Posted by Simguy on Wednesday, 26-July-2000 09:27:57

Before: Multi year lay off for Bertinelli, but the abs are back in shape, hair in blonde and she looks the part if nothing else. Once famous for scoring unexpected victories over big name opposition—never really fulfilled her potential and claims she has unfinished business in the ring, Bleeth taking the bout on one week’s notice, badly undertrained and a little soft around the hips—Yas the professional opponent not about to say no to a decent paycheque and a rusty foe. Bleeth in black sports bra, orange sprinter’s trunks white stripe up the side, Val in white sports bra, light blue adidas terrycloth trunks—both girls with Spanish ponytail (my term for ponytails tied at the base of the skull rather than higher up).

During R1: Rust evident early bas Val telegraphs, misjudges time and distance and gets counterpunched to pieces this round, Bleeth conserving her energy, fighting flat footed, misdirects Val’s right with her left and counters with short right hands to Bertinelli’s button nose or round jugs. Easy round for Bleeth.

R2: Both girls mixing it up, slinging shirt lefts and rights in wide open action early—collision of left hooks goes Val’s way as Yasmine scoots to her backside. Bleeth up quickly, but her legs aren’t all the way back—good work from Bertinelli to consolidate, stuffing her fists into that too-soft gut and forcing Yas to the ropes, Bleeth with some nifty slipping and countering late avoids the shutout, but Val’s compact punching power carries the round.

R3: Yas still outfoxing Val as Bertinelli’s timing is off. Nifty work at close range from Bleeth—she turns a shoulder, guides Val’s fists past her jaw then chops in the counter punches which land flush on that cute face. Bertinelli taking the blows well, but she’s getting outclassed, and isn’t enough pressure to an out of shape Bleeth, Yas all smiles at the bell.

R4: Yas leading more this round, able to stuff her left fist into Val’s face with depressing ease—follow up with straight right/lefts up the middle as Bertinelli backpedals awkwardly. Val not busy enough, falling in to clinch and not working inside, letting Bleeth off rhe hook.

R5: Val finally outworks Yasmine, working in behind a short, snapping jab to fight off Bleeth’s chest, and putting together digging lefts and rights t that suspect gut. It’sn the right decision—Bleeth looking uncomfortable, tieing up more, and getting chewed up in mouth-on-shoulder slogging.

R6: Val doing more of the right stuff—getting on her girl, stuffing mitts into Yasmine;s gut, sapping the energy out of the brunette’s legs. Val also rediscovering flashes of the old form, bending side to side, bringing her punches up into Bleeth’s body with plenty of leverage—Yas falling off the pace this round.

R7: Bleeth shows a boxing look, showing her versatility, stepping away from Val and flashing a hard double jab from the shoulder. Val showing the rust again, unable to cut off the ring—Bleeth able to circle and potshot occasionally diving in with a short right hand off the face to put Val wobbly butt this round.

R8: Bleeth doesn’t have the reserves to keep up the movement, and falls inside once again as Val retakes the initiative. Bertinelli moving her hands, rolling her shoulders inside—she’s piling on the leather as her fists pound the belly and hips of her curvy foe/ Yas taking longer breaks, clinching and tieing up, breathing through the mouth—she’s getting used up.

R9: Concentrated tummy attacks from Val as she pours it on—stepping with Yas and pressing her all over the ring. Bertinelli just curling lefts and rights into the belly—Bleeth’s legs shot from the second minute on and down the stretch a tough series if lefts and rights to the gut force Bleeth to take a knee. Gasping and clearly hurt, Yas sinks to the ropes and lets Val cudgel her in behind the elbows with round punches to the bell.

R10: Val comparatively fresh, up tempos and Bleeth collapses this round. Yas fading to the ropes, covering up, taking a beating to her flanks and tummy, then clinches desperately for the referee’s break. Val staying composed, eyes flashing—she greedily wades back in as soon as the ref pushes her away to keep the pressure on, Midway through the round—Bleeth bent over sideways to the ropes, Val punishing her with clubbing lefts and rights across the back and up underneath and Yasmine goes down! On all fours, a battered and discouraged Yasmine Bleeh guts it out, rising at 8, sinking to the ropes, and gives Val a fight in the final minute. Brisk toe to toe trading sees Bleeth get in synch, turning into several clean left hooks on the jaw to wobble Bertinelli slightly at the bell, Val wins a clear Unanimous Decision, and happily struts the ring in triumph.

After: Betrinelli gets a B for a looking good against a C+ Bleeth, but critics feel she could have done more against a clearly sub-par Yasmine. Yasmine has all the excuses in the world for losing, and they are valid, but Val’s comeback gets off on the right foot—and she did look sharper towards the end of the fight.

Reposted by Archer 4/27/14.