(Thanks to FightFan for the repost)


Posted by Simguy on Friday, 18-Aug-2000 22:58:06

Before: Mish pushing up on Val in pre-fight, playing the intimidator to psyche Bertinelli before the bell - Val nearly goaded into fisticuffs during a heated face to face photo session. Michelle's pressure expected to break down the older blonde's form sooner or later - Bertinelli with some nice moves, but clearly doesn't have the youngster's respect going in. White sports bra, teal Adidas terrycloth trunks Michelle, yellow sports bra, green Adidas trunks Val, Spanish ponytail,

R1: Shutout Val Bertinelli. Veteran doesn't have the wheels she used to, but she steps nicely around her educated jab, foiling William's timing and walking the youngster into short right hands on the teeth. Midway through Val getting off snappy 3 punch combo to the head has Michelle stepping in fence post holes - Bertinelli finishing strong to the body with thudding strokes with both hands.

R2: Shutout Val Bertinelli. Jab starts it all off- Williams getting scripted into a sullen stalking posture, not getting off, picked off by Val's sweet timing. Bertinelli mixing up her punches, hooking to the head and body, jabbing Williams into covering up, then turning a nice left uppercut between the mitts.


R3: Shutout Val Bertinelli! Williams starting to lump up as Val continues to execute her solid, if unspectacular attack. Jab buffing up Michelle's face at will, Val opening up angles with her feet and scoring with hooks, right hands to the face, or curling blows to the stomach that have Michelle looking very defensive. Williams hearing it in her corner after 3 sluggish, pouting rounds - very un-Mish like performance.

R4: Mish finally on the board, stepping in with a range finding hook to the waist - but Val's confidence is high, and she's hungry, still the busier girl as the fight continues to occupy the middle of the ring.

R5: Mish pitching a shutout, flaring to life and punishing the body with authority this round. Williams bodying up, walking Val to the ropes, makes it a brawl and Bertinelli doesn't like the smash mouth. Williams able to lean on her girl, pulling out to slug bashing lefts and rights, then laying in again to push Val into the ropes from bell to bell.

R6: Mish going cheek to cheek, wins several exchanges of hooks to get Val's butt on the ropes and warms to the beat down when Bertinelli times her perfectly, nearly dropping Williams at the midway point with a clipping counter right uppercut. Mish spends a minute being shaky, but finishes strong - Val retreating, looking worried as the younger blonde walks her down.

R7: Mish now really up tempoing, stepping to her girl, heaving multiple left hooks up and down Val's right side and bludgeoning the older blonde into a cringe. Midway through the round, pounding body attack lowers Val's mitts and a snapping hook on the jaw has her wobbly butt. Val clinching, survives and counters effectively off the ropes, but she's hurting during the break and won't recover fully.

R8: Michelle doing her thing, swarming Val, clubbing the hips and ribs with lefts and rights, trapping Bertinelli against the ropes and beating her down with constant pressure. Val covered up, bobbing sadly up and down, but getting the worst of it as she can't trade with Williams. Mish landing another cracking hook to the chin once again nearly has Val down this round as Bertinelli's eyes start to glass up.

R9: Michelle starting to find that left hook - Val can only soak up so much to the body - as soon as she lowers her guard, Williams turns it over on the chin and turns Bertinelli's legs soggy. Bertinelli reeling badly, laying in with closed eyes and open mouth during exhausted clinches as Williams eats her up downstairs.

R10: Williams winning her 4th straight round, marches out, bulls Val into her own corner and issues another punishing beating about the hips and tummy. Val groaning, lolling forward and being hurled back really starts to soak it up as Williams relishes the sweaty battle of attrition. Bell sounds - dish rag Bertinelli sits exhausted on the turnbuckle as Williams thrusts her mitts skyward and bellows in triumph. Disappointment moments later as the decision is announced -a draw.


After: Williams riding power shots in the 7th, 8th and 9th really felt she had this one wrapped up, but Bertinelli's early dominance came back to haunt the youngster. Mish at a loss to explain the slow start - might have succeeded in psyching out the wrong person during pre-fight bravado.





Sim Guy



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