BEFORE:

"Yeah, it's been a while," says Halsey with a shake of the head. "Thing is, I'm only 27 years old. I have plenty of time to make a mark in the FCBA, if I get opportunities. Well. Here's an opportunity, and I'm NOT going to waste it."

"There's no doubt she's underused around here," says Meg with a nod. "But, she's not using THIS fight as a showcase, that's for sure."

ROUND ONE:

O'Dell: "Back at ringside and that's 'Hurricane' you hear behind us, and here comes the singer of that tune, the lovely Halsey!"

McCarthy: "Who, of course, is a Typical Dancing Hooker Opponent with NO FCBA wins!"

O'Dell: "Well, she's wasting no time getting down to the ring to try to correct that deficiency. Halsey climbs inside and is helped off with the robe to reveal that black number we've seen before..."

Cassie: "And the crowd thinks she looks PLENTY good in it..."

O'Dell: "And, that's BAAM you hear behind us, and that can only mean the singer of that tune, 'The Peapack Punisher', Meg Donnelly, is on her way to the ring..."

Tess: "Donnelly a girl who's done well at Front Street, but management wants to see her take a step this year."

O'Dell: "Meg into the ring and helped off with the robe by Jewel and Neve. She's wearing that yellow number she prefers. And, the ladies are about ready. Time for some picks. Tess likes Meg. Mac?"

McCarthy: "NO FCBA wins! Donnelly!"

O'Dell: "Cassie?"

Cassie: "I agree with Tess!"

O'Dell: "Unanimous in the first, and Halsey out to make the whole panel look bad, as she takes it right to Meg early. This is no surprise, as the brunette has been is very sturdy and fought a bantam the last time she was here. She's stepping to the blonde, backing her up with solid shot..."

Tess: "Donnelly trying to manage here, willing to give ground..."

O'Dell: "But, she's not managing that well right now, because the brunette's having much the better of things. She's getting punches put together, getting physical, bullying Meg in there. Donnelly getting almost nothing done right now, landing a jab here or there..."

McCarthy: "Being too careful. This sometimes happens to a girl who's favored when the other girl goes right after her. Doesn't want to get caught with something cheap..."

O'Dell: "Right, but, she's ending up on the back foot getting the fight taken to her, which is absolutely not part of the game plan. Ten seconds to go in a great first round for the brunette. GOOD combination by Halsey, and there's the bell. Not close. The singer takes it wide."

Cassie: "And grabs the 10-9 lead."

ROUND TWO:

O'Dell: "Halsey moving forward again, but Meg becoming a tougher target now. She's moving laterally, getting the jab going, getting it on target, slowing Halsey down, then dropping right hands on the singer. Halsey plenty game, determined to get physical here, but Donnelly not allowing it..."

Cassie: "Good stuff and a nice adjustment by Meg."

O'Dell: "Agree on both counts. Blonde working much harder with that left hand in this round. Add that to the lateral movement, and it's making a big difference. Halsey not squaring Meg up, not able to bring her power to bear, not able to bully her rival around the ring..."

Tess: "And, it's Donnelly landing the hard shot this round..."

O'Dell: "Most certainly is. We're down under thirty seconds to go. Nice combination by Meg and there's another. Halsey still looking to come forward behind that jab, lands a good right hand and there's the bell. No doubt for the second round in a row. It's Donnelly and wide."

McCarthy: "And, we're even at 19."

ROUND THREE:

O'Dell: "Adjustment from Halsey now. Singer slowing the pursuit a bit, moving the feet more, looking to square and then come forward after she gets the jab on. Donnelly continuing to move, keeping busy with that left. And, for the first time in the bout, both fighters getting some work done..."

McCarthy: "This Halsey kid has some talent. Get her some management and she might win fights..."

O'Dell: "Definitely has nice physicals, no doubt about that. And, she's showing some ring smarts right now, boxing with Donnelly pretty well, all while looking for opportunities to step to and bang, bring her power to bear. Meg, for her part, continuing to work the jab and the feet..."

Cassie: "Donnelly's plenty athletic, and you're seeing that now."

O'Dell: "Coming down the stretch in a competitive third round. Sharp exchange there and then another. Meg gives a little ground. Halsey steps to, hooks some body. Donnelly circles away, sets up, lands a nice combination and there's the bell. Close in this one. Meg gets the points."

Tess: "And, Donnelly takes the 29-28 lead."

ROUND FOUR:

O'Dell: "Two-way work continues here in the fourth. Both fighters have found something that works, and nobody going to get away from it, at least for the moment. Halsey wants to get that jab on target, walk in behind it, and then bang some body, get physical with the younger blonde..."

Tess: "And, for her part, Meg wants distance..."

O'Dell: "She does, and she's working the feet and the left jab to get it. When she does, she's getting off in combination, scoring points. But, Halsey's offsetting when she steps to and bangs, scoring plenty under those terms. There's a GOOD right by Halsey that backed up Meg..."

McCarthy: "I'm telling you. This kid has some talent..."

O'Dell: "We're down under twenty seconds left in another competitive round. Halsey working some body inside. Meg slips away, gets the jab going. Halsey working the feet, lands a nice right hand and there's the bell. It's close for the second round in a row, but the brunette gets the points this time."

Cassie: "And, we're even at 38."

ROUND FIVE:

O'Dell: "Fifth underway and the pattern set. Ladies continuing to do what's been working, with Halsey looking to come forward and Meg trying to enforce distance. Both women getting some, but not enough of what they want, and the result is, for the third straight stanza, good, two-way stuff..."

Cassie: "And plenty of action for the fans."

O'Dell: "No doubt about that. Both women have been very busy working the hands and feet, looking to get to spots where they can get off in combination and DONNELLY ROCKS HALSEY! Oh, the blonde walked the brunette into a NASTY right hand and Halsey is HURT and DOWN SHE GOES AFTER A BLISTERING COMBINATION!"

Tess: "Two NASTY power shots in that flurry!"

O'Dell: "Meg to a neutral corner. Halsey down on her right side. Count at three. Four. Five. Singer rolling to her belly. Six. Halsey pushing to hands and knees. Seven. Eight. Nine. TEN! It's OVER! The brunette still on all fours as the count passes her by and it's OVER! And your winner by KO5 is 'The Peapack Punisher', Meg Donnelly!"

AFTER:

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

Tess: "I have our winner, Meg Donnelly, and, Meg, she really came after you, especially early..."

Meg (nodding): "Yeah. That's her style, you know. She's sturdy and can hit, especially for this weight. I knew what she'd do, but it took me a minute to figure how to counter it."

Tess: "But, you got it figured out, and, eventually, got her out of there..."

Meg (nodding): "Yeah. I'd been looking to get a clean one on her stepping in, and I got it. She can take a punch with those legs, but, that one was a big one and I jumped on her after that. Now, it's time to get back to the gym and get ready for whatever's next!"