BEFORE:

"I'm glad I'm finally getting some fight opportunities," says Leah with a smile. "I can fight as well as anyone at PLP. All I need is a chance to prove it."

"She's just gotten lost in the shuffle with all the talent they have over at PLP," says Kat with a nod. "I know what that's like. But, the way to deal with that is to win. And, that's just what I plan to do tonight."

ROUND ONE:

O'Dell: "Back at ringside and that's..."

McCarthy: "TERRIBLE! We're back to THIS again..."

Cassie: "I'm surprised you don't like this song, Mac. It's from back in your teenage years..."

O'Dell: "The song is called 'The Pied Piper' by Crispian St. Peters..."

McCarthy: "THAT SONG CAME OUT IN 1966..."

Cassie: "Like I said, back in your TEEN years..."

McCarthy: "YOU LITTLE..."

O'Dell (sighing): "IF we could concentrate on the ring! The lovely Leah Pipes of Pretty Little Punchers is, even now, climbing in and being helped off with the robe to reveal a lovely salmon-colored two piece..."

Tess: "Pipes a girl who, up until last September, had only had one FCBA fight. But, she's fought three times since and appears to be getting a bit of a push from PLP."

O'Dell: "And, that's 'I Don't Feel Like Dancing', by Scissor Sisters booming through the arena, and that can only mean that Kat 'The Rack' Dennings is on her way to the ring..."

McCarthy: "And, since the Original Dancing Hooker left, SHE might be my LEAST favorite member of Front Street..."

Tess: "Are you saying that you like her even less than Allison..."

McCarthy: "DON'T SAY IT!"

Cassie: "'Mack The Knife' Mack..."

McCarthy: "I SWEAR, Scabbo..."

O'Dell (sighing): "Dennings into the ring and helped off with the robe by Jewel and Neve. She's wearing that curve-hugging black number she likes. And, the ladies are about ready. Time for some picks. Tess favors Kat. Mac?"

McCarthy: "My new rule is, if a girl HAS an FCBA win, favor her over a random Dancing Hooker. Pipes."

O'Dell: "Cassie?"

Cassie: "I agree with Tess!"

O'Dell: "And, here we go. Dennings going to make with the pressure early, and no surprise there. Kat a pressure fighter through and through. Pipes, though, likes to box, to create space with the left and the moving feet, and that's where Leah's going early. She's giving a little ground, jabbing, turning in a slow circle..."

Tess: "Pipes moves very well, and she also hits hard, as her fight against Morrison showed."

O'Dell: "Morrison a Top Twenty-Five bantam who's had success against some highly-ranked fighters. Pipes definitely turned some heads with that win. Meanwhile, back in the ring, Kat continues to pressure and Leah continues to manage with the jab and the feet. Lots of feeling out going on here in the first."

McCarthy: "No surprise, especially with a girl like Pipes who's only had a handful of fights in the FCBA."

O'Dell: "Final thirty seconds of the first round, and it looks like it's going to go down in the books as a tactical round. Pipes continuing to work the jab, Kat still looking to close and do some banging, but mostly being prevented from doing that. Final seconds tick off and there's the bell. Close to Pipes."

ROUND TWO:

O'Dell: "Second underway with Dennings applying the forward pressure. She's getting Leah squared a bit now and backing her up with some solid shot. Pipes backing and circling, doesn't want to get into a firefight with Dennings, at least at this point. Kat boring in, working some body now. Leah ties up and forces a break."

McCarthy: "Pipes managing very well, but, eventually, she's going to have to punch for respect."

O'Dell: "Referee breaks and Kat again forward, crowing Leah, backing her up, working body and TAKING A KNEE! A nasty one-two from Pipes, a straight right followed by a left hook and Dennings is DOWN! Pipes actually hesitated before going to a neutral corner, surprised herself with that knockdown..."

Cassie: "Sure did. Came out of nowhere, but those were two EXCELLENT punches."

O'Dell: "Count at three. Four. Five. Six. Dennings to her feet. Referee going to give her the mandatory and waive Leah forward. Pipes all aggression now, slowly backing Dennings down with flurry after flurry. Kat keeping the guard high, jabbing back on occasion, working hard to stay off the ropes. Finally gets trapped there, but with just five seconds left. Pipes a good right hand and there's the bell. BIG round for Leah."

Tess: "20-17. That's a pretty good start for Pipes."

ROUND THREE:

O'Dell: "Third round begins with Pipes coming forward. Leah definitely looking to consolidate on Kat, who's still a bit unsteady. Dennings again conducting a fighting retreat, making Pipes take leather for the canvas she's grabbing, but Leah able to fight through the punches and continue to back Kat up."

Tess: "Pipes definitely showing the killer instinct here, just like she did against Morrison. Some fighters have it. Some don't. Leah Pipes DOES."

O'Dell: "She's got Dennings pinned to the cables now and she's letting her have it. Kat keeping the guard high, putting the body on sale, and Pipes buying in bulk, then going back upstairs with hooks and uppercuts. Referee paying pretty close attention right now as there's not a lot coming back from Kat..."

McCarthy: "Pipes lands one good shot here and he'll stop it."

O'Dell: "Leah not looking like counting on the ref. She's trying to end it the old fashioned way, by turning out Kat's lights. Dennings tying up now. Pipes shoves off. Kat a good right hand and Leah a solid right hand counter. Ten seconds left. Pipes banging body and lands a good uppercut at the bell. End of the third. Leah wide."

Cassie: 30-26 and this is starting to look alarmingly like the Spiridakos fight for Dennings."

ROUND FOUR:

O'Dell: "Pipes right back to work here in the fourth. She's working forward, getting in Kat's grill. Dennings holding her ground, though. Not getting forced back. Banging back at Leah. And, we've got one heck of a battle going on in the middle of the ring. These girls exchanging heavy shot to the head right now..."

McCarthy: "Crowd getting into it, because they are throwing BOMBS..."

O'Dell: "Indeed, they are, and neither fighter taking a backward step despite all of that heavy leather flying around. Girls in close, banging away. Dennings beginning to dig some body now, and Pipes responds in kind. Leah thumping Kat to midsection and ribs, and Dennings digging just as hard into Pipes' body..."

Cassie: "All about backing the other girl down right now, Jenny. And, neither fighter wants to be the one who blinks."

O'Dell: "Final thirty seconds and nobody blinking. Pipes back to the head, and Dennings right back upstairs as well. Kat a hook to the ribs and then a nice uppercut and Pipes takes the first backward step of the round. Kat right in her grill and Leah greets her with a nasty hook that sends sweat flying at the bell! What a round! Close. Dennings."

Tess: "Kat finally on the board, but still down 39-36."

ROUND FIVE:

O'Dell: "Fighters wasting no time getting this started. Just walking right to the center of the ring and picking up where we left off. This is some serious stuff going on in close quarters. Fighters digging body early, then working upstairs and back down. And, all of a sudden, we're on Dennings' terms for some reason..."

Tess: "No question that this is what Kat likes to do. I think Pipes got drawn in last round trying to keep the roll going, but, I'm surprised she hasn't gone back to boxing."

O'Dell: "She's certainly holding her own in the trenches at the moment, standing right there with Dennings banging away to head and body. Kat REEFING those hooks to the ribs, getting Leah to crouch, then banging one to the head. Pipes a SOLID right hand, then a left hook to the midsection..."

Cassie: "You can HEAR those body punches landing, and they aren't in the corner above us. They're in the middle of the ring."

O'Dell: "In a phone booth. Staying right in the center of the ring. Plenty of tactical footwork and head and shoulder movement happening, but this is being fought in a very small area. Final seconds ticking away in the fifth. Body work going to go on right to the bell and there it is. Close again. Pipes."

McCarthy: "And, Leah's got a big 49-45 lead at the half."

ROUND SIX:

O'Dell: "Pipes back to looking to box now. She's jabbing for space, moving the feet, backing, slowly circling. Kat wants to close and bang, but Leah having none of that now. She's making Dennings work to get her terms, which isn't exactly a bad idea at this point with a four-point lead, is it, Mac?"

McCarthy: "I'm surprised she didn't get back to this last round. This is where she's comfortable. These are the tactics she should use."

O'Dell: "Dennings working forward, moving the head well, getting past the jab, banging some body with some heavy hooks. Pipes giving a little ground. Dennings taking some more, cutting Leah off and ROCKING HER! Right hook from Dennings hurt Pipes! And now Kat is all in with about half the sixth to go!"

Cassie: "That hook was set up beautifully by the body work. Just got Leah to lower the head a bit and dropped it right over her left glove!"

O'Dell: "Dennings going to town now, working Pipes over. Leah covering, backing, getting trapped on the cables. Kat banging away with both hands, mostly upstairs, but not ignoring the body. She's tenderizing flesh in between the heavy head shots. Pipes hanging on, clinching, getting stacked up and worked to the body. Ten seconds left. Good right from Kat. Referee looking in, but there's the bell. Pipes survives it."

Tess: "Dennings wide, but Leah still leads 58-55."

ROUND SEVEN:

O'Dell: "Dennings right to work to start the seventh. She's got finishing on her mind. She's boring in on Leah, forcing her back. Pipes trying to stay off square, but she clearly doesn't have a lot in the leg department. Kat barreling her up, backing her up, banging away with heavy leather. Pipes taking a pounding right now..."

Cassie: "This can't go on for long. Leah's shipping a lot of shell right now."

O'Dell: "Dennings a hard left hook to the body and a STRAIGHT RIGHT HAND and Pipes is GOBSMACKED! Leah stumbles, nearly goes down. Kat BLITZING her now, trying to get her out of there. Pipes backed to the ropes for a second consecutive round and she's taking another serious beating to both the head and body..."

Tess: "Well, we know this girl can't take a punch, because she's spent the last two rounds taking everything Kat can throw at her..."

O'Dell: "Leah getting ROCKED AGAIN! Right hook from Kat sends her stumbling along the ropes. Dennings going body now. Pipes tying up. Referee looking in closely. Not going to take much for him to stop this thing. Leah hanging on desperately as we reach the final seconds. Kat THUMPING that body. Five seconds left. Pipes clinching. And she survives another one. Shutout, Dennings."

McCarthy: "But, after all that, Pipes still leads 67-65."

ROUND EIGHT:

O'Dell: "Hard as it might be to believe after those last two rounds, time may be running short on Dennings here. She's down two with three to go and she's definitely looking like a fighter who needs to get work done. She's after Leah in a big way. Pipes still without a lot of leg right now and Kat taking full advantage..."

McCarthy: "Pipes doing a good job with head and shoulder movement and with a solid guard. She's defending well without being able to move well."

O'Dell: "Dennings back to that body, hooking some ribs as she steps into Pipes' grill. Leah giving ground, trying to jab for space, but now it's Kat who isn't having any. Dennings walking right through Pipes and THUMPING a hard left hook to the head. Leah in retreat as Dennings continues to crowd..."

Cassie: "SHOVEL HOOK!"

O'Dell: "AND DOWN GOES PIPES! A shovel hook to the liver by Dennings and Pipes collapses face first to the canvas. Leah rolled in a ball in agony as Dennings goes to a neutral corner. Count at three. Four. Five. Six. Pipes pushes to hands and right hip at seven. Trying to get the legs to work. Eight. Nine. Can't do it! TEN! And it's over! And your winner by KO8 in comeback fashion is Kat 'The Rack" Dennings!"

Tess: "Let's check the replay on that punch, Jenny. Here's the left hook to the head. Watch Pipes' hands come up in anticipation of a right hand. The right comes, but not to the head. BOOM! There's the Neve Campbell liver punch, and it's over!"

AFTER:

O'Dell: "Let's go up to the ring and Tess Valmore!"

Tess: "I have our winner, Kat Dennings, and, Kat, we were thinking about Spiridakos after that rough start. Did that cross your mind?"

Kat (shaking her head): "Not really. I knew I'd gotten behind, but I wasn't going to panic. There was plenty of fight left and I knew I had time to get back in it."

Tess: "Those last three rounds, you really took control..."

Kat (nodding): "She's sturdy. She can hit. She's a good boxer. But, I started to get in rhythm there. I hurt her a couple of times. Once I did that, it was just a matter of time until I could finish."