UNIFIED LIGHTWEIGHT TITLE

Posted by Simguy on 6/29/2002, 11:00 am.

Before: Little known fact, Cat plays tape of Ashley’s “Pushing Cat Bell to the Sidelines” speech whenever she needs motivation--Judd really striking a chord in the champ./ “it hurt when she said it,” Cat admits, “but it was good to be reminded that that’s what these girls want to do. I consider Ashley the number one threat to my title, and my career at this moment. I just have to box her better, be better defensively--you really can’t be sloppy against Judd.” All coming together at last for Judd--she’s a woman oin a mission. “I didn’t think they’d give me a chance,’ says Ashley, “they’ve been babying Bell as she gets older, which is understandable, and I think they were shocked at what I was able to do t her last time out. I think it was Cat’s pride that finally go the deal done. She knows I beat her easy last time. Easy. Cat can’t rest knowing I handled her, and she has to know: is this girl really that much better than me? I’m going to end the suspense in a hurry, let me tell you.”

Ashley in red hipster bikini, white glodes, twist tie top, cat in electric blue bikiniu, white gloves.

During R1: Cat out with hands high, out front, stepping left around a firm stick to the forehead of Judd, Ashley’s hook being blocked early as Bell’s guard, clockwise movement conspires against it, but midway through, Ashley comes in off a swiping left uppercut and BASHES her right hand hard across Bell’s sternum, catching plenty of forearm, finishing up with her shoulder in bell’s chest as the girls fall in. All Judd from hat point as cvat stiffens up, clinching around the shorter woman’s head and arms Ashley fighting through ut, bulling Cat to the ropes, really getting good body turn and leverage on shoirt, pulverizing right hands to the ribcage and breast, final moments explosive--Bell trying to brawl her back off the ropes--Judd bobbing underneath Bells swings, then popping up wit sudden hooks and right hands--shattering exchange sees Cat’s head put on a swivel and BELL GOES DOWN! Cat slumping to her haunches all but out as she lolls forward from the ropes--Judd stomping, seething--pushed back at the bell.

R2: Cat somehow resuscitated--she;s shaken up, but still executing her game. Judd being forced to eat the jab as Bell keeps it on her strong--Cat also clipping in the short right uppercut to nail Ashley, then clinch before Judd can get the hook off. Punch n’ clinch for Bell00she’s scorning, huddling up, pushing her girl off by the shoulders. Judd guilty of plodding a little--she’s getting inside, but not working as Bell ties her up.

R3: Cat getting her legs back, starts to use economical lateral movement, still primarily the jab, but finding right hands whenever Judd commits to coming insider. Bell relaxed, laying in cheek to cheek with Ashley, hands crossed at her body, using her sho9ulder ion Ashley, crowding the punches--then Cat will step out and land a clouting left or right off her hip, creating space and scoring as Judd comes forward, Ashley frustrated--she’s getting into the trenches but not working hard enough to break Bell down--all the clean, visible strikes come as Bell steps out and walks Judd into harm’s way.

R4: Punishing two-way action round--both girls getting it done, Bell showing 2 distinct looks--the high guard, jabbing, old style Oscar De la Hoya, and a more relaxed, shoulder to shoulder look, hands low to defend her body, leaning on Ashley, then dropping back to walk her in, Judd with her mitts at her cheeks, getting her head in Cat’s chest, palming her shoulders, then cudgeling the midriff--Ashley turning her shoulders into sudden, vicious swipes to the body that have bell grunting, hunching forward at times.

R5: Cat bell with a nice early sequence--she times Ashley coming in, just jamming ther short right hand over Judd’s left shoulder as the girls body up--Judd going wobbly butt as she accepts the clinch. Cat steps right, riding her left arm on Ashley’s right shoulder, slumping the girl forward and bell ROCKS the challenger a right uppercut--postcard perfect punch straightens Ashley up with a boozy look of pain and she is STUNNED! Bell able to step outside and work behind the long stick, taking pains to work Judd’s eyes, lean in with spearing right crosses as the shorter brunette stands flat footed, leaning back uncertainly, and taking the cleanest shots of the fight so far.

R6: Back to back shutouts from Bell--she hurt her girl last round, this round she steps patiently around Ashley, sticking and jamming her from outside with thumping jabs, opportunistic right crosses, Ashley just turning, gloves at her mouth, staring and getting all busted up--she’s punished, not thinking clearly, not moving her head and it’s starting to add up.

R7: Cat bouncing at the knee this round, looking to uptempo, She’ll step in off the double jab, then fade back, trying to lure Ashley forward. Judd reaching with her left--Cat slips just inside it, clips a quick hook off the mouth and jams the right hand over Judd’s outstretched left and ASHLEY’S HURT! Judd staggering to her right--Cat stepping with and extending on monster right hands, chasing Judd to the ropes, Big bruising beat down--Bell squaring away pressing her forearms against Judd’s shoulders, then churning it up--side to side, bashing lefts and rights as Ashley wilts under pressure. Midway through, Judd rolling well with punches, starts to get it together--she builds off some sensational counter-swipe left hands across the stomach--Bell punching with her elbows in, chin up0 and Judd beats her to a hook. CAT GOES DOWN! Thunderclap exchange of rights and lefts--Bell’s head snapping viciously and she peels to her back to lie senseless as Judd struts over the top her to a neutral corner, Bell beat the count, but she’s swaying in the breeze--ON COMES ASHLEY JUDD! Cat sits in the ropes, covers up and takes her medicine--fearful punishment administered to the long flanks, lower back and ribs behind either elbow--Judd just SHOVING it in to the bell.

R8: Oh, Ashley Judd! Ashley quickly across the ring, moving her head side to side as she chops in walking lefts and rights--Bell beaten to the ropes, eyes wide, glassy as the leather starts to find her. Corwd moaning as bell’s head gets swiveled again, legs tremble, but she stands up, tilting forward off the ropes and giving away her body once again. This is three minutes of agonizing work downstairs--Ashley Judd ruthless as she bludgeons away. AJ buries her face in Cat’s right shoulder, fitting in tight right hands to the breadbasket, curling cruel left hooks around the side, then it’s over to the other shoulder, cramming left hands to the belly, biting right hands to the hip and back, with the occasional Tysonesque right uppercut in close Cat limp, just soaking it up--she’s helpless as Judd props her up with a shoulder under the chin, listless as Judd rubs and scrapes her forehead against the tender lips and cheeks of the groggy champion. At the bell, Ashley Judd pushes her way off the steaming pile of brunette--Cat open-mouthed in shock the work done.

R9: Judd to strong now--she’s walking Cat down, slipping the jab, scoring with a snappy counter hook to the jugs or wide right hand underneath to the ribs, then setting up on the champ’s chest. Cat goes back to the supple lay-in look--leaning on Judd, slowing the action, pulling out to try to clip something as Ashley falls in., Judd having too many moments where she can push and maul Cat against the ropes--she’s just savaging that waistline with heartstopping punches.

R10: Cat bell know her title’s on the line--she responds like a champ, early on she gets judd’s attention with counter right uppercuts--rolling with Ashley’s right, coming back immediately with the clipping blow as the girls get close. As Judd grows cautious, bell’s able to get range on her jab, keeping Ashley at the end of the punches. Down the stretch, Cat;s steering Judd, keeping the fight in the center of the ring, nailing her over the top with slicing right hands as Ashley goes back to nibbling her thumbs, bobbing side to side, but not pressing the attack textbook shutout sends it to the cards: comes back…a… DRAW. Cat Bell retains the title.

After: Judd expressionless, ashen-faced at the decision--she’s all puffy and sore, beat up, and bitterly disappointed. Bell getting hugs and kisses, entire team relieved as the champ hangs on against a furious late Judd charge. Awkward moment in the ring as cat goes over to congratulate Ashley for the effort and is rudely spurned--Cat blurting “Guess it’s getting crowded on the sidelines.: in response--too much hard feeling here.  Draw makes Cat the clear dominant champion in boxing--she’s having the kind of year that Charlize Theron had last year, and don’t think they both don’t know it.

(Archer Note: This fight originally ended in a one-point Bell win, but after some board discussion, Simguy “re-totaled” the cards and decided it was actually a draw, Some minor editing of the “After” section was required to fit this revised result).

Reposted by Archer 12/12/10