UNIFIED BANTAMWEIGHT TITLE

Posted by Simguy on 1/15/2005, 9:09 am.

Before: Kaley talking “One hell of a risk” in the words of one pundit: Jolene b as nasty a one-punch KO artist as there is I the game--but Cuoco relishing the challenge. “I don’t want to tiptoe around the division, picking and choosing easy marks,” shrugs ingénue optimist in preflight. “If I didn’t have total confidence in myself and my team, I wouldn’t be taking this fight. I’m the champion: Jolene’s the one who should be worried.” Blalock: not worried, Kaley in white bikini with floral print, Jolene in indigo cotton top, gray bottoms, white waistband.

During R1: KALEY’S HURT! Jolene bending in behind a pounding jab to drop a crashing right hand across Cuoco’s available chin--champ sent stomping to her right, buttocks clenching and unclenching spasmodically--”Gobsmack” written all over Kaley’s face. JB on the hunt--showing good savvy in reefing hooks to Kaley’s midsection--challenger not going all chin-happy just because of good luck early. Cuoco in rags, but regrouping--bouncing/spinning off the ropes, deflecting Blalock’s advance; clinching at times, walking Jolene to ropes for breaks. Jolene stalking: left hand loose, menacing at her hip, snaking up and out with snappy jabs; right hand near the chin, cocked and ready.

R2: Kaley shakes it off--motors to her right--pesky jabbing motion followed by sudden swat hooks and hard right hands--Blalock hanging back, wary. Jolene putting the “boxer: ion “boxer/puncher”--managing Cuoco with that long sinuous jab off the hip,. Threatening her with flinching right hand feints, licking hooks to champion ribs. Jolene a master at changing distance in her wide stance, using long, lean rangy limbs, swaying in and out on Kaley.

R3: Kaley on her toes, circling, mounting sudden rushes behind a spitting jab, looking to drop a right hand and get out/ Fight settles into cat and mouse midring: Blalock turning, coiled, tracking--Kaley changing directions, bending at her waist, trying to find seams for jump-in hooks and lead right hands. Girls negating each other: Cuoco can’t go all-in; Blalock can’t line Kaley up--but Cuoco dictating tempo, style with her feet.

R4: Kaley comfy outside, not doing a lot of damage but managing the ring, keeping Blalock tentative with athletic lateral movement. Cuoco doing her scoring in bursts--circling, shearing in off angles, swat/clubbing in brisk right/lefts, then ducking back out at angle. Blalock too patient--not hurt, but not moving her hands either--she’s following Cuoco around, looking for that one magical chin-check.

R5: Jolene jabs--good things happy. Cuoco rushes stall on the end of JB’s left fist--blonde barely able to recoil out of range as right crosses whistle past her chin. Jolene hopping forward, cutting off the ring better--she’s getting leverage in those cranking, lanky left hooks up underneath: Cuoco doesn’t like those body shots.

R6: Jolene outboxing Kaley, controlling mobile blonde with a darting, venomous stick. Blalock attempting, rocking back and forth in her wide stance, chasing Cuoco along the ropes. JB’s snapping up jab followed by meanspirited right hands--well scouted by Kaley--but the mop ip hook in the waist landing with thick consistency.

R7: Kaley showing some savvy, makes subtle adjustments to her game. Lots of lateral movement: important to keep Jolene moving her feet--but champ also sliding inside to clinch, bog Blalock down. Jolene confused, jerking and reefing her arms to extricate them, complaining to the ref about Cuoco’s shameful tactics.

R8: Kaley stays smart--nimble/quick on the outside jumping in with a shot, tieing up, walking Blalock to ropes for breaks. Sweaty tousles running in tight during the lock-ups--Blalock throwing her shoulder at Kaley’s mouth in frustration, drawing warnings, Cuoco upbeat--smiling--she’s not damaging Blalock, but she’s bamboozling judges at ringside with her confident, winning attitude.

R9: More Kaley harassing, confusing and bogging Jolene down. Blalock forgoing her jab in an attempt to time Cuoco coming in--it’s a mistake as Kaley’s too quick. Stop and go action as Kaley ranges wide, slashes inside, toes up--over and over again. Tempers flare at one point as Blalock orders Kaley to “Fight like a champion”--Cuoco laughing, well out of range.

R10: Jolene jabs, good thing happen,. Cuoco jumping in, getting tracked and fixed at arm’s length: Kaley bending and writhing, narrowly evading the lethal right cross chaser from Blalock. JB able to come forward at the hop, gloves at her lips, pinging out the jab, driving in righty, mopping up rangy hooks--landing with pleasing pop to Cuoco’s flank and tummy. Bell: Cuoco grinning--Blalock fuming. Comes back Tractorpull Special: Draw.

After: Cuoco shrugging, slightly chagrined as gloves are removed--it’s her best exhibition of mature ring management, but booing from audience the cost of discretion. Jolene harsh in her assessment. “She didn’t hurt me once--not once. If I had known she’s run and hide like a little punch. I’d have stepped up and taken her out when I had her reeling in the first. The judges got it wring--that’s all I can say.” Cuoco philosophical in post fight. “I know the fans want hard slugging, all the time--but Jolene was just too dangerous tonight. She hurt me right away and that did sort of influence what I thought I could get away with. Overall, I outboxed her--my legs dominated the fight and I thought I really took her out of her game, I guess the judges wanted to give her credit for looking fierce, but I felt I got the better if her overall.” Hard feeling persist as Kaley makes a point of displaying the belts in Jolene’s corner--officials move to keep a red-faced Blalock from doing anything rash.

Reposted by Archer 12/9/12.