Posted by Simguy on 1/3/2003, 5:43 am.

Before: Inevitable mentor/protégé bout--promoters had this one set up on the first day of casting “Birds of prey”--Meyer with mixed emotions. “I like Ashley, I really do, but I think she’s allowed herself to be swayed by bad advice and people whop don’t really have her best interests at heart. She wants to break out of her shell, crack the Top 10--I realize that, and she thinks the way to do that is to put me down, you know, it’s just a typical rookie mistake. I’m not going to take any particular pleasure in punishing her, but I;m not leaving any doubt in her mind either. She’s not ready for me.” Scott on the opposite side of the street: “Bell, Theron, Jen Garner’s got to deal wit me, Jeri Ryan--we know those fights will happen eventually, but I don’t want to just cash out when the shot comes--I need to be able to compete with those girls. Dina’s a great measuring stick, but that’s all she’s ever going to be at this point: a way for women like me to get what we want.” Meyer in baby blue bikini top with white ruffles, snug navy trunks (cut like wrestling trunks), white shoes and gloves, Ashley in black push up bra, black boy cut trunks, white shoes and gloves.

R1: Meyer setting the tone early, bobbing and weaving ala Frazier, arms loosely crossed, getting close and whacking that ribcage as Ashley skirts the perimeter. Scott focusing in keeping distance, nice fluid rotation, extending to push off and sidestep the heavier set redhead, blunting the attack. No offense from Ashley--she forfeit’s the shutout while establishing her rhythm.

R2: Ashley right hand at her chest, left low--she’s settling down, stepping left around a lanky stick, alternating stinging with slapping jabs to keep Meyer bobbing. Meyer finding it tougher to close, points her left shoulder at Ash, right hand at her moth, left across her body, jabbing with the taller girl mid ring, Scott’s legs the difference--Meyer trying to double up the jab and force right hands up the middle--Scott legging back easy out of range, striding to either side, regaining initiative with her slick jab and dropping choosy rights on occasion, round to Scott.

R3: Chess  match continues--Meyer mounting abrupt rushes--Scott defusing them with lanky step-outs and turns showing silky smooth ring generalship for a youngster. Down the stretch, Scott with a pretty sidestep left turns Meyer’s right flank--Ash twisting, getting the outside-in bolo left uppercut o chin and MEYER’S HURT! Dina stutter stepping, hands at temples--Scott lashing lefts and rights, pelting Meyer with slinging power at the bell to steal a close third.

R4: Meyer getting to Ash with straight right hands to the heart, backing Scott up early--Dina having her best moments fighting off Scott’s chest, bullying her at the ropes. Scotty wrapping up head and arm on Dina, just slowing her down, mindful of her chin as she tries to cuddle Meyer close. Dina brawling her way through the lanky grapple, pushing and banging to the ribcage with flat, bashing strokes. Scott avoids the shutout with curling flurries off the ropes, batting and swatting at Meyer to keep her honest, but Ash can’t get her butt off the ropes this round.

R5: ash prettying it up in the first minute, easy strides to the left, reaching the jab out, flicking it, cuffing it, then stabbing it in hard. Midway through, Meyer gets the read, slips onside the stick, guts Ashley a curling hook to the solar plexus that has Scott buckling forward. Dina staying on her front foot, reloads, soaks the hook off Scott’s kidney, shoulder-bumps her and hooks her belly again to DROP SCOTT TO ALL FOURS! Ashley shaken up, face wan as she takes a trembling 8. Final minute a bruising follow up for Dina--she’s methodical as she shoulders in a pawing jab against Ashley’s turtle defense, then places booming right hands to stomach, ribs and heart to leave Scotty humming at the break.

R6: Meyer hunting down a hunting brunette--Scott mouth breathing, leafing ragged around the perimeter--constant Dina pressure starting to add up. Meyer rushing, reaching for killshots and it costs her in the second minute. Scott loping right, stopping, dropping intercept right hands on the chin then bonding away--she’s go Meyer staggery and stubborn--Dina walks into that sticky left uppercut and goes wobbly butt on the spot. Ashley going over to the offense, tight hand at her chin as she sets and LICKS hooks to the waist, then left uppercuts to the face, fists just lathering away as Meyer stoops forward hurt. Scott stepping back to allow Dina to fall in--picking the redhead up with majestic left hooks and uppercuts, palming her with the right to reset--vicious, vicious work being done. Meyer weathers it, but she’s all busted up, bleeding from the nostrils and glassy-eyed on her stool.

R7: Tide’s turned: Meyer’s hurt--Ashley’s hungry. Scott’s fought well in reverse all night, now she shows she can come forward, attacking behind a spearing jab,, unleashing whistling right hands and constantly mopping up with liquid slick left hooks and snapping uppercuts. Beautiful long-armed combination punching--Scott with the knack of extending on punches, drawing her hands back across the target to brush and startle, then landing the next bomb in band-armed arcs. Meyer beaten from pillar to post--heads in her hands--she’s stumbling forward into punishment, she’s reeling back from punishment--all about Dina’s heart this round as she gets repeatedly rocked by Scott. At the bell, Scott glaring half in awe--Meyer wobbling but she won’t go down.

R8: Meyer guard up, compact, shouldering out a pawing jaw, just looking to place lead weight right hands straight to Ashley’s ribcage. Scott sidestepping around her limber left hooks and jabs, often pushing Dina in the shoulder to get around her. Scott able to get the left uppercut from outside Dina’s right shoulder, and pack left hands in behind Dina’s elbow--but snap missing from Ashley’s shots--she’s just scoring points this round.

R9: Meyer getting through consistently with right hands beneath the left breast--Scott ashen-faced as she gives ground weary to the ropes. Dina banging away with overhand rights behind the ear, top of the skull, clubbing back with hooks to shoulder and ribcage, mauling and bumping with shoulders, head and elbows--she’s dragging this thing into the gutter. Scott drowsy, hanging on and tieing up--weight of the redhead  starting to tell as Dina crowd and bangs very effectively this round.

R10: Close fight--veteran knows what to do. Meyer slipping Ashley’s tired jab, hammered righty/lefty to the ribcage--Scott gives ground with an agonized expression, stacked into the ropes once again. Meyer absolutely merciless--grinding her head into Ashley’s chest, pounding away to paunch and trunks, throwing hard elbows against Scotty’s throbbing ribcage. Ashley having the fight, and her pride drummed out of her--hard-hearted bell to bell assault leaves Scott groaning on the ropes. Comes back one point duke Dina Meyer.

After: Ouch. Meyer roughing up the youngster in the pivotal 10th--fight all tired after 9--veteran went out and wrenched victory away from the other woman. Dina classy in triumph--hand behind Ashley’s neck, foreheads together as Meyer gives some words of advice. Scott glum, but facing the press in post fight. “She took it from me--no two ways about it. Dina’s a hell of a fighter and I learned a lot tonight. I’ll be back.” good effort in defeat for Ashley--Meter sorting out her backyard looks ready to make a substantial move.

Reposted by Archer 9/1/11.