8 ROUND SENIORS BOUT

Posted by Simguy on Saturday 29-May 1999 10:17:15

Before: the world will never really know how good Pam Grier might have been, as she never got the fights in her prime that she deserved. The Grier we see today couldn’t have been the Grier of even 5 years ago--still arrestingly beautiful, but with a heavy body seemingly too big for her legs, and training habits that hardly qualify as such. Still, Lange’s camp negotiated long and hard for a full 8 round senior’s distance and a big ring, fearing the brunette’s legendary one punch power and wanting to give Lange every advantage going in. Jessica in teal Adidas terrycloth trunks, white jog bra, Pam in beige one piece, spaghetti shoulder straps.

During R1: Pam’s strategy is obvious from the start as she walks straight to Lange and goes forehead to forehead with the big blonde. Grier wrestles and pushes Jessica back to the ropes, and a patient give and take results at minimum distance. Pam trying to conserve energy, leans on Lange, leisurely pushing the blonde into the gentle give of the ropes, then ripping a single shot to the gut or jaw. Lange responds in kind, keeping her forehead on Pam’s, turning her shoulder into very short punches. Grier doesn’t take a backward step, but isn’t busy enough, and coughs up the first round despite fighting her fight.

R2: Second verse, same as the first, as Pam continues to body up, lean, punch only intermittently, but this time, Grier dominates much of the round. Lange goes into a shell, soaking up the heavy handed blows, keeping her gloves at her face and giving away the body. In the final minute, with Pam dishing out a beating this round, Lange shocks the brunette, giving a little bounce into the ropes to slip a Grier hook, then coming back with her own short hook to put a bend in Pam’s legs. Lange’s quick follow up left uppercut bangs Pam’s head back and catches her just perfectly, putting Pam on her butt with s startled expression on her face. Grier stands unhurt, but Lange steals Pam’s round with a single combination and knockdown.

R3: Grier continues to get into Lange’s face,  but the blonde really seems to relish the infighting, Toe to toe she stands, trading short punches--all shoulder--as the women seem  intent on grinding one another down.

R4: Grier looking fatigued for the first time, pins Lange once again on the ropes,. But this time, the blonde is able to walk Pam back, and forehead to forehead, Jessica begins to batter Grier. Pam stops punching the moment is forced backwards, and Jessica gets supreme leverage, twisting her torso into thumping lefts and rights to the soft waist of the brunette. Several times, Grier’s legs threaten to give way, and only pride keeps her aloft. Midway through the round, Jessi ROCKS Pam with another short right uppercut from very close range, and Grier soaks it up, eyes sleepy, now looking absolutely spent. Pam finishes the round on the ropes, hands pushing out against Jessica as the blonde hammers away with deliberate combinations to the bell.

R5: Pam staggers out for this round, clearly badly hurt, and bodies up on Jessica at center ring. No question who is the stronger at this point and Lange walks Pam back to the ropes, puts her forehead in Pam’s face, and begins to belt away at that pudding midsection. Grier groaning, covering up is taking a shellacking once again. Lange works methodically around the hips and waist, then straightens into the occasional uppercut that seems to suck all the life out of Grier whenever it lands. By the final minute, Grier leans on Jessica, cheek on the blonde’s shoulder as though she’s taking a nap, sponging up this intimate beating as though she has no other choice. At the bell, Lange’s people ask the ref to stop the fight, angering Pam considerably during the break.

R6: Signs of life from Grier as she regains her form and slugs away with batting left hooks and right hands from medium distance. Lange catches good leather on her forehead and jaw, and spends much of this round trying to block Pam’s incoming. Grier banks her first round as Jessica begins to tire.

R7: Lange shuts Pam out with ease, stepping to the right and left around Grier, snapping in that heavy jab, following up with the cross or hook in a deliberate rhythm. Pam has no answer for even this slight bit of boxing from Jessica and follows the blonde to taker punches from bell to bell. Grier’s exotic face is lumpy, exhausted looking as Lange posts an insurmountable lead going into the final stanza.

R8: Pam Grier shows a champion’s pride, wading out with nothing left, bodying up on the fresher blonde, walking Lange to the ropes and outslugging Jessi toe to toe for the final three minutes. Pam’s got little on her punches, and Jessica stands in, giving the crowd one of the best action rounds as both women smack each other uncontested at close range. In the final seconds, Pam has Jessica snug around the shoulders with her left arm, pounding in short right hands to the side of the head to the bell. At the conclusion, both women hug, and the decision is no surprise: lopsided and unanimous for Jessica Lange.

After: Grier showed she still has the chin, and the heart, but little else left after years of inactivity. A gutty performance from her, but at this point, she hasn’t got the ability to go the distance with more active, better prepared foes like Lange. Good win for Jessica as she remains the busiest senior on the circuit.

Reposted by Archer 8/17/10