REEBOK LIGHTWEIGHT TITLE

Posted by Simguy on Saturday, 05-Feb-2000 18:02:00

Before: London hosts this hot local pairing as Messenger finally gets a crack at the big leagues. Melinda came up through the infamous page 3 fighting gyms and isn’t a creampuff by any measure, sporting a pretty good record against non-celebrity journeywomen. Jones a sharper boxer, has fought the better opposition, and is a big favourite of bettors, but Messenger a dangerous mystery at this point. Melinda in black push up, pink bikini trunks, Catherine in red bandeau bikini, sloicked back braid.

During R1: Melinda with a nice loose stance, shoots the jab out while holding the right at her chin, showing good defensive fundamentals. Girls circle, safety first boxing, but Messenger able to hook off the jab to score the meatier blows to take the first.

R2: Battle if hooks rages early as the girls trade lefts and Zeta Jones emerges the stronger, backing Melinda up after a series of near simultaneous collisions. Midway though the round, Jones doubles up on the hook, bashing her way around Messenger’s guard, and the blonde stumbles forward, hurt and lapping it up as Jones flurries. Good round for Catherine raises a mouse under Messenger’s right eye and sends the blonde back to her corner with doubts.

R3: Jones in a groove, stepping left around her hook, has Messenger under control. Jones getting off first and last, has Melinda bobbing and defending, but obviously concerned about opening up., Catherine jabbing Melinda to the ropes, puts punches together to close out the bell to bell bet down with crisp flurries.

R4: Melinda shows a little backbone, jabbing with Jones and disrupting the brunette’s timing. Messenger swivels her hips into left hooks to the stomach, bringing Jones up onto her toes, and putting a little pout on Catherine’s lips—the blonde has a nice supple action on her punches, generating more power than one would guess, Jones tightening up the guard, flicks little rights and lefts from the elbow, but these are don’t-hurt-me punches, and Messenger controls the round.

R5: Jones anticipated more body work and counters with chopping right hands on Messenger’s face as she throws hooks low. Melinda hurt to open the round, never recover, and Jones pours it on, Banging combinations smack Melinda’s face back and forth, driving her onto her heels, and a clipping right uppercut drapes the blonde on the ropes as flash bulbs burst. Messenger sliding along the ropes, is savaged as Jones stays with her, pounding a straight right hand in between the eyes, and bashing out Messenger’s mouthpiece with well oiled hooks to the jaw. Messenger soaking up tremendous punishment finally falter sot her hands and knees after a sustained bombardment, as Jones steps back with a cool glint in those dark eyes. Messenger up at 9, but the ref waves it off as she is too battered to continue. TKO5 Zeta Jones.

After: Messenger draws fairly positively reviews, holding her own early before being solved by the analytical Jones. Melinda appears to have all the tools, but lacks class at this point, although falling prey to Jones no disgrace.

Reposted by Archer 1/2/10.