Posted by Simguy, Saturday, 30-Sep-00 11:56:46

Before: Bell warned not to take this fight as Melinda’s been a tough read for North American fighters—but Cat sick of the negativity, states unequivocally “I fight anyone, anywhere, any time. That’s who I an.: Messenger with a glossy record compounded of upset wins over bigger names--has no recognizable style or obvious strengths so she’s hard to train for. Melinda in black push up leather bikini, Cat in leopard print bikini.

During R1: Good start for Cat goes awrey when a brisk exchange of lefts and right at the midway point eaves her swooning over her feet. Messenger takes over with good, crisp combinations, breaking apart Cat’s defenses and scoring heavily to the face at the bell.

R2: More power from Messenger who invites Cat to trade, then seems to get the better of things with clever hand speed, culminating in a booming hook that lifts Cats front foot off the canvas, Bell recovering nicely, brawls at close range as Melinda chops combinations , steps to her right, pounding Cat’s jugs without restraint, Run to Messenger as Bell’s still getting hit too hard, too clean.

R3: One of the best rounds if Melinda Messengers career sees Cat battered from corner to corner in minute after minute of big, lusty punching from the blonde. Mel completely fearless, able to turn her body into big rght hands or sweeping left hooks, and land at will—Bell crumbling as she fights to retain consciousness in this disasterous round. Bell just getting ragdolled, soaking uo combinations mid ring, being chased along the ropes with slobberknocking rights or lets, brunette doesn’t know whether to cover up, clinch or run as she’s getting tagged no matter what she does, Incredibly at the bell, Cat finishes on her feet, blood streaming from her nose, eye glassy and unfocused—Mel turns her around to point at her corner and slaps her butt to send her on her way a cutting laugh. Where’s the respect?

R4: Cat showing that remarkable resilience, actually comes out on her toes this round despite the punishment, showing Melinda a ramming jab and enough movement t keep the blonde outside. Messenger a little arm wary, doesn’t press the issue, hands low outside, moving her upper body and basically giving away the round as Bell re-establishes.

R5: Melinda cuts short Cat’s rally with more opportunistic power, Slipping brunette’s jab at the midway point, Messenger pulls a perfect eft hook across Bell’s teeth, numbing the brunette’s legs and completely changing the tenor of the round, A hurting Cat Bell squares up, gloves at her face, elbows in as Messenger tunes her up,swatting hard combinations to the flanks and ears, stepping to the right and sending Bell back ti her corner busted up and discouraged at the break.

R6: Mel assuming complete control, her hand speed combination punching and little shuffle to the right slowly dismantling Bell minute by minute. Cat being cuffed upside the head by hooks, tries to respond but gets torn apart by 3 punch rips from the blonde at every opening. Bell lumping up round the eyes, starts to drift, stumbling In pursuit, wilting from taps to her body and ribs. Messenger focused. Having a good time, turning her brunette and eating her like a piece of meat as she scoops another round.

R7: Melinda gets it going early, pounding Cat’s head back from her guard with a spearing lead right between the mitts—Bell turning her back ad blundering face first to the ropes—she’s in trouble. Messenger commits to the finish squaring up on Bell and Stalingrad results. Cat seated on the ropes, covering up—Messenger lifting hard left hands up underneath, chopping down with short right hands to the face—Bell just determined to weather the storm. By the final minute, Melinda pushing up, muscling Bell into the ropes for breaks—the blonde’s breathing hard. Cat’s a miserable wreck, eyes closed, mouth open as she lolls in Melinda’s arms—refusing to accept the knockout despite suffering awful, awful punishment in this round.

R8: Melinda out fast, but she’s slapping her punches now—Bell’s soaked up a lot of the blonde’s power in this fight. By the midway point, Cat starts to counter with hard single shots—digging left hooks to the stomach, or wide clouting lefts on the jaw—Mel breaking down slightly, looking a little wide eyed. In the final minute, girls trade left hook on the teeth and MESSENGER IS HURT! Melinda stumbling back a step, thighs quaking, Bell stepping in behind a heavy crunching jab, leans into slashing right cross as Mel turns away, catching the blonde hard on the jawline—DOWN GOES MESSENGER! Melinda sprawling to her back, knees flexed and flopping side to side as she tries pathetically to get off the mat—and she is DONE! Cat Bell reeling with relief, takes her shocking come from behind KO8 to the bank.

After: Bell really suffering in this fight, caught by surprise by Melinda’s commitment to her punches—brunette forced to dig down and rely on sheer toughness to get it done. Bell doing virtually nothing for 7 rounds, got her head handed to her by an extremely focused, sharp punching opponent, bit in the end, Messenger overextended, ran out of gas and gave Cat the opening she needed. Bell winning ugly, but winning, and showing some magic in those gloves after a couple of tough losses.

Reposted by Archer 12/30/20.