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18 June 2010 Lynda Carter vs Raquel Welch

Page history last edited by Archer844 12 years, 2 months ago

RETRO BOUT: 1970's

Posted by Sceej Boxing on 6/18/2010, 9:47 am

(Maybe some did not see it the first time around, or others might like a second look?)

Off the January destruction of “blonde du jour” Loni Anderson, Raquel Welch takes an easy summer bout … forgettable ten round domination of a game but aging and out of shape Elizabeth Montgomery. Not accustomed to criticism, Rocky stung by press that she is “stuck in the 60’s” and can’t keep fighting has-beens – terribly unfair given that she had WRECKED Loni Anderson mere months earlier. In knee jerk reaction to negative press, Raquel signs to fight Lynda Carter at Raquel’s favorite venue – Ceasar’s Palace, Las Vegas.

Carter had been on the boxing radar for some time now and it was a fight that Raquel’s people had artfully avoided. A big athletic girl with knockout power in both hands … the only question about Carter was her chin .. and that was because she had never been tested, with a plentitude of first and second round knockouts, some against other up and comers .. some against more veteran competition.

Pre-fight build up: Raquel working it … feigning intimidation at Carter’s size at weigh in (“how’s the air up there?”) while recycling the old boxing line “… the bigger they come, the harder they fall!”. Carter hard to read … almost demure … stock answers about being “honored” to fight Raquel … some members of press mistakenly call her nervous. Raquel not as sure … sees an almost unnerving quiet confidence.

Fight night: It’s a big event and the Vegas/Hollywood people are out in force, including Rocky’s most high profile fans, the aging ‘Rat Pack’. One veteran scribe muses, “Geez, its weird .. practically all of Welch’s fans look on the downside of 50? What’s with that? This sport must be changin’ more than I thought?”

Musing interrupted by introductions of fighters. “And now fight fans … please welcome a woman who need no introduction! She stands 5’6” and weighs in at a trim 118 pounds … she is recognized as the pound for pound greatest to ever lace on gloves … the one .. the only … Raquel “Rocky” Welch … Welch!”. Raquel bursts out of robe in corner, revealing tight tanned body in her signature red bikini … unleashes flurry at near center ring to showcase dazzling hand speed. Applause is defining … for all the questions about her age and competition of late, Welch going off as a very solid 5-1 favorite. Announcer waits long seconds for applause to die, “…and please extend a welcome to our able challenger. She stands 5’10’ and weighs in at 137 pounds …boxing’s newest sensation … Lynda … Carter!” Carter shrugs off robe … deliberate digging type warm up punches …. black bikini against pale skin … as she edges closer to Welch for ring instructions, more than a few murmur. Hearing about the size difference was one thing, seeing it is quite another.

Rd 1: Welch out of corner on toes … Carter flatfooted … Welch begins familiar circling pattern … flicking jab … often short but more looking to find Carter … occasionally snapping the Carter head. Big brunette looks to left hook to body but Welch is like smoke … in and out. Midway through, Welch feigns jab and fires right hand lead … Carter stumbles back a step! Welch in quick … flurries to body, looking to soften big girl up, but Carter counters with two thumping hooks … one flush to ribcage, the other picked off with elbow but both look to shake smaller fighter who disengages. Crowd roars at action … particularly Welch bettors … when Rocky flashes that hand speed you realize why its called the “sweet science” … but nothing sweet about those two wrecking ball hooks by Carter. At bell, three judges mark cards “Welch”. Between rounds, Welch corner congratulating .. but warning to “bust her up a little with that jab” before venturing back inside. Carter corner telling Lynda to “wait for it” whatever that means?

Rd 2: Welch circling again but looking to put a little damage on the Carter kisser … doubling jab and frequently ending with right cross. Carter countering with a sticking jab … can’t match Welch’s speed but trying to keep distance. Welch looking to circle left and Carter stepping in front … she’s looking to cut off ring … but Welch nimble as ever on those feet. Pins Welch to ropes for a split second … thumps left to body but follow up right to head misses as Raquel ducks, slips out, spins Carter and flurries … left right to head … double left hook to body …Carter turtles up, dukes at cheeks … crowd roars at sight of the bigger woman stuck to ropes. When Lynda looks to counter, Welch stuns her with straight right lead to chin … biggest punch of fight thus far … Carter bounces off ropes …clinches. Another roar from crowd. Long seconds pass as Welch struggles to break clinch … when ref gets in late to separate … Welch shoots a glare … Carter’s bought time to clear head. Raquel too cagey to go for finish prematurely … back on her bicycle and painting Carter visage with the best jab in celebrity boxing. Carter not getting off. Bell rings … Welch round on all three cards. Referee gets an earful from Welch corner about slow break on clinch. Ice in Carter corner, face lumping up slightly. “Can’t wait for her to lead … get off first … get rough with dis b*tch!” snarls veteran cutman Scrubby McGillicuddy, dispelling head trainer’s statement that Lynda is doing fine. Some ringsiders acknowledging that Carter may have answered “chin” questions by way she absorbed that shocking right lead.

Rd. 3. Girls out of corners … everything about Carter seems quicker. Really pressing to close ground and get inside Welch’s zone. Welch jab extracting a price but Raquel clearly uncomfortable with aggression … will not stand ground … begins to one two … dropping straight right behind the jab to slow down rush … and LYNDA TIMES HER … LEFT HOOK CARTER … WELCH ON BACK … PANDEMONIUM … Carter to corner … hint of smile … Welch propping self on elbow … blinking … ref picks up count and Welch up at “7” but unsteady legs … ref looking at her hard … Welch dully pronouncing herself “ok” .. ref waives Carter in … Welch backing up slowly, dukes at cheeks, looking for ropes … legs still not there. Huge right hand by Carter … clangs off guard but still sends Welch staggering … and her guard drops … Lynda hopping with her … blasts right hand to temple … Welch, pitching forward , face first. Crowd roars … shock from some … applause from some (especially those holding those Carter 5-1 tickets!). Ref picks up count … at “6” ref shunted aside by Welch cornermen, who gather up still insensate fighter and literally carry her to stool. Raquel Welch … KTFO … there is a new name in celebrity boxing … and they call her the “Wonder Woman”!

Sinatra … Rickles … Davis Jr. … stunned .. . disbelieving … summary destruction of their girl. Only ex-pug Martin is shaking head thoughtfully, “Ten years … twenty pounds … that’s a lot to give up …”

Aftermath: After loooooooooooooong look by ringside doctor, Welch pronounced “ok”. Carter with perfunctory visit to corner … expressing concern but there is a coldness in the big woman’s demeanor … thanks Welch for the opportunity to fight her … slightest hint of a smirk when she offers a “rematch” whenever Raquel feels up to it.

Welch never officially retires but fight has a profound affect on her boxing career. Once incredibly active, she greatly reduces her bouts per year and almost exclusively sticks to fighting other 60’s icons … to gradually diminishing public interest. Female celebrity boxing pundits crowing AFTER the fact that they could see it coming (notwithstanding all those torn up tickets on Welch, laying 5-1!). Carter now Queen of the Ring; pronounced “unbeatable” by the same scribes who said this tall clumsy plodder had ‘no chance” against Rocky!

Fight also has profound affect on the sport, recognition that can’t simply put two scrappy beauties in ring and see what happens. Definite trend toward having bigger women fight bigger women and smaller women fight smaller. Some point to this bout as the catalyst for the formalization of weight classes and the birth of the FCBA