UNIFIED LIGHTWEIGHT TITLE

Originally posted by Simguy in 11/2/2002, 9:13 am

Before: Biggest fight of the year thus far—both girls recognize it, show respect before hand.

“A lot of people have been saying I’m the best fighter in boxing,” reports Jennifer, “but that’s not right. Cat Bell is the best, and when I beat her, THEN I’ll accept, and expect, the mantle. I’ve prepared for the toughest fight of my life and I just hope she doesn’t get old all of a sudden. I want her best game in there, I want her to go rounds and I want to break her down physically and emotionally to prove to her the Cat Bell Era is over.”

Bell refusing to be goaded into cheap theatrics, knows the fight sells itself, “Jennifer’s the best thing to happen to boxing in years—why would I hate her? People have been comparing this to my bout against Carrie Ann Moss and how spiteful that fight was, but Garner’s in a completely different class. Moss was merely belligerent, talking smack, taking on airs—Garner’s gone out and earned every accolade she’s received. She’s done it right and I have nothing but respect for her. I know it’s going to be a goods fight when my email is full from my fans voicing their concerns, telling me to be careful—I can’t tell you how much that means to me. All I can say is I’ve watched miles of tape on Jenny, I know how to get to her, it’s just a matter of executing when the time comes.”

Garner in pale blue bra, metallic pink bikini trunks, Cat Bell in electric blue bikini.

During R1: Tactical, patient opening. Girls with dukes up, stabbing out stiff jabs, stepping back from one another, blocking on high guards, rotating counterclockwise. All even to the final minute, when a bell double jab, right cross  finds champion chin to get Garner moving backward. Jen sliding away from bell but Cat steps with, hooks the left eye, bends into another careening right—Garner staggering to the ropes in trouble. Bell methodical on follow up: 1. she bodies up hard at the ropes, packing into Garner and taking the breath out of her; 2. she wraps Jenny’s right arm under her left; 3. Bell goes to work with right hands. Cat applying the beat down, stacking Jenny up, rubbing her back with the right elbow to expose the champ’s body, then raking her with snapping right clubs to the chest, heart and ribs. Rub and rip—rub and rip—Jenny, mouth open, eyes dazed—pounding has her staring mute at the bell, torsi throbbing.

R2: Cat uptempoing, hands high, palms out. Dazzling shooting jab strikes Garner between the eyes—while she’s blinking, Cat leans in and bounces that vicious straight right off the sternum, moping up with the hook as jen retreats. Garner coming up short with her jab, unable to step into it under bell pressure. Midway through, Cat scoring with hard body touches and stinging jabs—Bell shakes Garner with a booming right to the rib cage, crouches and EXPLODES a hook across the chops that swivels Jenny’s head. Garner baby-stepping back to the ropes, eyes forlorn, hands at her stomach—CAT PUNCES! Bell jumping straight in, then stepping to the right, fighting off Garner’s shoulder. Cat cranking hooks, chest, chin, left eye, then bending left to pull in right hands hard across the champ’s mouth. Garner’s gumshield flies off her teeth—eyes are glassy and CAT JUST PUTS IT TO HER! A series of rattling hooks chews the champ up—she slumps limp against the ropes, punches digging into her flesh, bashing off her face—Garner’s head droops forward—SHE”S OUT! Ref jumps in to support the swooning champion as Cat bell jumps away. Unbelievable KO2 for the winner and NEW LIGHTWEIGHT CHMPION Cat Bell!

After: Chaos in the ring. Bell hoisted onto TE shoulders, HISC suits standing bolt upright, hands in their hair, mouths open in shock, option bonuses now suddenly suspended—oh the humanity! Bell supposed to be too old, too battle-worn, too slow—new/former champ pulls off a shattering win, even an upset in some circles to depose thje best of the new breed.

“This is truly unexpected,” gushes a belt-festooned Cat in the postfight, “we trained for the 10 hardest rounds of my career and she just couldn’t give them to me. I don’t know what happened. We wanted to work the body, rough her up, not to spar too much on the outside, because she’s quick, you know. So we did that and I just kept catching her on the ropes and she went out!”

Garner sullen as her gloves are removed—arguably her flattest performance as a professional coming in her biggest moment—she’s got to be hurting.

Reposted by Archer 4/29/09