FCBA NON-TITLE LIGHTWEIGHT TOURNAMENT

Final: Tournament Championship

Posted by Simguy on 5/24/2003, 8:25 am.

Before: Hurley bristling when reminded of Cat’s dominance over her I years past. “My former management has me coming into fights at 118, far too light for strong lightweights,” explains Liz. “that management has been replaced and I daresay I’m now the stronger woman coming into this fight.”

Cat also testy in pre-fight--rumours circulating that she was more than relieved to see Debbe Dunning eliminated from the competition. “Nonsense,’ says Cat. “Liz is every bit the threat Debbe is, although in a completely different way, With Debbe--you can’t break her spirit--she’ still trying to knock you out even when it’s hopeless, and it’s a strain trying to control that for 10 rounds. With Liz--she’s so consistent, you can never relax--you can never relax--you have to maintain your concentration. I will say this--you can convince Liz she can’ win, and she’ll go into survival mode You can’t ever do that with Dunning. Still, with what Hurley’s done in this tournament, it’s clear she’s at the top of her game.”

Cat’s gotten to the final with her usual grit, intelligence and versatility. Liz has surprised onlookers with a renewed commitment to body punching, softening up stronger foes and preparing them for stopping flurries. Can Liz work Cat’s body to similar effect? “ I doubt it,” says bell. “Debbe likes to extend on punches and she didn’t like Liz inside, but I’ll take Hurley apart if she crowds me. Liz can make herself safe in the ring, and sometimes she settles for that--I’ll take advantage of any sloth on Liz’s part.” Hurley less specific if no less confident, “I dismantled Jennifer Garner,” Liz says pointedly. “That tells me I’ve already beaten Cat bell.”

Liz in yellow bikini, white border, white gloves--Cat in electric blue, white gloves.

During R1: Stop and go action, wheels turning on both sides. Liz looking to edge in and pivot while keeping her shoulder on Cat--Bell immediately clinching, refusing to be smoothed. Cat jabbing--Liz moving her head, left hand at her chest, right at her stomach, using her right shoulder to roll Bell’s straight punches. Girls negating each other till late--Bell doubling up on poking straight right hands gets Liz backing off, unhurt.

R2: Cat constructive behind the jab--she’s not landing it,  but it’s keeping Liz occupied, setting up the straight right. Hurley snatching with her hook as she pivots to the right--bat-batting with it, touching Cat on the ear, scraping her ribs. Another close round broken up late: Liz extends on a left and poses--Cat right back with a jamming straight right on the chin, Head snap Hurley--she’s awkward backing up--Bell advancing with stabbing straight lefts and rights, putting Liz ropeside, Nice rugged flurry at the bell--Cat crisscrossing straight into Liz’s proud breasts--hurt look, moist eyes from Hurley at the bell.

R3: Another even round--Bell hands up, jabs, right hands--Hurley swiveling right, swatting with her hook, doubling it up and escaping better than she had been. Liz sidestepping and turning cat with a helpful hand in the back--she’s getting angles now, opening up.

R4: Hurley outclassing Bell again this round--nibbling hook behind the elbow starting to get bell’s attention--she’s dropping that elbow to protect. Liz finally landing the left  cross on Cat’s face, ducking down on follow through to slip Bell’s receipt.

R5: Hurley on Cat’s ribs--slashing at ‘em with doubled up, quick pivoting right--Bell getting preoccupied with those touches, never sees the slick, semi-screened left hand that almost takes her head off. Bell wobbly butt, badly hurt end of the first minute--Liz crowding in to work supple. Hurley loose limbed, stroking Cat’s ribs, swiping ay her tummy, picking her up right uppercuts. Bell dazed, right at her chest, left at her waist, butt in the ropes--she’s bending forward, leaning back, getting hit. Comprehensive beating from Hurley--not rushing for the knockout--she wants bell’s belly, tits, chin and tibs: she’s taking them.

R6: Liz wheeling, snatching that hook, controlling this fight midring. Cat wounded, trying to bring donnybrook, but it’s not happening. Liz pivoting right, feinting, tapping the left, tapping the right then BRINGING the left--Cat’s head straight back and she’s wobbly butt again! Bell leaning forward huuuuurt--Liz on her front foot licks righty hooks against the ribs, wicking the strength from the American. Bell clinching desperately--grimy work on the inside evolves as the girls snuggle up and work. Cat with her left around Liz’s body, Liz with her right around Cat’s--girls try to smuggle punches in with the free mitt. Sweaty, cerebral stuff, girls stuffing in a blow, then knuckling into the opponent to smother, each straining to push the other off and score. Tits, belly and chins are tagged, but not a lot of leverage--strictly energy draining combat to the bell.

R7: Cat immediately wrapping up, prompting that sneaky, supple work in tight from both woman. Southpaw/Orthodox lockups means Liz’s left hand is free, Cat’s right is available as the bodies are open--girls have to snuggle close, dragging blows into the opponent and muscle her around. Grinding telephone booth stuff seems to favour Cat--by the final minute she’s muscling Liz up against the ropes, jamming away to the ribs and chin, using her right forearm rough in the clinch.

R8: Cat puts some mileage on Liz in lengthy body on body struggle--now she steps it outside to change up. Hurley a step behind, getting jabbed to the ropes--she’s bobbing and weaving but Cat NAILS a straight right on the mouth that sits Liz into the strands. Cat reaching under Hurley’s arms, stopping Liz from losing up her stance: Bell goes to brutal wortk. Cat reaching in with the left pushing on Liz’s right bicep, hauling the right into Liz’s chin, falling in with her to make her feel weight, then pushing right, punching left, Liz roughhoused and ragdolled at the ropes, getting bludgeoned and HURLEY TAKES A KNEE! Liz all used up, grimacing--she takes 8, covers up. Bell opening up as Hurley slumps forward, helping herself to Liz’s shiny lower back, trembling flanks in behind the elbows to the bell.

R9: Liz hurt, worked on last round, but she toughens up. Hurley jabbing, stepping right, showing that right shoulder as she slips punches, Cat trying to box with Liz, but catching straight lefts on her mouth and that busy, swatting hook in her left side--Hurley keeping her distance successfully to control a close round.

R10: Cat jabbing stiff, moving Hurley around, disrupting Liz’s timing at times. Liz also having moments, doubling up the swatting hook and getting around Cat’s flanks as the American covers up. Just technical boxing--girls touching each other, but nobody hurt--tactical tenth sends this thing to the cards. Comes back one point duke for the winner of the inaugural FCBA lightweight tournament: Liz Hurley!

After: Cat staring, expressionless--she’s not sure she agrees with that decision, having seen Liz on her knees in this bout. Hurley having no trouble believing it--tears flow as she finally pays Cat back for longstanding grudges, hugging her corner men, trembling with glee. Fight even after 9--and a very close 10th--razor-thin margin of victory, though Liz saw a different fight. “I held Cat bell in thrall,” says a happy Liz in post fight, clutching the towering tournament trophy topped with a pair of silver celeb boxers, one getting off strong, the other folded forward, getting worked over, “I was pulling the strings on her. She thought to bully me, but I hurt her when we locked up, and I saw quit in her eyes probably as early as the 5th round. Truly, it was the easiest fight I had in this tournament, and when you look at the names I’ve trampled, how can American media continue to deny me?”

Reposted by Archer 2/6/11.