MTV 122 Featherweight & MTV 130 Lightweight Titles

Site: London, U.K.

Posted by Simguy on Thursday, 30-Dec-1999 18:22:48

Before: Poor reception including pilfered luggage, mixed up reservations etc .compounded by Zeta Jones Prince Naseem-like trashing of Bell in the press leads to hard feelings going into this bout. Jones with plenty to say about Bell’s status as a legit contender--none of it good. Tempers flaring not just between fighters as both camps get into the swing of things during pre-fight. Zeta-Jones in ponytail, black sports bra, red adidas terrycloth trunks vs. Bell in yellow conservative bikini.

During R1: Jones with her usual nifty defense setting up chopping counter opportunities, Bell looking comparatively robotic as she stalks, hands high, but unable to line Jones up this round.

R2: Bell’s persistence pays off as she walks through the Jones jab and begins to clout the beautiful Brit with keen left hooks the jab. Jones getting jarred onto her heels, turns slugger in response and the girls mix it up the delight of the pro-Zeta-Jones crowd.

R3: Bell looking the stronger fighter, wading into Zeta-Jones, forcing the slighter brunette to slug, and by the midway point, both girls are banging away with clipping hooks and right hands on the jaw line. A banging wide right stuns Jones long enough for the pay-off left hook and Zeta-Jones GOES DOWN! Jones up, takes to her bike, showing Bell the stick and boxing her way out of further engagements to the bell.

R4: Cathy Bell just walking Jones down, squaring up and making the Brit fight, and it’s paying off as Jones can’t handle the American’s strength, Midway through the round, Jones fields another popping right hand on her chin, and tilts into her right foot, only to be bashed back to the ropes by the omnipresent hook of Bell. Jones desperate up against the ropes, leaning way back, then coming in low to bell’s waist to make her miss over the top. Corner berates Zeta-Jones between rounds--”You’re losing this fight kid!”

R5: Jones using her legs more, circling, getting off quick punches instead of loading up, and Bell’s output drops as her dull footwork gets exposed.

R6: More of the same from Zeta-Jones--she pops a combination, then goies in low with a shoulder to spin off Bell’s body--Cat unable to counter. Late in the round, bell shows that good power, lifting Zeta-Jones onto her toes with a slinging left hook, sending the Brit stumbling back several paces to the roppes. Jones badly hurt by the blow, but saved as the round comes to an end.

R7: Jones in control with the stick and move, snapping off 3 punch combinations, then giving Bell a little shove to one side for a neat quarter turn, and then getting off again. Jones working all 4 points of the compass on bell as cat pivots, covering up and taking punches. Pounding combo’s up the middle bash back at Cat’s head in the final minute, as Jones hurts her opponent for the first time.

R8: Jones remains composed, slicing her clever fists in on Bell’s increasingly exposed face as Cat begins to wander. Zeta-Jones nudging the American off balance with that low shoulder inside, and Bell standing straight up is getting white washed with one-twos to either side of her jaw. Bell taking a great punch, but she’s getting hit hard and clean as Jones kicks it up a notch.

R9: Bell able ton stand and trade hooks as Jones wants to slug, and the girls savage each other with brisk trade through the first 2 minutes. Jones finally breaks the stalemate, drilling that short lead right over and over in the final minute to leave Bell swooning at the break. Jones pumped, sees Cat slumping in her corner as endswell is applied.

R10: Cathy Bell show’s champion’s pride this round as she once again stands in with Jones, dishing it up to the Brit and punch for punch proves the stronger warrior. Jones giving ground as Bell bangs away with that meaty left hook, and by the final minute Zeta-Jones is all defense, dancing away from bell, ducking and juking rather than trading as Cat stalks wearily after. Decision comes back a narrow one point win fro Zeta-Jones as bell can’t overcome the home field advantage.

After: Jones with a badly swollen right eye, and looking shipwrecked, celebrates grandly in the ring as if she’s just put a orld-0class beating on bell, Harsh words exchanged as both entourages mill about and Zeta-Jones shoves Bell’s trainer as chaos nearly explodes, Bitter struggles leaves Bell without a belt, but in 3 tough fights she’s been very, very competitive.

Reposted by Archer 8/2/11