Originally posted by Simguy on Friday, 13-Aug-1999 08:53:03

(Thanks to FightFan for this repost)

Before: Lopez with an ambitious plan to rule boxing: fight all the tough fights on the way up, then fight only big names in title defenses - similar to the ploy used by Jami Luner. Raitano a smaller version of Lopez, but remains to be seen whether or not Jennifer can use any kind of pure physical advantage over the brunette powerhouse. No finesse expected - both promising wreckage for the other - should be a barn burner. Raitano in red terrycloth Adidas trunks, black jogbra, Jennifer in royal blue aerobics two piece - white gloves and shoes for both.

During R1: As promised, both fighters close to phone-booth range and start duking it out. Heads in together, the girls take turns snapping off killer 2 punch combinations, then covering up to take their medicine. Lopez hitting a ton early, and hitting more often to take a bruising first.

R2, 3: Jen getting into Natalie's trunks and banging from minimal range. Lopez with the heartless left hook to the waist has Natalie pouting, and the Latina traps Raitano's left arm to turn her into hooks to the head. Natalie still relying on sheer ferocity, getting outfought on the inside, and walked around a bit as Lopez does indeed use her size in these rounds.

R4: Raitano on the board, finally letting her hands go to fire the 3rd and 4th punch in her flurries. Lopez backing up, exposes her jawline, and Natalie takes advantage with several cracking short lefts.

R5: Jen Lopez sets a blistering pace, finally beating Raitano to the punch so often that the fireplug brunette stops punching. Lopez stepping around her foe, banging the flanks, and ripping right uppercuts up the middle, stepping to the right as Raitano hunches forward. Beautiful sequence midway through as Lopez swats a left hook to the ear of Raitano, then digs it into the brunette's liver. Natalie hurt the rest of the round, cringing, and taking a beating along the ropes to the bell.

R6: Round fought in Raitano's corner as trench warfare continues. Natalie trading lustily early, but over the latter half of the round, sits on the turnbuckle, leaning forward, taking punches. Lopez really sucking the wind out of the smaller brawler with hooks across the tummy, and a jarring right hand on the jaw. Lopez with shove-and-slug to the bell.

R7: Natalie comes out strong, trading left hooks on the inside with Lopez, and Jennifer staggers back on her heels, eyes blank, and mouth in that famous pout. Raitano pours it on, teeth bared as she churns her fists in ruthless clubbing arcs, beating Lopez to the ropes, coming in with her head, straying low - all in a furious bid to hurt the Latina . Lopez sucks it up, and fighting shoulder to shoulder, finally hurts Raitano in turn, twisting into an overhand right that sends Natalie face first into the ropes. Round ends with Lopez beating a tune on Raitano's gut with both fists, and continuing on after the bell.

R8, 9: Championship rounds go to Jennifer as she gets stronger, while Natalie starts to fade. Raitano crumbling after the first minute of the rounds, retreating in bad form, taking clean punches as she stands straight up, and no longer able to come back immediately with her own heat. Lopez bodying up, walking Raitano into the corners, and still punching in bunches. Jen breaks Raitano's heart in these rounds with punishing body work.

R10: All Jen Lopez as a hollowed out Raitano looks like Dead Woman Walking. Jen stepping to the foe, ripping short lead rights, batters Raitano to the corner, and immediately sets to work with gusto. Pounding hooks loudly off Raitano's stubborn abs, Jen breaks up Natalie's guard and has a field day in the final minute. Using that left shoulder to stuff a dazed Raitano back into the turnbuckle, Jennifer turns into a clubbing right, sizzling left combination over and over to batter Raitano helpless. Methodical beat down, Jen fighting in Natalie's own sweat, punctuates a very solid Lopez win. Unanimous decision comes back as no surprise as Jen blows kisses to the audience in victory.

After: Jen uses Raitano as a living message board, giving her the kind of beating that other stars take note of. Motivated to pure fury with the stench of the Halliwell debacle, Lopez won't be satisfied until she regains the number one pound for pound status she craves.


Sim Guy



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