Posted by Simguy on Friday, 08-Sep-00 22:47:11

Before: Bakke something of an L.A. gym legend, providing tough sparring for girls who need it, but rarely getting the promotional push into the spotlight. Typical bout for Unger--better than average comp, but slightly obscure--two cool, ring savvy beauties--should give us some indication of Unger’s mindset following her humiliation at the hands of Kelly Hu. Bakke in beige push up, taupe satin draw string pantaloons. Unger in genie ponytail, light blue cotton two piece jockeys.

During R1: Slashing exchange midring, both girls swinging for the fences, but Unger ends the trade with a crashing right/left on the chin to leave Bakke saying out over her feet, Midway through, Brenda still not recovered, Unger stepping in low to touch up with her left shoulder, uses her legs to pump upwards with short rights to midriff and Bakke collapses to all fours out of breath. Patient Debbie boxes the final minute, content to pocket the big round and take a lot out of her opponent with minimal risk.

R2: Bake gets the message and takes the fight inside, going shoulder to shoulder as the girls body up midring. Both girls working low, pushing off with the lead shoulder and snapping off tight combinations, then covering up to take away the openings. Brenda a little busier, heavier handed to the body as Unger gives ground this round.

R3: Shutout Brenda Bakke, showing her versatility, fighting forehead to forehead with Deborah and eating the blonde up to the body. Round ends with Unger defending on the ropes--Bakke twisting her own torso into thudding left hooks to the right side to bang out the shutout.

R4: Diaz/Ward-type action as two pros take turns whacking away with hooks, uppercuts and lead right hands, neither girl backing up, both leaning in to fight at point blank range. Bakke taking over in the final minute, shutting Unger down with cuffing blows to either ear, then stepping in with grunting hooks to the midriff that have the blonde visibly wilting at the bell.

R5: Deborah gets back on her toes, using her reflexes and angles to earn a little separation. Unger’s quicker outside, doubling up the jab, snapping off the hook, and evading punishment with circular movement as Bakke stalks, but doesn’t get off.

R6: Deb breaking her girl down with a punishing, very accurate jab to the eyes, and a sneaky right cross in the first minute has Bakke stepping in fence post holes, Unger not pressing her advantage, allows Brenda to recover, but in the middle minute busts a suddenly savage right cross, left hook, right cross to drive Brenda staggering to the ropes. Unger completing the shutout with her left shoulder and forearm on the opponent, bracing Brenda for snapping combinations as Deb squares up to the bell.

R7: Brenda busted up, but defiant, lean Unger forward with feigned weak legs, then proceeds to win an exchange of hooks that has Unger leaning in. Bakke turning up the heat, clubbing wide lefts and rights to the ears to keep that guard high, then ripping a very hard hook across the belly to send tremors down Deborah’s thighs. Unger breaking down under the one-sided shellacking, fades to the topes to slip and dodge--Bakke right on top goes to work with shove and slug, leaning on Deb’s upper back whenever she bends forward, digging to the body with harmful strokes from either hand. Only apparent after the bell that Unger is hurt--face flushed, gait unsteady as she staggers to her corner.

R8: Brenda gaining entrance with fearsome hooks to the body--Unger’s legs can’t respond. Deb toughening up, goes shoulder to shoulder  and finally beats Bakke in the trenches, going punch for punch, shouldering Brenda hard in the stomach, and coming up with those short right uppercuts hard between the breasts.

R9: Unger backing off, invites Bakke in--Brenda stalking but she’s getting picked up by a Deborah’s clever counter punching. Midway through the round, Deb fades a straight left and leans in with a cracking right cross through the chin, putting the big bend in Bakke’s knees for a moment. Brenda continues to come forward the rest of the way--Unger stealing a Bakke round with well-timed power.

R10: Deborah Unger finally steps up, breaking Bakke’s will shoulder to shoulder in the first minute, forcing the brunette’s back to the ropes, Rest of the way, blonde bends her legs, pushes hardnosed shutout has Bakke hollow-eyed at the bell. UD10 Deborah Unger.

After: Deb maybe too patient in a very methodical bout for her, punctuated with startling single shot power throughout that begged for finishing pressure fro the blonde. Bakke hurt on many occasions, usually allowed to regroup and get some work done. Still, good bout for both--and Stacy Haiduk in the wings means steady work in the near future.

Reposted 10/20/10