Posted by simguy on 5/20/2005

Before: "I've been exposing tramps like Helfer my whole career," shrugs Ryan in prefight, referencing her mastery over Helfer rivals Allen and Scott. "To me, she's just another in a long line of cheap Jeri Ryan knock offs. I'm the original long, leggy blonde, and if Tricia thinks she's going to replace me, she's in for a painful reality check." Helfer taking the high road - becoming more common place for her to be facing strong anti-Helfer rhetoric in prefights. "I understand where Jeri's coming from," says Helfer, "nobody likes to be replaced. She's the next logical step for me. We've both conquered the likes of Ashley and Krista - now it's time for me to see if I can take it to the next level. I'm truly excited: it's a thrill to be matching up with Jeri Ryan in the ring." BLONDE! magazine also thrilled - all blonde match up a mouthwatering prospect in the halls of that periodical. "It's an intriguing match up," notes one correspondent. "Helfer's shown a good chin and tremendous resiliency, but she's never faced a puncher like Ryan and Trish DOES tend to get hit. Ryan's the same way - gets hit, looks to punch her way out of trouble - it's going to be a thriller as long as it lasts." Jeri in red bikini, Helfer in white lace push up bra, beige crochet bikini bottoms.

During R1: Ryan: right at her cheek, left at her hip, nice limber hop-step as she engages, steps out, engages, steps out - working behind a stiff, snappy stick early. Helfer loping, leaning over her front foot, then leaning back in a wide stance, elbows in, hands slightly to the side in a gentle gull-wing as she steps right, eyes lasered on target. Tricia pushing her jab, just buffing Ryan's chest, pawing at her lip: Helfer wants the right cross, trying to step right and walk Ryan into it. Midway through, Jeri gets her way - doubling up the jab, leaning into a searing right cross - head snap Tricia, soft blonde curls a-whirl - Helfer's hurt! Tricia covering up face-in-gloves - Jeri widening her stance, licking a hateful hook against Helfer's flank/bicep with splattering spank. Bashing right hand smashes against Tricia's guard - blocked, but Helfer moved by the blow anyway - Jeri staying on her with that mop-up hook downstairs. AND HELFER'S FIGHTING BACK! Tricia boozy, hurt, but defiant - she widens stance and joins in the fun, leaning down and in with long right hands, leaning back onto her right foot to pull whippy hooks into Jeri. Long blondes get limber - stroking and strapping vicious hooks and crosses at the bell and beyond - ref has to jump in to separate snarling vixens.

R2: Girls engage midring - Helfer crowding behind her guard as Ryan busts away left/right up top, blocked by Trish. Helfer back with a nudging little left uppercut then swiping hook across the waist - fist bites, skids on taut flesh as Tricia brings the mitt back quick to her face. Ryan right in there, easing to the right and pump-pounding a right hand off Helfer's hip - girls strapping it up at close, if not smothering range, both tightening up stroke. Back and forth - Tricia adept at generating inside torque from long limbs, really licking at Ryan's waist and ribs, picking up Ryan's chin curving, elegant uppercuts. Jeri banging back, using a shoulder brawny in Tricia's chest to create room - good shellacking two way trade as girls rotate gently counterclockwise midring. Final minute, Tricia dips, lifts Ryan's head up a jerky right uppercut, ducks under Ryan's looping right hand receipt, then both girls turn into licking hooks. JERI GOES WOBBLY BUTT! Helfer wins the race, her left hook swiveling Jeri's head as Ryan's punch sails - Jeri hopping sideways on her left foot, on the brink of going down, but she manages to topple herself upright into ropes. ON COMES HELFER! Tricia teeth-bared, striding in, dangling the left at her side, right cocked at her chest - she BENDS into a walking overhand right as Jeri leans back woozy in the ropes. Tricia unleashed: great strapping form as she turns her sinewy torso left and right, bending and twisting into sleek, lashing blows. Helfer leading with her hips, then shoulder, then pulling the fist around - Ryan staring in awe, windblown as punches smash off her temples and cheeks, claw across her heaving bosom, rip at her tummy. Jeri catatonic - dukes at chest, bending at the waist but unable to make Tricia miss - it's ALL Helfer and THE REF STEPS IN! Shattered Jeri cradled to safety, struggling against the man's arms in protest - Tricia Helfer's the TKO2 victrix!

After: Helfer hoisted onto the shoulders of her cornermen - she's blonde ascendant, breaking into the big time with an astounding blow out of perennial blonde strong-woman Jeri Ryan. Feeble protests from woozy Jeri to ringside officials - bit of a quick whistle for a girl who's punch means she's never too hurt to continue - but it's Helfer's night to shine. "Whatever happened, I just didn't want to back down," Tricia explains in postfight. "I knew Ryan would bring the fight, and she hurt me almost immediately, but I've been hurt before and I knew I could ride it out. I honestly think she underestimated me - I know she called me a 'flash in the pan' on some talk show and she didn't have a lot of respect for me, so I used that against her. I wouldn't say I hit as hard as Jeri, but I'm a good finisher and when I had her hurt, I just put mitts on meat, you know? No matter what she says, she was helpless - I'm really glad the ref stopped it when he did, for her sake." Ouch: stopped and then pitied - that's gotta hurt.