Posted by Simguy on 11/10/2000, 8:31 am.

Before: Neve’s size and strength versus Amy Jo’s scrappy hit and run tactics—interesting contrast in styles tonight. Campbell needs to be bold persistent—she’s going to be one punch away from winning this fight all the way through, Amy Jo needs to move move move, shoe shine the bigger girl, get her frustrated and convince the judges that she’s not running in the process, Amy Jo in yellow and purple diving bikini, zipper front, Campbell in high neck navy velvet sports bra and boy cut trunks.

During R1: Amy Jo poking the jab, Neve slamming back a hard right hand upside the head gets her girl bobbing defensively early, A sweet left hook clubs Amu across the temple as she bobs forward and JOHNSON IS HURT! Swooning to the ropes, Amy Jo covers up and mounts a desperate defense. Campbell patient, hands in tight to her chest as she squares up, snaps heavy left hands into Johnson’s side, curls little uppercuts with the bright mitts and keeps Amy Jo under pressure. To her credit, Johnson survives, spins out and keeps her distance in the final minute to escape a dangerous first,

R2: Neve confidently coming forward, twisting into the left hook to the waist and trying to jam the short right hand into Amy’s upper chest. Johnson draws oohs from the crowd midway through as she stops wheeling, catches Neve coming in with drilling straight right hand toi snap Campbell’s head back—Amy Jon stepping away and looking to potshot as Neve walks through the power.

R3: Pattern becomes clear: Neve coming forward, hands tight at her chest, elbows in, trying to close distance and get leverage on short punches—Amy Jo circling, stepping in to wing 2 and 3 slapping arm punches then bounce away before getting a receipt., No question Neve’s landing the harder punches—No doubt Amy’s landing more and dictating terms of combat.

R4: Good working round for Amy. Her flailing nuisance flurries have Neve bleeding from the nose and Campbell can’t get set to punch this round, Johnson getting off, Neve on her heels, arms raised to fend off the swatting blows, then Campbell trying to walk her brunette down as Johnson dips away.

R5: Amy still picking her spots, but she gets caught a short left hook in the middle of one exchange that has the smaller girl wobbly butt. Neve takes overt with solid body work, getting her face on Amy’s forehead, rolling her shoulders inside to scrub gut with both fists, Johnson’s legs rebelling, she lays in, palming up on Neve’s gut with both fists. Johnson’s legs rebelling, she lays in, palming up on Neve’s biceps in an attempt to bog down the attack—good pulverizing round for Campbell as she grinds away.

R6: Amy still inside, rubbing face with Neve, trading to the body—Campbell easily walking her girl around the ring, shaking Amy Jo’s little body with thudding strokes and slowly piling up a punishing round,. Down the stretch, Johnson steps out a half step, drills the straight right hand and Campbell stops punching. Amy Jo taking over in the final seconds, pushing in on Neve, then stepping out to the side, drawing Campbell forward and bending into a cracking right hand before bodying up again. Tough round to score as Campbell getting clocked, doesn’t seem fazed by Johnson’s biggest punches.

R7: Amy Jo still trying it inside—Neve getting her body on the smaller gorl, and digging her fists in around Amy’s elbows to bash up that toned little torso. Johnson trying to work inside Neve’s shoulders, pushing the big girl back and getting off with the shoeshine across the breast or tummy—but this is Campbell’s fight.

R8: Amy bipping it back outsider, starts to hit and run—Campbell trapped atop the Empire State Building, swatting at bi-planes with little success, Johnson impressing with quickness and smarts—standing in long enough to slap 2 or 3 wide punches then bouncing outside to keep Campbell turning. Campbell obviously loading up—has felt Amy going on several occasions this fight and just wants to get one more good blast in.

R9: So tough to score: ASmy doing her thing, brushing Neve up and moving, but Campbell also getting her agenda across, twisting the hook into Johnson’s body—smaller girl cringing whenever her tender abs are tested. Down the stretch—Johnson separates herself stepping back in good order, walking Neve into a series of straight right hands on the mouth as she lures Campbell across the ring, then tying up at the ropes. Could have been enough to steal a close round.

R10: Neve out strong, pounding lead right hands between the breasts to drive Amy into retreat. Johnson answering back with some brilliant in and out footwork setting up short, cracking right hands on the face to put Campbell on her heels for one of the few times in the fight. Blood trickling from Neve’s nose as she feels a little time pressure down the stretch. Amy bobbing, showing classy upper body movement while she runs the clock—Neve chopping right hand, coming back with left hooks and AMY GOES DOWN! A clipping left skids off the top of Amy’s head while she’s bent forward and little brunette scoots to her butt off balance. Up quick, but it’s knockdown. Bell sounds: decision goes as a draw.

'

After: Scattered booing at the call, but it’s all fans of both girl thinking their favourite “obviously” prevailed—proves a draw probably appropriate. Neither girl able to prevent the other from working her fight plan—Campbell hurting Amy more often—Johnson winning more minutes in a tactical contest. Give Amy Jo credit—fight could have been over in the first minute—tenacious little fighter sucked it up to make a marathon out of it.

Reposted by Archer 7/1/13