Posted by Simguy Friday, 19-May-2000 19:28:06

Before: Both girls respectful but uneasy with the other in pre-fight, winner takes the mythical distinction of “Best Blonde Around” in the yes of many boxing insiders. Different Jeri Ryan this time around—more seasoned, more honed—she enters a 50-50 propositions as Theron coming off tough bouts doesn’t look as dominant as in years past. Charlize in white sports bra, white aerobics bottoms, Ryan in red bandeau bikini.

During R1: Tactical first, both girls pacing themselves, getting a good look. Ryan trying to work off a belly jab with the hook upstairs, Theron using her legs, jabbing to keep Jeri outside, Ryan the aggressor takes the round—girls slap gloves en route to their respective corners.

R2: Jeri getting closer to her girl, sticking the straight left hard into Charlize’s gut then stepping in with the hook to the jaw. Theron breaking down this round, gets a little flat footed as Ryan lands loudly on the chin and midway through the round, Jeri comes out of the crouch with a banging left hook, right cross combination to drape a stunned Theron along the ropes, Hooking Charlize to a corner, Jeri works out of a compact crouch, jabbing her way into Theron’s hips, then coming upstairs with short, jolting lefts and rights. Charlize soaking up heavy leather looks ragged at the bell as Jeri pounds away for a shutout.

R3: Theron answers with her first punch, a lead right hand down the pipe which catches Jeri walking in—Ryan hurt, gives up wide left hooks and short right hands on her face as Charlize beats her across the ring. Remainder of the round fought in a phone booth, Jeri with her back to the ropes staying covered up, snapping counter lefts and rights off as Theron works in and out, trying to get her body behind one right hand to end it. Slugging continues after the bell as neither girl can hear above the crowd noise as the break.

R4: Theron taking over with her jab, spearing it in between Ryan’s gloves and Jeri starts to wait her turn. Charlize stepping around Jeri, long range hooks biting to the rib cage, then stepping in with a short right hand, all body, and Jeri begins to bust up. Left hooks to the body, right hands to the head and Charlize begins to batter Jeri—Ryan just covering up, not moving her head and midway through the round she falters to one knee after eating a popping short right from Charlize, Jeri up at 8, but she’s clearly dazed, and Theron stomps over to finish. Beat down final minute as a hurting Jeri Ryan covers on the ropes, just hunching over and taking as Theron works her ribs and sides with lashing lefts and rights. Charlize nodding at her handiwork as Jeri lolls against the ropes wide eyed at the bell.

R5: Charlize a little unsettled that Ryan makes it out for the fifth, goes back to the stick, shutting out Jeri with ease as she moves left, pops jabs and works Jeri’s eyes this round. Ryan with her gloves at her cheeks, moving her head, but following rather than cutting off the ring and it’s Theron’s easiest round so far.

R6: Theron boxing smart, she leggier and rangier than Jeri and has no trouble outclassing her fellow blonde behind that sticking jab. Ryan moving her hands late in the round, bangs a few good licks off Theron’s rib cage, but Charlize has Ryan’s eyes swelling after several minutes of sustained punishment.

R7: Theron just STAMPING that jab onto Ryan’s face banging back Jeri’s head and moving her off stride with the strong, straight punches. Charlize steering her foe, controlling Jeri and midway through the round she lights Ryan up with a perfect straight right on the teeth, Incredibly, Ryan not only soaks it up, but slugs back, and in the final minute, Jeri hounds Charlize to the ropes, poundings lefts and rights to the body and capping off the flurries with that snapping Louis right hand to the chin. Theron glassy eyed at the bell as both girls looks a little rocky weaving back to their corners.

R8: Difference in the fight: Theron’s jab. With Ryan pressing, Theron retakes control behind that licking left, pounding away and leaving Jeri almost powerless as she bobs at arm’s length. Theron circling, walking Jeri into that short right hand which Charlize strides into, turning her shoulder into the punch and watching with satisfaction as Ryan’s eyes turn muddy. Ryan showing a lot of heart continues to come forward, but she takes a power punching shutout from Theron his round, and Charlize with a saucy bounce tells her corner “she’s mine” during the break.

R9: Jeri Ryan attacks with renewed vigour, taking Charlize by surprise, getting under the jab and coming after Theron’s body with sapping straight right hands. Theron wilts to the ropes, cringing from body shots as Ryan squares up, roughly palming up on Charlize’s arms, then pelting the taller blonde with brisk right crosses. Midway through the round, with Jeri shoving and punching, she props Charlize up and kisses a perfect right off Theron’s chin to put the big girl I trouble. Theron swooning, slides to a corner, grimacing as she pushes her fists out—Ryan banging the straight right hand to the body, coming back with crisp left hook has Charlize dazed, and shutout at the bell.

R10: Jeri going back to the midsection with right hands, dips and ducks as Theron tries to nip at long range—then jumps in to pound Charlize back. That kind of rhythm for most of the round—Charlize flicking out 2 or 3 jabs, Ryan pounding a short right hand to the ribs, and missing the left hook up top as Theron peels away. Final minute, Ryan hounds Charlize to the ropes as Theron looks shot—grabbing for Jeri, pulling her head down as Ryan pounds machine like lefts and rights into Theron’s hips and ribs. Charlize pulling Jeri close, keeps her head cheek to cheek with Jeri, giving up the body as Ryan works away. Final round to Ryan, but the knockdown gives Charlize a slender, unanimous decision.

After: Ryan normally stoic win or lose, but Theron’s hand being raised in victory has Jeri’s eyes welling up. Good tough fight from both women as superbout doesn’t disappoint—Theron’s reach and jab decisive factors I scoring points, turning momentum around whenever Ryan looked to be winning. Charlize back with a vengeance, dismissing recent subpar performances as fighting down to the level of her opponents—acknowledges that Ryan brought out the best in her.

Reposted by Archer 9/12/09.