Posted by Simguy on 11/25/200, 6:27 pm

Before: Appleby a recent addition to the junior fly ranks, and a proponent of the maximum offense school of fighting so many of the smallest girls have adopted. Partly to win spots on cards devoted to bigger girls, partly because of a need to overcompensate for lack of stunning one punch power—more and more mighty mites are opting for pressure slugging over finer boxing skills that many do possess. Amy Jo happily embracing the trend over, excited about the opportunity to fight “big” against novice Shiri—Appleby looking to break on the scene with a win over the well regarded petite veteran. Amy Jo in purple and yellow diving bikini, zipper up sports bra style top—Sjiri in revealing cashmere crop top, short sleeves, white bikini bottoms, hair black—small gloves for both.

R1: Shiri opens up with an amateurish two handed burst, plunging her fists back and forth into Amy Jo’s hips and trunks—mostly unintentionally—Appleby just pouring it on as adrenaline takes over. Amy Jo not totally abandoning her boxing, covers up, turns to take shots on her obliques and retreats in good order to begin walking Appleby into well timed  counters at the midway point, Amy Jo turns the tide and starts jumping in with short left hooks, then torquing  her torso to plow a curling right underneath Appleby’s jaw. Shiri crumbling backwards as Johnson with very little backswing just twisting at the hips, curling her fists back and forth under Shiri’s chin and Appleby takes a seat once more. Shiri bouncing up quickly again, makes a rousing brawl of it in the final minute—100 pounders loading up, jumping in at one another’s chins—taking turns brawling each other back with 2 and 3 cranking blows before standing in for the receipt. Enthusiastic applause as the girls vibrate angrily in their corners, itching to continue the frenetic struggle.

R2: Crowd pleasing slugging continues—girls toe to toe, busting lefts and rights from the hips, walking one another back a couple of steps, then getting clocked in return as lost ground is retaken. No question Amy Jo’s the bigger puncher—Shiri’s got heart, she’s throwing a lot, but she’s often amateurish, slapping or pushing with her punches—Johnson able to pivot around he lead foot to retake the initiative whenever Appleby’s brawling threatens to be effective—Shiri has no answer to these subtle techniques.

R3: Senseless brawling continues—girls slug it up all over the ring like a couple of cats twisting across a lawn—crashing exchange of left hooks goes Appleby’s way as Amy Jo falters—Shiri able to pour it on the rest of the way, working Johnson up against the ropes, pumping it up to the body, slowly working through to the chin as Amy Jo looks defensive at the bell.

R4: Amy Jo doesn’t back completely off the action brawling, but she’s smarter now, touching Shiri with a pre-emptive jab, landing the short hook off that, then jumping in with the slinging right under the chin—thumb to the ceiling—Appleby getting baffled by the jab can’t get her turns in—it’s all Amy Jo this round. Johnson starting to crack Shiri hared with the hook—a crunching blow to the temple has Appleby leaning out over her feet at one point—Amy’s punches starting to distance her from her competitor.

R5: Small girls don’t slow much—it’s still whirlwind punching, girls leaving their feet to pull hay makers into one another—each soaking up the other’s biggest bombs, standing her ground and answering in brisk trade. Crashing exchange midway through sees Appleby beat Johnson to the punch as the girls trade hooks and right hands midring—Johnson stumbling back with a glazed expression—Shiri tearing after to mount a good beat down at the ropes, Johnson covered up, bending at the waist, minimizes the finishing flurry, but comes up bleeding from a nostril at the bell.

R6: Amy Jo with the pre-emptive jab, freezes Shiri for the follow up hook, then hurts her with the jumping right hand that Appleby isn’t taking so well. Shiri crumbling on her heels, starting to get beaten now—Amy Jo staying on her, uptempoing even from the active pace already set to help push Appleby downhill. Shiri’s eyes go glassy as she gets repeatedly punched to the face and chin—Appleby just can’t defend herself, stumbling away as Amy stays on her and keeps punching. Middle minute is Amy Jo rampaging on her foe—batting Shiri from pillar to post—Shiri on trembling legs totally broken down—ref taking a very close look as she is no longer competitive. Trapped against the ropes, Shiri starts to wilt, hands drooping as she leans side to side after getting clouted one way or the other—she finally slumps to the canvas all used up and won’t be continuing this evening. KO6 Amy Jo Johnson.

After: Amy Jo flashing a toothy grin as she struts the ring—handlers and entourage dwarfing the little battler as well wishers crowd arou7nd. Amy Jo just punching from the hips for the most part but using enough savvy to win crucial battles in each round and eventually batter Shiri helpless. Good win for Amy, but high risk—relatively green Shiri tagged her plenty and had Johnson hurt—the flip side of the high impact style that promoters and network execs are pressuring the small girls to deliver.

Reposted by Archer on 2/1/00.