HBO POUND FOR POUND TITLE

Posted by Simguy on Monday, 26-April 1999 21:38:31

Before: HBO begs, threatens and finally backs up the truck to entice Luner into taking this blockbuster fight. Battle features two of the most complete celebs in the game. In Janet’s first career, she was much more mobile, covering a lot of ring every round. In this, her second stab at serious celeb action, Jones had a much more solid foundation, moving only when necessary, punching with correct form, and setting down on her punches with bad intentions.

Luner is perhaps the most controversial pound for pound champ ever. Despite her obvious physical gifts, she’s not a fan, or a critics favourite. Supporters point to her title reign of almost two years: detractors point to the relatively few fights she’s had I that time. Supporters say she’s beaten every name out there: detractors highlight the fact that those fight occurred on the way up; since becoming champion, Jamie hasn’t given the top contenders a meaningful rematch, Love her or hate her, everyone agrees that this bout will test both women to their limits. Jamie enters with white high cut aerobics trunks, white and blue stripped U back jog bra. Janet enters with teal aerobics bottoms, navy jog bra,

R1:: Janet shows a strong, Oscar de la Hoya stance, looking to pound fast jabs high on the head of Jamie. Luner counters with great lateral movement, rumba-ing left and right in front of Janet, and midway through the round, she wrong-foots the blonde, scoring with a clean right cross across Janet’s mouth. Jones’ feet step in fence-post holes for a moment, and Jamie is able to go shoulder to shoulder  and beat the blonde with short, chopping combinations from close range, round to Luner.;

R2: Jamie again using her footwork to attack from angles, and she wears Jones out this round, going inside with a Mosley look, scoring with jerking hooks to the blonde’s stomach. Round to Luner.

R3: Jamie opens with feints, and comes over the top with sidearm right that smacks Janet’s bead around--Jones is hurt! Jamie goes to work with measured ferocity, shouldering up, scoring with crisp three punch combinations, and lifting beefy hooks to the midsection of the rattled blonde. In the final minute however, Janet rallies, and she snaps off a sweet counter hook in between Luner’s punches top rock the red head on her heels. Janet follows through with by drilling straight right and Jamie is hurt! Jones finishes up with her trademark lefts and rights to the firm sides of her opponent as Luner doubles over. Round to Luner.

R4: The body work clearly slows Jamie this round, and Janet’s jab takes over. She steers Jamie into her right hand, and one twos flow from the blonde in a river of punishment. Round to Janet as she steps up the pace.

R5: Janet opens with some Hearns left hooks to the pit of Jamie’s stomach, and has the red head flat footed in pain. Toe to toe exchanges see both women score with ripping hooks at power punching range. Jamie has a pretty habit of going cheek to cheek with Janet pulling away to land a slashing right, and Jones’ face is red this round. By the final minute, Jones is forcing Jamie back with punches that Luner can’t seem to slip--Janet just catching her at the end of her punching to take the round.

R6: Jones really comes on this round, opening again with withering blows to Jamie’s flanks, softening the red head up. Shoulder to shoulder, Janet rakes Jamie with three punch combinations, pounding the right to the waist, the left usually to the body, and turning over a right to the jaw. Luner begins to go wobbly butt--her face showing concern, and as she gets wild, Janet ducks low, comes up with a short right to the jaw AND LUNER GOES DOWN! Jamie Luner wears a shocked expression as she takes a seat, and wobbles to the ropes where she stands. All Jones to the bell as she goes to work with her hardest punching of the fight, pushing Luner with the forearm and hammering her with combinations. 10-8 round for Jones!

R7: There just might be a champion inside Luner yet. She gets back on her bicycle, circling and slipping Jones punches, and subtly induces the blonde to move forward. With under a minute left in the round, after having pasted Jones with potshots--Luner gives us a highlight reel moment, Backpedaling, she smacks at  Janet with backhanded jab and swatting hooks, then times a beautiful chopping right onto the chin of the oncoming blonde, dropped a stunned Jones to her hands and knees! 10-8 round for Luner, and a big momentum saver.

R8: Shutout for Jamie Luner as Janet continues to chase, but isn’t putting enough pressure ion Jamie to knock her off stride, Jamie getting cute, bending low, coming up with shoulder butts and hitting Janet on the rebound, pulling Janet’s head down, spinning her. Luner takes the round.

R9: Janet shows she can think in the ring too, actually punching BEHIND Jamie with the right, causing Luner to bob into Janet’s well-timed left hook, Jones outboxes the champ to take the round.

R10: In close, close fight, with the titles on the line, Jamie Luner steps up and edges the blonde beauty with a wonderful series of exchanges at center ring. Both beauties score in combination, each pounding the other to the midriff and head in a throwback to the forties. As thj bell rings, Jamie Luner thrusts her hands in the air--she takes the round, and the fight, on all judges’ scorecards.

After: It’s a setback for Janet, who had steamrollered her way into this title contest on the backs of several worthy challengers, but Luner once again shows her incredible versatility in finding a way to win. Boxing, slugging, and defense--Jamie had it all tonight, putting Janet on the canvas when she absolutely positively had to have a knockdown. Janet was no less effective, making up for a slow start with a determined effort, but she was outsmarted down the stretch by one of the most cunning champions ever.


Reposted by Archer 8/13/10.