MAXIM/REEBOK MIDDLEWEIGHT TITLE UNIFICATION BOUT

Posted by Simguy on 12/9/2000 5:53 pm.

Before: Debra vs Cindy the quintessential valet/supermodel match up. Traditionally models have been the gold standard for beauty, but there’s no denying the erosion that has taken place on video and newsstands—trash chicks elbowing models off the shelves, winning covers and shaping values all across the culture ti the point where Chyna gets a playboy spread, Cindy taking a stand in a fight reminiscent of lions meeting hyenas on the veldt: bitter turf war—winner can accept nothing less than total annihilation for the vanquished. Cindy says she’s learned from last time when Debra caught her and finished her early—Debra unconcerned, dropping her favourite quote: “Everybody’s got a plan ‘till they get hit.” Crawford certainly classier overall, but critics contend she’s a perfect opponent for the wild punching blonde—Crawford not as big a favourite the second time around. Cindy in a no-nonsense, grey cotton sports bra, navy boy cut trunks, messy ponytail—Debra feeling festive, Sana Claus bikini with white fur trim.

During R1: Déjà vu all over again: Cindy a little lazy with the jab, a little deliberate on her move to the left and Debra’s comeback right hand nearly takes the brunette’s head off. Crawford spun to her right, stagger steps away and Debra is on her in a grinding jiggle of tanned flesh, red gloves. Savage tearing attack leaves Cindy staring wide eyed at the ropes, taking punches and it’s gut check time for the “Queen of the Supermodels”—Crawford covering up and taking a good old fashioned beat down as Debra pours it on. McMichael hammering away with swinging lefts and rights, cudgeling brunette sides and arms—Crawford saving her chin pays a terrible price to the body as Debra lathers up nice. McMichael all smiles as she bounces back to her stool—Crawford sent back to her corner hurting.

R2: Debra on like a freight train again, but Crawford’s recovered nicely and starts to work her game plan. Lateral movement—Cindy too big to be nifty, but she’s effective at turning the blonde’s attack and soon has McMichael eating the shocking left jab. Middle minute sees Crawford settle into a nice circling rhythm, stepping around her jab and landing the right hand hard to the blonde’s brittle face. Debra wobbly butt from clean right crosses and down the stretch, Cindy gets payback. Crawford standing up straight, steps back to lure Debra forward and hooks the blonde hard to the left breast, doubling up on it then POUNDING a hard right hand across the champ’s lips to lift Debra’s front foot off the canvas, Debra soaking up a crushing right hand staggers away—curvy legs keeping her up, but she’s momentarily helpless. Crawford helping herself to jug at the bell, right mitt at her cheek, just turning that hook into Debra’s bulging bra top as McMichael swoons.

R3:  Both women come out punching, but the action shifts clearly to Crawford’s advantage. Classy brunette able to steer the more compact blonde the jab, touching up Debra’s eyes, hooking off the jab to give that right breast a fearful drubbing this round. Cindy pitching the shutout, gives Debra a little shoulder shimmy on occasion, catching the blonde with sneaky lead rights, then falling off to the left before McMichael can react.

R4: Debra cuts off the ring and turns Crawford’s head with a nice overhand right—McMichael following up with some dangerous tight lefts and rights across the mouth that have the taller brunette stumbling backwards. Debra clipping her punches so tight catches Cindy’s mouth with plenty of elbow—draws repeatedly warnings in a chippy middle minute that sees Cindy cut inside the lower lip, Down the stretch, Crawford shuts Debra down with the jab, showing that looming Lennox Lewis look as McMichael turns, bobs, but doesn’t punch.

R5: Debra still mounting pressure, backing Crawford up and collapsing the brunette’s jab effectively. Once inside Cindy’s reach, Debra has her way, sweeping right hands hard against the ribcage and jerking Cindy’s face to the side with a clipped right hook. Crawford forced to the ropes, often leaping forward to clinch rather athan allow Debra to work her over, McMichael dominant, walking Cindy down and still plenty dangerous going into the second half.

R6: Cindy working the plan—use her legs, jab long, hook the tits, and catch Debra coming in with the hardest right hands she can. McMichael getting tagged but refusing to back off, she’s scoring heavily to the ribs and chin as Crawford can’t carve out an advantage. Final minute—Crawford just pushing out the jab, standing up straight, then suddenly bending into a crashing right hand on the face to beat a lunging Debra to the punch. McMichael badly hurt—leans out over her feet in a boozy tilt—Cindy stepping right, reloading and DRIKLLING the right down over Deb’s left shoulder, clipping jaw and putting the blonde all the way out. McMichael toppling forward, lies still on her face—Cindy C lifts her mitts the sudden victor by KO6.

After: Closely contested fight ends suddenly and decisively as Crawford outs her body behind two monster right hands to conclude matters. Title changes hands—both women showing signs of a struggle, but Crawford surviving Debra’s early rushes seemed to have time on her side. “Debra’s dangerous early,” a slightly puffy but happy Cindy C says in post fight, “but she’s just a bully. When I didn’t fold in the first, she was already looking for a way out. I told everyone I’d take the trash out, and that’s exactly what happened/”

Reposted by Archer 1/30/10.