Posted by simguy on 2/18/2005

Before: "I shouldn't have to fight this fight," sniffs Jolene in prefight. "I've already proven myself to be head and shoulders above Neve - but Kaley's scared and I don't blame her for trying to wear me down. Won't work - I'll annihilate Neve before I take any punishment - but I guess I can't blame Kaley for trying." Campbell resolute, knows she has a tough style match up in front of her and she's eager to take the test. "What Jolene did to me the first time around was no fluke," Campbell admits, "I didn't realize how hard she could crack with the right hand and I walked into her power. I'm a better fighter now, smarter, stronger - I don't have to be able to 'take' Jolene's punch because she's not going to get the opportunities she's used to. Inside, Jolene's an ordinary fighter and I'll take her apart. I'll be that much sharper for Cuoco and I can't wait to end this little charade of hers for good and all." Neve in cerulean blue bikini, Jolene in evergreen sport bikini, bra strap top, messy blonde tousle. Queen Kaley ringside, chatty, enjoying herself, getting a good close look at two top contenders.

During R1: Jolene right hand coiled, left low, pawing the up jab from her hip, right foot back as she measures Neve for the cross. Campbell chin tucked behind left shoulder, left hand at temple, left elbow in tight as she can get it, right hand at her cheek - she's stepping forward with a jarring jab, always bringing that left back quick to her skull, bending at the waist bobbing her head. After a minute, Campbell's systematically closed the gap, able to rap a right hand hard off Jolene's ribs, get into her tummy hooks and fight off Blalock's chest. Final minute - Neve all over Jolene at the ropes: Campbell poking and prodding stubby jabs to bend Blalock over top strand, ripping rights to the ribs, clubbing hooks up and down the right flank, then laying in thick to smother receipts. Jolene bullied, mauled, looks ordinary indeed with Neve camped out in her trunks.

R2: Blalock operating at midring, stooping to paw a lazy backhand jab into Neve's body, just easing her outside, trying to get distance for slinging rights. Neve covered up tight, not advancing as effectively, but seeing everything well - when Jolene's right DOES come, Campbell rolls to her right, riding it out, staying low to get under Jolene's mop-up winging hook. Cat and mouse - Neve out at the end of Blalock's punch but not getting tagged flush - Jolene controlling matters with her legs, menacing if not actually harming Neve in a tactical second.

R3: Neve using that stubby stepping jab to grand effect - good stiff poke to chest and face driving Blalock back - Campbell able to square away and operate on the ropes. Neve systematic, brutal, uncompromising - her fists bash away at Jolene's muscular arms, hammer at ribs beneath the breastline, dig up waist. Pushing on Jolene and jostling her, Neve's able to get close, shoulder-shrugging lefts and rights into Blalock's bulging jugs - Jolene pouting, reaching round Neve's shoulders to clinch, doesn't like it one bit. Ref issuing breaks, pushing Neve back, but Campbell just stepping back in behind that crunching jab, getting her head on Jolene and smearing away. Bell to bell Neve - maybe her best round of boxing ever against Blalock, sends blonde to her corner wincing in complaint.

R4: Jolene back at midring, putting a little mustard on that lazy jab, snapping it out from her hip, getting a little respect lion-tamer style. Neve brushed back outside from several near misses as Jolene utilizes counter-right uppercuts to abort Campbell's rushes - crowd hissing through collective teeth as Jolene's fist makes grazing contact. JB starting to walk Neve down a little bit - Campbell unable to come forward effectively, having trouble negotiating range this round.

R5: Harsh, stinging jab from Jolene - starting to spank away to eyes and chin, marking Neve up. Campbell still doing a good job rolling away from the right cross, but Blalock's licking hook finding the ribcage and shoulder - blonde rocking back and forth on widespread legs, starting to get a nice lick n' lash rhythm going. Neve not shutout - countering underneath to land some hellish left hooks against Blalocks' ribcage, but it's all spot-work. Jolene boxing smart, dictating range, takes the fifth.

R6: Jolene stooping, backhanding that jab against Neve, then stinging her up top, just spacing Campbell out - nice leisurely pace. Neve dipping side to side, steps in and GETS CAUGHT! Blalock finally gets the timing, bends into a crashing right on the chin, ringing up Campbell's backside as Neve stagger-stomps in fence post holes. Campbell gritting her teeth, fists tight at her temples - she clatters forward as JB steps back in good order - Blalock striping lefts and rights in bright licks across the ribs and tummy, sidestepping to let Neve topple face first into the ropes. Gut check Neve: she covers up grim at the ropes, legs shot - Jolene setting up wide, going at Campbell with licking hooks underneath, searing right hands over top, clipping right uppercuts. Neve bobbing, bending, riding it out - she survives to the bell, doing a good job of taking her chin off the table as Blalock can't finish. During the break, camera cuts to Kaley: animated, pointing into the ring as she talks over what she's just seen, really into the fight.

R7: Jolene easing back, stalling Neve with jabs - she RINGS a counter-right uppercut off Campbell's chin as Neve leans forward, unhinging brunette knees once again. Blalock shifting weight, now pulling the right over top to Neve's ear, arching back to strap left hook across struggling tummy - poor Campbell covered up shellshocked, quivering midring, shipping serious shellack. Neve rides it out though, bobbing, making Jolene miss long strokes - brunette able to hook-off-the-slip and score to Blalock's available jaw. Blalock backing off, scowling with concentration - she steps left, working Neve with jabs, running the clock as Campbell once again thwarts the finish.

R8: Neve's chin, stubborness has Jolene a little tentative - blonde's landing some stunning right hands and Campbell's still around. Neve able to step forward, chop her stubby jab, work in close with bashing rights to body, and fight off Jolene's chest. Blalock laying in there this round, bumping shoulders with Neve, fighting Neve's fight. Campbell steadily gets the better of it, pounding away on Jolene's biceps, bouncing mitt off flat, hard abs, backing blonde up. Blalock with a flashy, supple Derrick Gainer style punch inside, but lacks stopping power - she can't handle solid Neve on this turf.

R9: JOLENE'S RIGHT HAND! JB sliding back, coaxing Neve forward, then bending into a go-home cross that flattens Campbell's head to her shoulder. Neve rung up, tip-toeing forward - Jolene pivots left, slinging away sidearm rights and lefts, belting Campbell pell-mell into the ropes. Neve covered up tight, bobbing and weaving - reaching for Jolene's hips and clinching for breaks. Smart, savvy survival mode - Neve badly hurt, but stringing out the punishment - by the final minute she's hooking-with and scoring to Blalock's breasts, backing willowy blonde off yet again. Jolene safe past a certain distance, runs clock, shaking her head in frustration en route to her corner.

R10: Jolene jabs up top, arches her back and levers a cranking hook to paunch: Neve walking right through those pretty punches now and attacking to Jolene's body. Campbell able to lean in close and get short, straight right hands against Blalock's ribs, pounding the heart, backing Blalock up - by the second minute she's fighting off Jolene's chest at the ropes. Girls laying in head to head, Neve bashing away arms, chest and tummy - Blalock buffetted, riding it out, then licking and lashing hooks, uppercuts in supple response. Campbell can't be outworked or discouraged inside - she punishes Jolene to the bell - ref tugging girls apart as neither wants to leave the other alone. Comes back UD10 close - Jolene Blalock!

After: Neve stone-faced as ref hoists Jolene's hand high in victory: Campbell's eyes busted up - she paid the price to get what she wanted, just didn't get it often enough. Jolene negotiating distance with Neve over the first half, but owning the canvas in the middle rounds just piled up the minutes - she advances to an intriguing all-blonde title bout with Queen Kaley.