Posted by Simguy on 2/18/2001, 1:24 pm

Before: Important contest for Landry—she’s beaten almost every second tier light an d welterweight around, but faltered badly when stepping up in class. Marceau happy to ladle on the pressure—fight’s in Paris, Sophie a dominant welter champ, and she cattily works Ali’s psyche in pre-fight sessions, worming away at the brunette’s nerves and confidence. Al I gold bikini, Sophie in black push up, black bikini bottoms.

During R1: Landry coming out tall, ,pageant boxing with an educated jab, right hand tight at her cheek, Marceau bending side to side at the waist, quickly gets the timing down, dipping under the stick, coming back with a swatting right across the jugs, dipping to the other side, swatting a left across the teeth. Marceau using a graceful pivot to the right, bodying up briefly to turn her girl, then whacking Landry a right hook on the way out. Hands low for Marceau—she’s making it look easy early.

R2: Shutout Sophie Marceau. Landry stiffening up getting tight—hands high—she pumps out jabs then stands there as Marceau slips and counters with slinging hacks to the sides and head. Sophie with that sweet step in , pivot , hook out is bamboozling Ali—Landry just turning and taking doesn’t seem able to answer. Down the stretch, vintage Marceau as she fights off Landry’s left shoulder, practically bodying up, turning Landry to her left and continually drifting the left hand across the brunette’s jaw from weird angles, Ali stumbling, taking, legs give way as Marceau steps and punches, steps and punches. At the bell—Landry comes away cut over that left eye—corner going to work and pleading with Ali to go to the body.

R3: Marceau back on top early, getting control of Ali’s left arm, turning her counterclockwise and scraping, poking that left hand in on the chin. Midway through, Landry asserts her strength, shifts focus and goes downstairs, CRUNCHING body work bunches Sophie up onto her toes—Landry rolling her shoulders, getting her legs in behind mammoth heaves to the ribs and belly and MARCEAU GOES DOWN! Sophie shellshocked, can’t take the pounding and seems stunned to have gone down! Marceau up at 8—Ali charging back in with a straight right to the ribs that sends shockwaves through Marceau’s body. Sophie sinking to the ropes—crowd moaning as Landry concentrates on withering body shots from the outside, diving in on Marceau’s midsection with straight right hands, then pulling away with heartless left hooks, Marceau’s HURT! She sits ropeside, covered up with her elbows in, desperately trying to survive as Landry pours it  on. Wailing blasts jam in behind the elbows or skid across the slick lower back as Marceau folds forward—Landry standing tall and just helping herself, AND MARCEAU GOES DOWN! AND SOPHIE CAN’T BEAT THE COUNT! Marceau on her haunches, cradling a shattered body, trembles as Ali leaps around the ring a shocking KO3 victor!

After: Sudden collapse brings to an end of boxing’s most dynastic title reigns—HBO’s darling ripping the belt from the rebellious French girl’s waist and bringing it back to the States “where it belongs” to quote Ali. Thunderous body shots simply shut Marceau down, Ali making a nice adjustment when the boxing approach just wasn’t working. Sky appears to be the limit for the most marketable brunette in boxing—with a belt, Ali can get any fight she wants, and after this performance, might be favoured against just about anybody out there.

Reposted by Archer 9/21/09.