Jan. 23 in Vegas for
America Presents on Fox Sports. It is not
a done deal yet. I don't believe it until I hear the
bell ring. My fingers are crossed. Tell me when this
is posted! Let me know, por favor. I'm all about Spanish.
Smiles
DON:
Finally (I hate to end this) but finally, your top ten
favorite boxers are:
BRIDGETT: Top 10 of all time... I totally suck at this.
I will say that Sugar Ray Robinson was IT!! WOW. Roberto
Duran was great in his day. As well as Marvelous
Marvin Haglar, Sugar Ray Leonard, Tommy Hearns, Ali,
Rocky Marciano, Jack Dempsey, Willie Pep, Sugar Shane
Mosley, Floyd Mayweather Jr., Ricardo Finito Lopez,
Oscar Delahoya (although that fight w/ Trinidad stunk
the joint out), I like Eric Morales, Roy Jones Jr.,
and there are many many more. I can't place them
in order. I'm sorry I suck at top 10 stuff!
DON:
I guess so. That was 15 not 10! Besides all them, who
is really responsible for you doing what you do?
BRIDGETT: Besides all that, the guys on my team are
the bomb!!! Alejandro Cobra Gonzalez, Isidro Chino Garcia,
Jesse Magana, Salvador Casillas, Marino Gonzalez, and
so I'm in good company, and they all totally help me
rock and roll in that ring!
DON:
Did you ever have a REAL fight with a man and what happened?
BRIDGETT: Did I ever have a real fight with a man? YIKES...
I should probably keep this on the down-low, or at least
in the past where it probably belongs or back in the
midwest region instead of going global on this baby,
but oh well, here goes. I beat the crapola out of my
ex-fiance. It was not pretty. That
day the locks were changed on what used to be "our"
apartment and all of my stuff was left sitting outside.
YIKES. His nose is still how shall I say... not
the same. This happened at a gig he was playing
(he was in a band) in front of a bunch of people too.
I am not proud of this and I don't believe in females
fighting men in sanctioned boxing either. It proves
nothing in my opinion. That would be like me fighting
Johnny Tapia...NOT. Please, a man has a man's
strength. I could spank less qualified men, or
men that weighed less than me, sure, but what the heck
would that prove. I fight women in a professional sport.
That's the way it will remain. Shame on that lady
that fought that midget too. That makes a carnival act
out of what I do for a living. That silly rabbit, tricks
are for kids.
DON:
Why are you doing this? What was the start of your martial
arts and how did it evolve into a profession?
BRIDGETT: Laughs. I like it. It is a part of me. I started
in the martial arts when I was 15 yrs. old. That
is my backbone. I love what it has bestowed in
me. That is my foundation. I am a first
degree black belt in 2 styles and I have an honorary
first degree black belt in a third. I was rated
#1 in forms and kata for years as a junior then as an
adult. I competed from white to black belt.
Those are some of my favorite memories. The martial
arts brought me out of my shell back then. Getting my
black belt was one of my biggest challenges, and I am
proud of that. It lead me to professional kickboxing
and I held 5 titles in that exciting sport before I
branched into boxing. Boxing is where it's at.
DON:
How about a street fight?
BRIDGETT: I don't fight on the street. I avoid
conflict in that arena. I will say this. If someone
would try to hurt someone I love, or me; then I would
fight in a heartbeat. And on the street, anything
goes. I may not start that fight, but I'll certainly
end it.
DON:
Maybe you were born to fight. What cant I be taught
no matter how much I want to learn it?
BRIDGETT: One thing a fighter can't be taught... is
"heart." You either have that or you don't. "Heart"
is probably the biggest thing I have going for me as
a fighter. Oh, and a pretty good chin.