Post by Lookout! Boxing on Oct 28, 2017 at 2:02am

AMANDA RIGHETTI (34 y/o, 5 ft 8, W: 72, L: 27 – 100th official fcba bout)

vs

TAYLOR COLE (33 y/o, 5 ft 9, W: 40, L: 37)

(Results: Lookout!, Words: Bonzo)

Before: Cole – a four-time light and welterweight champion, last crowned in 2011 – has a complicated back story with Righetti (“Complicated for her”, Taylor growls upon hearing that introduction). Their rivalry dates back to 2004, 2005 when both were athletic television-based ingénues at lightweight battling for rare PPV spots and limelight. Cole had garnered a reputation as a plucky boxing-on-the-beach fighter back then, debuting at the expense of hard-bodied Brittany Daniel, while Righetti was making headlines upsetting Jessica Biel twice. Their first meeting was on the beach, naturally – 15/07/2005 – and a heartbreaking affair for the then-22-year old Righetti, ending in a fierce TKO4 beatdown, finished by Righetti’s corner actually throwing in the towel for their girl (the first and only time in her career). Their paths would not cross for another four years after that, during which Cole rose to the top with title reigns, wins over Theron, O’Dell and a 8-3 record in 2006 while Righetti languished in greater obscurity, only getting to four fights from 2006 to 2008.

For their rematch – 03/04/2009 – omens seemed entirely different. Cole had been pretty much hand-picked by Righetti as the start of her light-to-welter campaign, and seemed a good choice for it after a title loss early in 2008 introduced her to a spell of inactivity. Righetti had run into a deadlock at lightweight and so a crucially dominant TKO2 over Alana De La Garza early in 2009 and a new level of athleticism had made her proclaim a swanky-seeming move to welterweight. Feeling stronger than ever, Righetti had hoped to pound out Cole as dominantly as she had De La Garza, a plan that only worked for two out of four rounds until Taylor stabilized, punched Rigs dizzy herself and ended the night via a crashing right hand that folded the redhead limp into the ropes. It was a loss that necessarily created doubts about Amanda’s ability to withstand welterweight power and the KO image has subsequently been dusted off repeatedly by pundits and opponents alike to highlight Righetti’s supposed vulnerability to powerful right hands. Since then, Righetti’s been a pound-for-pound staple and dominated welterweight for long stretches of time, of course, but is now under strong pressure from a younger (model) generation while Cole hasn’t been in a title fight for five years, losing most of her important recent bouts to the likes of Strahovski, Upton, freeman and Biel. Another eight years after their last bout, this is now essentially a private, hate-filled rivalry that could have just as well been settled in a never-publicized hotel room brawl, but will now play out on the big stage of Righetti’s 100th career fight.

“I love this opportunity,” Taylor gloats pre-fight, showcasing the most athletic she’s been in years and just a biiit thicker than her usual lanky self to meet Righetti at post-130. “The thing is, I don’t think Amanda’s ever been a better, more dangerous fighter than in 2009, 2010 and I simply ate up her power back then. She’s a little slower now, a little worn out after a decade of welterweight punching, but essentially she’s still the same one-dimensional fighter she was back then…when girls don’t fold in front of her supposed power, the lightweight-ish wuss from ten years ago still re-emerges. I’ve always defied her, I’m up two-to-zero on her and I’m not letting her back in the game here, no way.” – Righetti responds, straining to keep her calm, “There are other fights that could have been a great hundredth fight for me, but I should be allowed to make this a vendetta fight and put away some ghosts from the past for good, ain’t I? I mean, there’s only one way to shut this girl up and I don’t want to wait any longer.

R1: Righetti off to sound aggression in mid-ring turf battle from the bell as girls circle, stalk and pound – Amanda slapping longer hooks from safe-ish range in brawny fashion, buzzin’/stingin’ them to Taylor’s ribs/tummy to knock Cole off her strong-legged stance early. Cole pleased to hop, skip onto back heels, smoothly allowing Rigs to work off mid-ring position, forming a strong defensive front as expected. Amanda methodical: she’s targeting TC upon her biceps with alternating left/right hooks, dropping heavy sidearm rights to the mid-section, stirring up Cole’s strong tummy to nice, shivering effect. Taylor’s in restraint, staying in her guarded front most of round, just a-pawing via the left to test ‘Manda’s counter alerts. Cole gives up the opening round, but manages Righetti’s passionate early assaults with stubborn calm, fast legs and a sturdy torso – she defends her skull, not letting Amanda’s dizzying arms/ribs punches punch her off stance, clinching when necessary…down the stretch, Taylor’s upbeat after three minutes of solid, methodical Righetti pressure.

R2: Righetti triggers her jab into action, clouting Taylor upon tits/guard with signature big-girl punching power, coaxing inside via short rangy hooks to gut/flanks, bumping into TC’s lanky torso via left shoulder, punch-shovin’ her girl backward, attempting to lead her to ropes – Cole’s startled by impact, back-pedaling into pee-a-boo guard, then taking commanding, loping leftward steps to ‘Manda’s right, pin-pointing a snappy jab over Righetti’s right arm to mouth/cheeks, bouncing out of range…Rigs goes into bobbing, too, her arms crossed, following where Taylor’s lefts leads her, continuing to encroach on Taylor. Cole: her right at cheek, she’s walking Rigs into more of those sudden, stiff jabs over Righetti’s right arm, poke her into good position that way, then CHOP her right hands into nice angles, chomping ‘em to left side of Amanda’s face. Taylor’s style bothering Amanda – she’s slowly losing the initiative against Cole’s boxer aspect, those sneaky right hands over Amanda’s left shoulder making an impact on Righetti’s usually more solid stance. Down the stretch, Cole ups the tempo, kissing ‘Manda two, three of those patented monstrous right hands after another, catching Rigs’s skull in clean, sumptuous fashion, nicely timing Amanda’s jab movements, feinting her to counter. Redhead girl hurrrrrrt: Amanda’s baby-steppin’ on the spot, her lips pursed in shock, rallyin’, folding torso forward to clinch just ten seconds to go.

R3: Righetti adjusts to Cole’s boxer’s aspect, defending her left side better, reeling brunette in via the strappin’ left hooks across Taylor’s ribs/flanks, moving into bobbin’, crouchin’ positions to prepare for TC’s right hand racket…and Amanda’s own right crashes inside to Taylor’s shoulder bone, shunting brunette torso aside in blunt, beautiful fashion, sponging up Taylor’s counter left hook via her guard. Righetti establishing her ground here, shoving right uppercuts to Taylor’s sternum/solar-plexus, but working from a tighter guard, not stalking her faltering foe immediately, more patient now, accepting the imminent danger from Cole’s shrewd right hands. TC’s in peek-a-boo guard again, punched onto her heels at one point by Amanda’s sleek, thick uppercut, grunting on receipt to chin/mouth, struggling to hold ground in subsequent forced clinch. Action a little static now…Amanda urges blunt-force combat while Taylor solidifies her defenses, more passive. Down the stretch, Cole proves her stubborn stamina, answering a long, brutal Righetti hook to biceps with a swift, violent swipe via the left across Amanda’s tits that stumbles Big Rigs off her stance, forcing her to regroup, hop out.

R4: Righetti treks along nicely behind her left, rolling into swatting hooks either side of Taylor’s skull/guard, drumming up the pressure…but Cole’s confident now, strutting comfortably into come-from-behind counters, crouching, ducking, stepping past Amanda’s steady barrage of rising hooks, straight hard lefts and thick uppercut rights, absorbing lots of solid Righetti pressure to guard/body with sturdy, resilient calm. Taylor working via a hyper-accurate jab…she’s one, two steps/circles ahead of ‘Manda, harassing her redhead as she steps, tacks left, then rolls the left to Righetti’s right arm guard or – when she gets there – to redhead’s mouth/nose. Amanda with the will to stalk, stomp through it, but she’s getting a little outfoxed here…Taylor smart, patient, making Righetti use up her legs for a solid two minutes, then starts mixing her jab counters with short-range hooks across ‘Manda’s tits/ribs, then starts bringing in the right for real!

Late second minute, Cole’s slowed Righetti’s drive down accordingly, nicely forcing Rigs herself to flee into peek-a-boo guards, those jab-jab-right combos putting a drill to Amanda’s face. Taylor’s mobbing Righetti…brunette throws deeeeeep hooks across redhead tummy, nicely slapping Rigs hard on either flank…Cole pasting her girl solid, limber whacks as ‘Manda staggers, pummeled repeatedly onto her brawny guard. Big Rigs stretches out via the left to chest, hoping to shove TC off, but Taylor leans right in a-crouchin’, catching a startled Amanda on the mouth with a short left uppercut, side-stepping Righetti’s rising left counter hook while pulling a right haymaker from the hips, a gorgeous punch collecting all of ‘Manda’s unprotected jawline as Rigs turns-with…and RIGHETTI’S DOWN! Blast-to-jaw topples Amanda in beautiful fashion, sees her lunging out helplessly with her left while her knees already fold up! Big Rigs on all fours, heaving deep gasps of breaths…she’s a dazed, shocked beauty, crawling forward, looking for the ref’s position in confusion.

Righetti struggles onto her haunches, swaying weakly, her eyes blinking rapidly…this thing might be over! Taylor just standing there, hands on hips, watching Righetti’s helplessness…’Manda gets to one knee at six, finally moving to rise at eight, her legs quivering, hopping, batting her mitts together in defiance. Cole not arguing for a stoppage, just stepping in again, workmanlike, brutal – and she starts pasting for Righetti’s jaw via hip-sloshin’ haymakers! Rigs defending, taking some punches on the guard, some not…she’s a rickety beauty, only folding into messy, desperate clinches now. ‘Manda taking those seconds off the clock, putting weight against Taylor’s body, ignoring the ref…TC not getting ref to break quickly enough, as Righetti staggers, clinging to Cole’s body/arms throughout third minute, rallyin’ like hell. Bell: Taylor Cole proves her nemesis credentials, almost punching out Righetti again, but Amanda’s still there for now.

R5: Righetti’s still handicapped, but committed to trade, her legs viable – she’s luring Cole to ropes early, sliding onto heels in reverse, then explodes into darting little jabs timed right into Taylor’s forward motions, spanking pak-pak-pak, her punches coming in from the side and pitching Cole’s gut, neck, mouth, cheek, one right hand whizzing past Cole’s jawline. Taylor jumped into the initiative by last round knockdown…she now feels forced to mop up, yet meets solid resistance. A drumming right hand wallops into Cole’s solar plexus, jerking her torso up as Taylor winces, her eyes flashing in pain…Rigs forcing her body into clinches, using up some of TC’s energy in those messy grasps, breaking late but not too late now. Cole still fighting big-girl, imposing some of her will in the second minute, dazing Righetti’s pesky counter jabs via faster, quicker hooks, working, stepping around ‘Manda’s punches to score, slowly cajoling her girl into corners, hoisting plump right hands into Righetti’s mid-section…but TC’s still not penetrating Amanda’s guard, not fighting Big Rigs off her stance despite sound, thrashing wallops to guard/body. Third minute: Righetti forward again via the left, throbbing Cole onto her heels via long drop-down straights to tits, uppercuts to armpits/tits, reaching around Cole’s left arm, bodying her brunette into sweaty, forced retreat. Hold and hit the right strategy for Rigs here: she’s pinning a frustrated Taylor into ropes down the stretch, gutting rights to the ribs, rights to the ribs, conquering little shouts of pain from Cole there at the end, as Rigs fights messy, scores nicely.

R6: Cole bends forward a-crouchin’, her left and right arm alternatively tucked in at mouth, slinging Righetti brutal, aggressive hooks across either side, drum, drum, drum…Amanda roamed onto her heels again, sliding back at Cole’s new aspect, hammering back stiff straight jabs to Taylor’s skull/arms from behind. Taylor fast, nimble: she’s stalking Rigs for powerful body shots, hooking her to the boobs/ribs/tummy – Righetti covering up nicely behind her mitts, her counters rare but precise. Girls move in circles, action turning rangy: Cole the aggressor, tossing hooks and uppercuts across the distance as Righetti bashes back to Taylor’s mouth/teeth/arms in short response. Thudding, crowd-pleasing draw resulting as both girls score…Taylor pressing forward, lithe, mobile, aggressive, while Amanda executes those off-ropes counters, feinting, turning-with, stealing points despite steady Cole pressure. Taylor owns the second, Amanda the third minute as Cole’s belligerence grazes Righetti’s gut for steady, solid body whacks…later, Amanda’s rising uppercuts start bouncing off Cole’s guard in increasing power, precision…down the stretch, AR ramps it up, walking her aggressive brunette foe into beautiful spot shots via the jab, timing Taylor in supple, lithe gotcha movements. At the bell, Taylor’s already bleeding from her nostrils, ruffled, her steady aggression not paying off despite sixth-round draw as Righetti bounces to corner, now back in the fight for good.

R7: Poor Taylor Cole: she’s fought a smart fight tonight, changing her strategies along the way, but this round, she’s walking headfirst into disaster…Taylor’s coming forward behind her mitts, all spunky lass/big girl, trying to stalk ‘Manda, beat her to the body, walk her down via spotting jabs, hammering rights. Righetti counters from the crouch, bobbin’, feintin’ with her head, trolling Cole to walk into tasty right haymakers from the hips as Amanda turns-with, scooting ‘round her girl, side-stepping around Taylor’s lunging left hooks. Righetti in rare pounce mode, still making TC walk ‘er down, pursue her…Rigs’ lead right BLISTERING Taylor to the jaw/mouth/cheek, with Cole just not timing her lefts well enough. Righetti tacking-right/backward in circles, legs a-hoppin’ – Taylor stalks, prepares her left, Amanda leans in over it, stroking brunette to skull. A minute in, Taylor’s pace slackens in heartbreaking fashion, she’s all busted up, disheveled…suddenly COLE IS DOWN! Rigs brutal via the jab deeeeep to tummy, guuuh-uh, bunching Cole up all hurt and spasm-y, tears welling up…’Manda stepping-to, pulling a right hook around Taylor’s shoulders, drummin’ it to brunette’s left ear…violent punch simply SLOSHES Cole off her feet, staggering her crash-down onto back! Taylor’s floored mid-ring, her legs stretching out, head lolling, lips mumbling…but zombie Cole IS awake, grabbing around for support, attempting to rise…she rolls to her side in exertion, quivering, getting up in stiff, robotic, autopilot motions.

Taylor Cole beats the count!

Brunette’s a ruined beauty, but she’s still in defiance, her face swelling, confronting Rigs mitts-up mid-ring as Amanda foots in close to her. Cole’s on the backfoot, hopping out, forming her guard – Righetti’s turn to stalk but she stays composed, prepping ground via long-sloshing left hooks, jabs to Taylor’s gut/tits, putting brunette wobbly-butt immediately. ‘Manda not rushing the finish, stabilizing her foe with spearing straights to chest/neck/shoulders, butting brunette into ropes – at ropes, redhead rifles in her one-twos, one-twos in thorough fashion, but always reverts to guard, standing slightly off Cole’s body to be ready for Taylor’s counters. No counters from Cole, though, just Righetti’s thick, sweeping uppercuts, especially via the right, slowly pounding Taylor sleepy, tilting her forward off-ropes. That’s the gist of it: Righetti falters TC via one punch, stabilizes her via the other, relishing her beat-down…early third minute, Taylor’s hands drop to chest, and ‘Manda’s right thuds to Cole’s left ear, and then again, knocking back brunette’s head over top rope, her mouth opened, eyes glassy, punched out on her feet. Cole’s back sags into ropes – Righetti steps-to, pummels Cole’s left ear via the right for the third time, then just steps back to watch…reaction slightly delayed, then Cole falters to her right knee, tosses over to her right side, scrolling onto back with her hands above her head, her eyes shut, eyebrow frowning, lips murmuring in swoon, that’s a revenge KO7 Amanda Righetti!

After: Taylor Cole proves why she’s always been such a dangerous opponent to Righetti, even at welterweight, but this time, it was not enough to finish the night on her feet. Brunette carefully tended-to on her back, brought around in stages, getting smelling salts, semi-carried to her corner, stool, where the realization sinks in. Cole actually collapses off her stool at one point, still dizzy. Shoulders sagging into turnbuckle, hands in her lap, head bowed, tears welling up…it’s a tough, devastating image for fans of strong, feisty Taylor Cole – Righetti understandably jubilant in her triumph, but she’s no bully, coming over to Cole’s corner, helping her up in sincerity, hugging her rival. “No hard feelings here,” Amanda says later, “Of course, it’s been a little personal between us, but she did kick my butt twice, and that was something I needed to correct, and correct it in impressive fashion”, she says, shrugging her shoulders. “What I also want to say is this…Hilary, Hannah, whoever’s coming out on top tonight, just make sure you don’t think that, somehow along the way of a hundred fights, Amanda Righetti’s already past her prime or reached her peak. No, I’m right here, waiting, as hungry as ever to dominate the division. I want my title back, too, and it better happen this year.”