Cat Bell vs Cameron Diaz

Lightweight title unification bout

Posted by simguy on 1/26/2002, 10:16 am

(Thanks to FightFan for this repost)

Before: Diaz making her play - total domination within her grasp as Cat Bell represents little more than 'mop up' in Cameron's grand scheme. Oddsmakers making Diaz a slight favourite - she's got the movement, the handspeed and unorthodox technique, but Cat's rock solid, better balanced, heavier handed, and brunette has a knack of taking finesse boxers out of their gameplans. Diaz in gold spangly Charlie's Angels bra style bikini, Bell in dark tinted leopard print push up bikini.

During R1,2: Tactical rounds, Bell taking the first, Diaz the second as the girls try to establish their games. Bell jabbing with Diaz, doesn't want to forfeit the punch - she's trying to mess with Cameron's rhythm and work the ribcage with batting hooks. Diaz using her legs, trying to open up the canvas, flurrying at Cat, then sidestepping - doesn't want to stand toe to toe. Both girls good defensively - Cat with high guard blocking, Diaz with her legs and angles.

R3: Cat gets into Cameron hard this round, lowering her head and bashing away to the ribcage - Bell's fists bouncing off hard torso, then brought back in tight to Cat's body as the brunette stays in position to punch. Diaz with arms outstretched, stumbling back into the ropes - she's hurt, looking to clinch and tie up. Bell won't have it, keeping her elbows and fists in tight to her body, using her head on Cam's chest to lever the blonde back, and devastating licks to the midriff have Diaz in a bad way. Cam takes a knee end of the first minute - Bell doesn't look back. Shove and slug beat down the rest of the way - Cat staying close, fighting through the clinches and snapping hard at Diaz' fat free midsection. Cameron winded and hurting at the bell - that's the kind of stuff she wanted to avoid.

R4: Bell upsetting Diaz rhythm with a strong jab - Cat's actually controlling the space between the fighters with her superior timing, setting up licking right hands to the tender ribcage. Bell body work has Diaz crumbling around the ring - Cam looking a little ragged, hands down and midway through, Cat turns over a cranking hook to catch Cam on the jaw as the blonde leans away - Diaz spluttering into the ropes with a bewildered look as Bell walks her down. Bell with right hand at her chest, moves in with a stamping right between Cameron's breasts, moves out with a cuffing hook along the blonde's jaw - Diaz roughed up and abused through 4 as Cat leaves her humming.

R5: Bell's got some things working. She's able to cut off the ring better than expected because her jab is dominant. She's able to drill Diaz between the breasts with a hard right hand, putting the blonde on her heels and breaking her down. And Cat is able to get close, rake the ribs and jaw with stroking hooks until Diaz can clinch head and arm for a break. Diaz on the defensive, getting off in spots, but Bell's the aggressor through 5.

R6: Better round for Cameron as she stands her ground more often, fights for Cat's respect. Diaz kneading Bell's jugs with rolling uppercuts on the inside - blonde's flashy hands have the brunette staring on occasion as Cam is able to get off, move the brunette back with bursts. But Bell won't be put off - she stays in contact with that ramrod right hand between the breasts, then turns the round around late with a clocking hook on the chops that has Diaz stepping in fence post holes. All Bell down the stretch as she reefs at Cameron's struggling belly - Diaz clinching up high on Bell and cringing up on her toes as Cat steals the round.

R7: Jab, hard right hand between the knockers - Bell dictating tempo, touching Cameron at will, and always in range to add on a batting hook to the rightside ribs. Cameron ragged midring - she fades to the ropes to set up rope-a-dope, covering up, bending at the waist, looking to clinch head and arm on Bell. Cat squaring up, uses a pawing jab to pry at Diaz' defense, doing most of the scoring with a stamping straight right hand, and always wary of Diaz' counterpunching ability off the ropes.

R8: Diaz lures Cat to the ropes, laying over on either side, looking to sweep counters at Bell in between the brunette's punching. Cat and mouse game develops - Diaz trying to catch Bell, Cat trying to work hard without giving up any openings. Down the stretch, Bell backs off, inviting Cameron back to midring and boxing match develops. Diaz working off Cat's left shoulder, scores a jamming right hand on the jaw around Bell's guard, pokes it in again and has Bell stumbling sideways. Diaz hounding Bell to the ropes, landing over and over again with a little chopping right hand at it's Cat clinching up around Diaz' sweaty waist at the break. Bell woozy and a little staggery en route to her corner - Diaz caught her.

R9: Diaz intent to follow up, eyes boring into Cat, searching for weakness. Bell looking sluggish, pushing the jab out, and midway through, Cameron times a chopping right hand counter over Bell's stick to lift the brunette's lead foot off the canvas. Diaz batting away with a sudden flurry, hounds Cat to the ropes and lathers up - swishing, slashing punches - rising lefts, hacking rights break Bell up and leave her momentarily helpless. Bell punished but gutting it out to the break - Diaz chests up and forces eye contact on the dazed brunette.

R10: Cameron Diaz out with a gorgeous opening flurry and DIAZ GOES DOWN! Catherine Bell hanging in the pocket, covering up and rolling with Diaz' flashy leather, picks her spot and fits a perfect counter left hook on the chin to sit the blonde down. Diaz up quickly, but blushing badly - what a costly knockdown! Hammer and tongs the rest of the way - Diaz needs the knockout - Bell happy to have the blonde standing and slugging - crowd roaring in support of both girls. Cat just brick-mitting her way into Diaz' ribs, dipping side to side, coming up into the blonde with short, brutal strokes - Diaz wider, slashing her punches, snarling as she gives ground and lashes away at the brunette. Furious exchange spills into the ropes - Cameron giving as good as she's getting, but it's HER butt in the strands - Bell clearly looks like the stronger, dominant fighter at the finish. Comes back UD10 by wide margin for the winner and unified lightweight champ - Catherine 'Cat' Bell!

After: Diaz ashen faced, outboxed, outslugged, dropped twice in a classic thorough beating from Cat Bell. Bell giving Cameron a hug in postfight - brunette doesn't hold grudges for the most part and she knows her fists answered all of Cameron's questions. "You know, she was as we expected," says Cat matter of factly, "She's quick, but she didn't like the ribwork I was doing, and I just kept shooting the right hand to her chest, keeping her in range all night long. She started catching me late, but there was a lot of arm punching on the follow up. I never thought she could really hurt me." As for the dazzling collapse of Charlize, Cat comments, "Yeah, that was a shocker, but as I've said, Theron's been showing signs that she's shot and I think Jeri just exposed that very clearly. I know Charlize wants another 'tune up' - although if it's anything like that one, there's not going to be much left of her - and then we're looking at a date in the near future. As far as I know it's still on, but yes, I want to see Theron earn the shot - I'm not just going to give it to her on name recognition. I need to know that Charlize Theron can still defend herself - I won't let promoters book me into a dangerous mismatch just for the sake of ratings. If she can't beat Halle Berry, it would be a mistake for Charlize to get in the ring with me too soon."

Sim Guy
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