PARAMOUNT/REEBOK LIGHTWEIGHT TITLES

Ryan/Judd #2

Posted by Simguy on 11/4/2000, 9:33 am.

Before: Highly anticipated rematch--last time out was a last-woman-standing romp that ended in a well-regarded draw--Still, there can only be one. Bizarre pre-fight banter as Judd taunts: “When I’m giving it to you Jeri, and you’re hurting--don’t turn punk on me. don’t take the easy way out.” To which Jeri responds: “Shut up mittens.” Ashley rendered speechless by the non sequitur. Ash in black and gold bra style bikini, Jeri in red bandeau bikini.

During R1: very cautious opener for both girls--Ryan shuffling in and out in a clockwise route--Ashley lifting her mitts to her temples to block the jab, stepping with Jeri but not overanxious to close. Surprising given the fireworks of the first fight--both a little gunshy.

R2: Jeri’s over it. She steps up the attack with the pummeling jab, working into position to get over with the chopping right hand, Judd in retreat, turns Jeri at the ropes, but unable to answer back. Down the stretch, Ryan steps into a whistling hook that buckles Judd’s knees, follows it up with a textbook left on the jaw, right ion the jaw that sprawls Judd dewy-eyed on the ropes at the bell.

R3: Jeri determined to roll Ashley up, walks her down behind that piston jab I the first minute, but the predictable assault comes unraveled. Midway through, Judd stops her retreat, driving in behind a surprise right shovel punch to the breadbasket, twisting her  shoulder into a perfect short left hook that has Ryan in trouble. Judd takes over on the hurt champion, burying lefts and rights up under the ribcage and punching Ryan back to the ropes, on the inside, it’s all Judd--leaning on Jeri, jerking little left and right uppercuts in between the bodies to scrape jug or chin--Ryan smothered and ineffective to the bell.

R4: Now they trade. Back and forth across the ring, along the ropes, girls stand at medium range and just lest their hands go, Jeri’s jab really the difference in an otherwise nip and tuck slugging round--anytime she needs to regroup, she can buy a couple of seconds by stepping out behind the stick, thumb her nose and take a new angle--Judd simply relying on quicker hands and stubbornness, gets a little outboxed this round.

R5: You’ve gotta love the Ryan right cross. So short, rolling from the shoulder with clean weight shift on the hips, turned right ankle as she bends into the blow--Judd soaks it up and wanders dreamily sideways as Jeri bulls her ropeside, bad beat down for Judd this round as she slumps forward into Jeri’s chest--Ryan standing up tall and reaching into Ashley’s sides with thudding rips, often cradling the challenger with the right across the back and drifting up 3 and 4 left hands into the firm underbelly. Judd pounded into open mouthed stupor this round--she’s weak, hanging on, in survival mode as Ryan pulls away.

R6: Ashley rebounds, jabbing with Ryan to take the punch away, then going cheek to cheek where her clever hands can dictate, Judd staying close, body on body, then pulling back just far enough to jerk that short right uppercut to the body, breasts or mouth, falling back in with a clouting hook on the jaw as Ryan looks for spots. Judd finishing up with a nice shoeshine on Ryan’s tummy--keeps punching after the bell as tempers flare.

R7: Jeri rolls another shutout, really banging back Ashley face with dependable jab, and rolling over that murderous right hand to keep Judd on her heels. Jeri just walking Judd down, banging out the exchanges, and leaving Ashley just a little but more run down that she was a few seconds ago. Round finishes up in a corner, Jeri reaching in with her left under Ashley’s right arm to anchor sinking right hands to the belly that carry on after the round--ref issuing warnings as eyes and hearts harden around him.

R8: Hammer and tongs slugging erupts to the detriment of both women. Taking turns getting off with cracking 3 punch salvoes, action takes on a Morales/Barrera kill or be killed desperation as each girl ups the tempo in turn. Down the stretch, it’s Judd separating herself, getting into a rhythm where she slips the right hand, torpedoes a hook into Jeri’s ribs, slips the left hand, digs her right hand into Jeri’s ribs, Ryan giving ground at the bell.

R9: More of the brisk paced trade--neither girl ignoring defence exactly, but the volume of punches from both insures punishment all around, Ryan’s found a spot where she can get the right hand in over Ashley’s left shoulder--Judd still moving her head, coming up under Jeri’s punches with plunging lefts and rights to the midriff--both girls rattled for split seconds, but each continuing to come forward. Down the stretch, it’s Ashley again taking command with hard counter punching, dipping down, coming up to the body as Ryan misses wearily over the top.

R10: Jeri stamping her jab all over Ashley’s face and torso in the first minute has Judd breaking down, but Judd reverses things completely in the second minute, wheeling to her left, countering every jab with a slinging right hand in the teeth and soon Ryan starts to break down. Jeri starting to wing lefts and rights--Judd stays composed, focusing on the gut with every counter shot, bobbing to her left and right, arching her back as she pulls vicious punches up into Ryan’s body and JERI CAN’T TAKE IT! Accumulation of gut wrenching abuse puts Ryan wobbly butt, then sends her to all ours as Judd stumbles back. Jeri awake, tears welling, eyes fluttering, cant get off her haunches as Judd has simply taken her legs away. KO10 for the winner and NEW champion ASHLEY JUDD!

After: Judd hoisted high on the shoulders of her corner men, bawling tears of joy, holding her head, pumping her fists like some kind of Italian soccer player--it’s the culmination of years of sacrifice, training and so on. Ryan heartbroken, ahead by one point going into the tenth, but dropping the last 3 rounds knows she let this one slip away. ET inrterview with Ryan in the following days shows a very candid ex-champ admitting: “I never would have believed she could knock me out.”

Reposted by Archer 7/13/10.