Posted by Simguy on Saturday, 17-Jun-2000 11:00:31

Before; Marceau guaranteeing a win over American Catherine Bell, citing the brunette’s textbook style as her Achilles heel. Sophie a chameleon in the ring, if anybody can bamboozle Cat, the French girl could be it. Bell stronger, with legit KO power--classic puncher vs. boxer mix up. Bell in electric blue bikini, yellow shoes and gloves, Marceau in black leather bra, lace up the front, pink hipster bikini bottoms, black shoes and gloves, hair up.

R1: Marceau gambling early, spinning lefts and almost leaving her feet with head hunting intensity. Bell in that stiff Oscar stance, chin tucked, eyes alert, hands out in front, ready to swat right and crank left hooks. Very little damage done as Marceau mounts one-punch power attacks from angles--bell warding off the blows as shuffles forward.

R2: Marceau still looking for heat, bending down to stuff the right jab into cats belly, then up quick for the right hook on the ear, always trying to set up the lashing left hand to the head. Bell not busy enough this round--still blocking a lot of shots well away from her head, but Marceau able to step around, work up and down and lick away for points.

R3: Cat Bell showing some aggression now--reading Marceau’s intentions and coming forward as the French girl loads up. Bell with that Oscar jab battering against Sophie’s forehead runs the floor, backing Marceau up, and cranking hooks to the right side of the French girl, Marceau covering up, turning her shoulder to accept the punishment, can’t do as much as bell closes, fights shoulder to shoulder very effectively.

R4: Marceau answering Cal’s shutout, shedding the brawling mentality and showing Bell an oblique southpaw look. Patting bell with nuisance right jabs, Sophie fades to the right, nibbling between the brunettes guard, covering her face and slipping Bell’s response, and soon has Cat visibly frustrated with the impromptu game of tag. Bell trying to stay short with her punches, but she’s missing the sinewy French girl and getting clipped as Marceau finds a nice scoring rhythm.

R5: Chess matches continues as Bell, missing from outside, tries to step in and bang to the ribs with left hooks. Marceau pivoting on her right foot, tries to turn Bell and cuff her with the right hook. Punch connects go down as both girls try to outwit the other. Bell the busier takes the round.

R6: Sophie nibbling early, touching Cat’s face with quick strike lead lefts, but midway through the round. Bell POUNDS a loud left hook across the abs, reloads as Sophie gurgles, and clouts the French girl a hook on the ear to put Sophie on her butt at the 2 minute mark. Marceau up quickly, but she’s tasted Cat’s power and doesn’t like it. Marceau on her bicycle the rest of the  way, fading to the right, turning, but not punching as Bell tries to cut off the ring.

R7:   Sophie having her moments, almost Whitaker like a she snakes away from Bell’s punches and counters with slinging receipts upside the brunette’s head or body--but Cat is walking through the punches and making the fight. Bell using the jab, just touching or harassing Sophie with the sharp punch, then evolving the hook has Marceau hurting from a pounding up the right side. After 7, Bell has a comfortable lead--Marceau can survive, but she can’t win with this hit and run strategy.

R8: Marceau looking to slug, hands low, standing in longer with Bell, and the two go forehead to forehead for long stretches of this round. Cat likes the honest give and take--Marceau backing up as the brunette’s heavier strokes rattle her rib cage and jaw in extended trade.

R9: Sophie still gambling, dropping the McKart right jab, going forehead to forehead, then trading punches as Bell sets her feet and works up the body to bang the head. It’s brutal shove and slug center ring, the girls pushing off one another with shoulders to twist into smacking one-twos, bodying up, trying to get leverage, Bell the stronger muscles her girl around the center of the ring as the writing in on the wall for Marceau.

R10: Sophie giving it all up, whacks bell with curling rights and lefts up underneath the guard, standing, gritting her teeth and delivering with hair flying, but Cat covers up and takes, waiting for the fury to subside. Bell advancing, welts away to the body with hooks which sap the French girl’s will, and by the midway point it’s all Cat Bell. Bell bodying her girl around. By the end, Sophie just leaning forward, hands low, soaking it up to the arms, breasts and ribs as Bell gets off machine-like--punching, pushing, and stepping in. UD10 Cat Bell as she emerges to shut Marceau down in the second half.

After: Marceau twisted, rolled, used her wiles, but in the end just got beaten as Bell remained compact, didn’t chase and applied constant wearing pressure in this tactical battle. Cat couldn’t really find the sweet spot on the elusive French girl, but Marceau’s boxing couldn’t distract Bell from her main purpose, despite some opportunistic slugging that proved too little too late from Sophie. Perhaps Bells most complete outing as she proves she can dominate a subtle player with good solid fundamental boxing.

Reposted by Archer 1/17/12.