Posted by Simguy on Thursday, 27-July-2000 19:15:38

Before: Val still carefully matched—Niven selected because of her age, but she’s a tight package and shouldn’t be underestimated. Bertinelli facing plenty of doubts from critics and fans alike—a win here would legitimize her to a certain extent as Niven is motivated, hungry, and talking smack. Babs in grey cotton sports bra, navy speedos, Val in navy sports top, light blue adidas terrycloth trunks.

R1: Val looking efficient, professional as she dishes out a clean shutout this round as Niven inexplicably hangs back, covers up and does little to discourage Bertinelli. Val showing a nice banging jab, moving well side to side, and dropping the right hand into Barbara’s jugs to set up a walk-away hook on the chops calls the shots, flashes a confident smile at the bell. Niven unimpressed, unhurt, but where’s the activity?

R2: Barbara comes to fight and things get interesting—Val moving straight in as girls trade toe to toe—Niven the much harder puncher pounds lefts and rights straight up the middle in between Val’s wider strokes. Bertinelli getting smacked with 2 and 3 quick blows to the face, doesn’t like it and starts half-turning to stagger away. Niven stepping, slugging, looking Barerra-like as she hacks out those drilling straight lefts and rights from the shoulder, then bodies up as Val can’t keep her off. Late in the round, Niven working in close, brings her fists up into Bertinelli’s gut and Val goes wobbly butt. Valerie seated on the ropes, looks ill at the bell—a sweaty Barbara Niven pushing off the blonde and grinning at her good work.

R3: Bertinelli makes no adjustments—stands toe to toe, doesn’t move her heads, Babs bangs away up the middle and Val starts to wobble in retreat. Niven stalking, banging at range with straight shots, then bodying up to curl her punches up underneath has Bertinelli groaning in pain. Babs finishing the round POUNDING Val’s ribs along the ropes as Bertinelli staggers sideways, unable to answer.

R4: Shaky looking Val, puffing up badly around the eyes, tries to step away as Niven walks her down, but Bertinelli’s legs are shot. Babs bouncing her fists off Val’s face at will—hard, cracking blows that have Bertinelli recoiling in obvious pain, Niven jabbing her girl to the ropes, lands a hug smacking right round punch to ther midsection that has Bertinelli hunching forward, and the comeback left hook on the jaw bashes the mouthpiece out onto the apron. Bertinelli out on her feet, swoons forward, gets muscled back onto the ropes, and Niven piles on. Val defenseless, eyes closed, face expressionless gets bombed back into the Stone Age as Niven just rips away with both hands—Bertinelli’s head cracking back as those short powerful strokes hammer home. Ref leisurely steps in way, way too late as Bertinelli slumps to the canvas. KO4 Barbara Nevin.

After: Niven relishing the punishment, offers Val an immediate rematch via televised post fight interview—clearly disdainful of Bertinelli’s abilities at this point. Val badly beaten tp the face and ribcage had nothing to offer once she got hurt and succumbed to a vicious drubbing that may result in a formal review of the oversight officials. Yeah, right.

Reposted by Simguy on 4/27/14.