Undercard

Posted by Simguy on Sunday, 08-Aug-1999 15:07:08

Thanks to FightFan for this repost


Before: Halliwell last minute sub, as Renee once again gets left at the altar by a ducking opponent. Halliwell in over her head, but being on the Undercard of Moore/Theron too much exposure to resist. Bailing the HBO brass out not a bad move either, as Halliwell likely to be rewarded down the line with a plum fight, and any kind of good showing against the bigger girl can only help Geri as she seeks approval in the US. Over under set at 3 rounds, O'Connor promising it won't go 2. Renee in green Olympics style sprinter's shorts, green and yellow crop top with the track look, Geri with red Adidas terrycloth trunks, red crop top.

During R1: Geri gets off to a quick start as Renee calmly hunkers down behind her gloves, giving up her waist to Halliwell's batting lefts and rights. O'Connor starts to chip away, timing Geri's blows, and nailing the strawberry blonde with short blows, just dropping the punch down from the elbow onto Geri's wide open face. By the final minute, O'Connor muscles her way inside, hugging Geri around the ribs, walking the lighter girl off balance, then digging firm one twos to Halliwell's toned gut to take the round in workmanlike fashion.

R2: All Renee as she goes out to make good on her prediction. O'Connor's thick waist simply shrugs off Geri's blows, and Renee jolts Geri at several points with short, clubbing right hands on the jaw. Geri wobbly butt early, goes mouth on shoulder with Renee to smother the attack, but O'Connor gets in three solid minutes of body punching none the less.

R3: Renee walking Geri down, fighting off Halliwell's chest, and simply putting her fists on Geri's body to wear the blonde down. Halliwell with good work at times, knocking Renee's head back of Geri's shoulder with short uppercuts inside, or spanking the abs with clean left hooks, but O'Connor unmoved, and relentless in pursuit.

R4: Another grinding shutout round for Renee as Halliwell can't get off the ropes. O'Connor with her head on Geri's clavicle, turning her torso into thumping lefts and rights, hammers the beef from hip to hip on Halliwell. Geri with a sick look of acceptance on the inside, leans and clinches with Renee, but doesn't get off this round.

R5: Center ring, Renee just moves a shoulder and Geri twinges in anticipation of a body shot. O'Connor reads the reaction well, feinting the left hook and coming over the top with a short right that spins Geri sideways and to all fours. Halliwell up at 8, immediately plants herself on
the ropes as Renee wades in. All O'Connor as she pounds away with workmanlike blows to the upperarms and body off her foe, using her shoulder to set up short right hands, and dominating to the bell.

R6: Another grinding shutout as Renee starting to beat Geri helpless at points in each round. Halliwell reduced to taking blows, pushing Renee back, then covering up as O'Connor walks patiently back in. Renee maybe too patient, content to lean in with a shoulder or forearm, rip a Frazier hook to the tanned tummy of Geri, then reset for another heavy single punch.

R7, 8: Two way action rounds as Geri refuses to quit, despite being beaten lumpy in every round. O'Connor forced to put down uprisings in these rounds, but each ends the same way, with O'Connor bullying Geri against the ropes or in the corners, with merciless slugging at short range.

R9: Shutout Renee O'Connor. Halliwell pinned on the ropes, but doing a good job of defending the head, really giving Renee only the body to work on. O'Connor takes it, but could be doing more to break down the opponent. Halliwell taking enormous punishment, but still has her senses, still trying to survive.

R10: Geri Halliwell comes out swinging for the first time since the first, and catches O'Connor napping early. A wild right hand splits Renee's lip, and a comeback left smacks her head to one side as Geri puts everything she has left into one last assault. O'Connor backing up, arms crossed, takes more punches in the these first 2 minutes than she has all fight long, but by the final minute, bodies up and slows Halliwell with booming shots to the flanks. Fight goes the distance as Renee gives her beaten opponent a congratulatory hug at the bell.

After: Hand it to Halliwell - beaten 9 rounds to 1, often badly battered in some stanzas, she goes the route and comes away with fans she didn't have going in. Geri showing guts in even taking the fight, clearly unable to threaten Renee, and O'Connor criticized for not doing more against the outgunned blonde.


Sim Guy

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