BEFORE:

"It hasn't been a great FCBA start for me," says Jessica with a shake of the head. "But, I knew it would be tough. I'm just going to keep working hard, and get this turned around. And, that starts tonight."



"She's got plenty of size and length." says Leelee with a nod. "She can box. She can cause girls trouble. But, she's not getting a win tonight."



ROUND ONE:



O'Dell: "Back at ringside and that's 'Christian Dior Denim Flow' by Kanye West, and here comes a lady who got a name check in that song, the lovely Jessica Gomes!"



Cassie: "Gomes, of course, representing one of our guest stables, Equipo Secundario, which is a promotional branch of Los Ingobernales. All the girls in that stable have added incentive in the ring, because they're looking to draw a promotion to the main roster."



O'Dell: "Gomes into the ring and helped off with the robe by the corner crew, and she is looking just like the international supermodel she is in that red bikini..."



McCarthy: "I'll admit, she might make it into the magazine. Not a centerfold, mind, but maybe in a pictorial with some other girls..."



O'Dell (sighing): "And, that's 'Uprising' by Muse you hear, and that can only mean that 'The Polish Princess', Leelee Sobieski, is on her way to ringside..."



McCarthy: "FINALLY! A real fighter after all these Dancing Hookers and opponents with no FCBA wins!"



O'Dell: "Sobieski down the aisle, tapping glove to fist with Mac as usual, then climbing into the ring to be helped off with the robe by Jewel and Neve. She's wearing that black two-piece we've become familiar with. And, it's about time to get started. And, that means it's time for picks. Tess favors Leelee. Mac?"



McCarthy: "Again. An opponent with NO FCBA wins. And, this time, she's got a real fighter in front of her. Sobieski!"



O'Dell: "Cassie?"



Cassie: "I agree with Tess!"



O'Dell: "There's the bell. Gomes right to the long left jab here, no surprise to see that she wants to box early. Sobieski has the size and power advantage, at least at this point. There was a time when Gomes was a full welter, but she's trimmed down quite a bit and is definitely a lightweight now."



McCarthy: "Right, and that's why she doesn't want to trade power shots with Sobieski. But, it looks like the kid can box, like Leelee said in the open."



O'Dell: "No doubt. Gomes moves the feet well. She's got quick hands, and she has that length, which she's using to good effect at the moment. Sobieski willing to stay outside and fight at range. She's a tall girl with a lot of reach herself and she's very comfortable at gun platform distance, where she can work that heavy Front Street jab."



Tess: "Both girls looking like just feeling things out right now, Jenny."



O'Dell: "Indeed. Not a ton of commitment on anything. Lots of jabs, the odd follow on right. Lots of probing for weaknesses testing footwork and reflexes, the typical stuff you see early in a fight. Coming down to the final seconds now, and there's the bell ending the first. Close one goes to Jessica Gomes."



ROUND TWO:



O'Dell: "Into the second and more of the same, at least for the moment. Both fighters looking content to engage in ranged warfare. Again, not a surprise based on previous tactics the two have used. Seeing a bit of an uptick in the work rate, but, again, not a surprise, as the early recon is now over."



Cassie: "I like the way Gomes moves. Sometimes taller girls don't have the best feet, but Jessica is plenty athletic. Very smooth."



O'Dell: "That, she is, and she's using that movement to stay off square and force Leelee to cover angles. That's not bothering Sobieski, though. She's a veteran who's dealt with these kinds of tactics before. She keeps working her feet and the big left jab, more than willing to work hard to get Jessica barreled up."



McCarthy: "One of the many things to like about Sobieski. She's a hard worker in the ring. Never coasts. Never takes rounds off."



O'Dell: "Not that I've ever seen. Always busy, especially for the weight. We're coming down the stretch here in the second. Another good, two-way round between blonde and brunette. More action in this stanza. Harder punches, too. But, nobody hurt and not a lot in it at the bell. Close, this time to Leelee."



Tess: "And, we're even at 19 after two."



ROUND THREE:



O'Dell: "Back to work in the third and the terms not changing. Both girls have what they want and see no need to change anything. Now, here's a question for you, Mac. At some point, does Sobieski get more aggressive here, try to bring the physical? Because, despite the fact that she's fighting well, she's also allowing Jessica to box, which is what Gomes wants to do."



McCarthy: "If I'm managing Sobieski, I tell her to keep doing what she's doing. She's a better boxer than Gomes. And that will out."



Tess: "This is the same thing Palicki does a lot, isn't it, Mac? I mean, Adrianne has a lot of power. She's very physical. Everyone knows that. But, she likes to stay where she can extend on her punches and she sort of just lets the power come."



McCarthy: "Exactly, Walmart. There are times, when you get behind late, that you want to change things up. Or, obviously, when what you're doing isn't working. but otherwise, you just let it come to you. Sooner or later you'll land something. If you can hit like Palicki, mind."



O'Dell: "Coming down the stretch in the third round. Another good, two-way stanza with both ladies boxing well. Fighters getting into a rhythm now. Punches being put together. Lots of good defensive work, too. Both girls move the head and hands well. Ten seconds left. Good right hand from Sobieski and a nice counter flurry from Gomes right at the bell. Close again. Jessica."



Cassie: "And, Gomes back on top 29-28."



ROUND FOUR:



O'Dell: "Ladies again at long range to start the fourth round. Gomes working that left jab a lot, doubling up on it some. It's hard and accurate and she's able to get a lot done off it, hooks and crosses upstairs and, occasionally, down. Sobieski, meanwhile, using her own Front Street jab to great effect. Stopping Gomes with it, setting up hard right hands."



McCarthy: "That's the thing a good jab can do. It doesn't just score, it can hold the opponent for just an instant, which is long enough to..."



O'Dell: "RIGHT HAND, SOBIESKI and Gomes is HURT! A follow on right from Leelee after another good jab and Gomes wobbled and now covering up. Sobieski going all in immediately, banging away with both hands. Jessica giving ground in gobs, backed to the ropes and taking heavy fire from all angles."



Cassie: "Not going to take much to end the fight right now. That right was BRUTAL. Give Gomes credit for staying on her feet."



O'Dell: "Jessica against the cables and taking. And she's doing a lot of taking. Referee looking in. Not going to look at much more of this. Gomes jabbing back, rolling with punches, keeping the guard high, hanging on desperately. Sobieski still working the left, looking for space for one more right hand, but not going to find it. Bell! End of the fourth. Leelee wide."



Tess: "But, Gomes still standing, and we're even on the cards at 38."



ROUND FIVE:



O'Dell: "Sobieski in 'seek and destroy' mode as we start the fifth. She's coming forward on Gomes, soundly, but steadily. She's backing Jessica up with hard shot, forcing Gomes to fight off the back foot, using that physical advantage we talked about earlier in the bout. Gomes giving ground in good order, though."



Cassie: "Smart stuff, I think. She's not going straight back, not running. But, she's not getting into a firefight, either. Circling, giving, trying to manage."



O'Dell: "Sobieski not looking like wantin to BE managed at the moment, though. She's getting more aggressive as the round goes on, willing to take the light, back foot fire from Jessica to bring heavy leather. Gomes takes a hard right hand to the head and covers up and Sobieski a BLISTERING FLURRY AND DOWN GOES JESSICA!"



McCarthy: "Scabbo, you can start singing, because this thing is OVER!"



O'Dell: "Jessica just puddled in at Leelee's feet and not moving at all as Sobieski goes to a neutral corner. Count at three. Four. Five. Jessica still not moving a muscle, gang. Six. Seven. Eight. Still no movement from the brunette. Nine. TEN! It's OVER! And your winner by KO5 is 'The Polish Princess', Leelee Sobieski!"



Tess: "Wiz likes to talk about wanting finishers at Front Street. Well. Sobieski just demonstrated how you finish."



AFTER:



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



Tess: "I have our winner, Leelee Sobieski, and, Leelee, you didn't waste any time getting her out of there once you got her in trouble.."



Leelee: "Absolutely not. This is a girl who can box, and, the longer she stayed in there, the shorter she made the rest of the fight, the better chance she had."



Tess (smiling): "So, you made it even shorter..."



Leelee: "That's always the plan. You can't force things, but, when you get your chances, you have to take advantage. And, I did."