Posted by Simguy on 6/27/2003, 9:23 pm.

Before: “I really want the knockout,” confesses Rodriquez. “Girls like Cuthbert bring out the destroyer in me--I definitely want to see her body stretched out on that canvas.” Cuthbert anxious to show better than she did in her last go round with Mrod. “Michelle embarrassed me last time out--I wasn’t ready for her. But I’m tuff--and if she thinks she can walk me down and punk, she’s got another thing coming. And knocking me out? Please, I won’t go out for her again--ever.: Mrod in wet black leather sports bra; wet black leather mini-trunks with wet black leather mini-skirt and gold tassel fringe; and wet black leather boxing boots--Elisha in pea green bikini top, white battle skirt.

During R1: Cuthbert aggressively at Mrod, jabbing rigid between the gloves, stiff-arming the right hand upstairs--Rodriquez blocking shots, weight on her right foot. ‘Lishy poking upstairs to get the guard up then she SNATCHES body with a vicious left hook, pounding it off the ribs and bunching Rodriquez up hurt! Mrod woozy to the ropes, face stretched in pain--Cuthbert stepping to her and pounding away! Rest of the round is Michelle trying to shake off the body shot, hunched over, giving up her flanks and back--Cuthbert planted, belting away with her hardest shots--often doubling up the right or left hand, to really work a spot. Elisha beaming at the bell, shoving Rodriquez’s shoulders, taunting her--woozy Latina all shook up, doesn’t look well.

R2: Shutout Rodriquez. Latina shakes it off--Cuthbert ignoring instructions to box goes shoulder to shoulder and gets herself outworked on the inside as Michelle’s far from done. Rodriquez just grinding away, keeping her head on either Cuthbert shoulder, digging up the middle then suddenly reaching to bang around the elbow. Blonde giving ground, not punching back, just laying in with Michelle as bodies pink up nicely through 2.

R3,4: Girls have the measure of one another, now its just hardhearted mouth in shoulder, slug-’em-up in toe to toe stances. Janet screaming for Cuthbert to move, give Michelle angles, but blonde won’t have it--she’s putting her body on the line, trading punches, giving and taking in bitter tit-for-tat exchanges. Punches are short, plenty of forearm/elbow on follow through, hooks dig at livers and waists, right hands jerk uppercuts through the middle or club wide behind the ear. it’s Michelle’s fight--rounds are close, bitter, but Rodriquez is backing Cuthbert up and beating her down minute after grinding minute.

R5: Mrod imposing her will, bodying up on Cuthbert, walking her back, shouldering her ff, hooking her body or chin, turning on tight little right hands inside. Elisha shopworn, not throwing back--he’s got that stunned, groggy look she had in the first fight, just doesn’t have any answers. Mrod piling on in spots, shoving Elisha up against the ropes, then going at her jus with hardhearted rising lefts and rights, prompting woozy blonde clinches. Rodriquez barking laughter as ‘Lishy hangs on for referee’s breaks--grim satisfaction in Latina’s harsh features. In the corner , Janet Jones slaps Elisha’s face. SLAPS HER AGAIN! Tells her “You’re quitting in there! Don’t you quit on me!”

R6: Signs of life from Cuthbert--she’s digging down, shaking off the hurt, fighting hard if not smart. Girls in cross armed stances, right just below chins, lefts across stomachs, twisting into bashing side to side punches with shattering, crowd pleasing impacts. Both girls cracked hard upside the head, both bending at the knee under heavy body leather, but again--it’s Rodriquez coming forward, refusing to give in there.

R7: Cuthbert hasn’t jabbed since the first--she goes back to it early, good things happen. Elisha’s legs are shaky, but she’s moving to her left, trying to step in and out, change up distance a little--Rodriquez double clutching on punches, not swinging as freely as a result. Good methodical stuff from Cuthbert, circling, jabbing to open up right hands flat on the gut or firm on the teeth, taking only single shots in return instead of hanging around for Rodriquez to really tune up on her. Down the stretch--Michelle fans on a right as Cuthbert stuffs a right square to Latina belly. Rodriquez staggered and HOOKED HARD ON THE CHIN! Michelle TAKES A KNEE! Suddenly all woozy, Cuthbert pacing anxiously in the neutral corner and CHARGING afterth 8 count, barreling into Michelle to press her deep to ropes, then coming up punching, chin forward, arms chugging pack and forth with giddy-up leather to the breadbasket at the bell and beyond as the ref gets involved.

R8: Elisha on the attack! Cuthbert nailing Michelle repeatedly in the first minute with stern little right crosses, clipping chin, dazing the Latina--Rodriquez not moving her hands as damage piles up. Elisha able to come forward, use a little shoulder bump on Rodriquez to get room, then THUMP that hook off the belly, Michelle brawled into the ropes, standing her ground and slugging back--she’s not shutout, but shes badly outworked as a ferocious blonde catches her second wind.

R9: ‘Lishy takes another! Cuthbert storming across the ring, taking it to Rodriquez in her own corner--Michelle often covering up gloves at her chin, stumbling from one foot to the other as Cuthbert hauls blockbuster lefts and rights in from her hips. Mrod allowing blonde too much freedom--Cuthbert able to set, pump multiple left hands up into Latina torso--Rodriquez just standing there hurt, gloves at her temples, soaking ‘em up. Bell sounds--brazen blonde’s still punching, beating a grimacing Michelle to a seat on the ropes as the ref jumps in.

R10: Cuthbert’s punched out--Mrod stalk across the ring, bends into a searing right hand off the face and backs her girl to the ropes. Vintage Michelle Rodriquez, keeping her head and shoulders on her girl, constantly nudging and bumping, then RIPPING hooks at the liver, or around that right elbow, shaking Elisha on the spot, Cuthbert baring her teeth, but she just can’t get off--Latina numbing her with body shots, coming through the middle with clipping little uppercuts to bobble Elisha’s head. 10th goes as a shutout as Rodriquez fights error free to the bell, favours Cuthbert a gutting late left hook in the belly to draw a woozy cry of protest after the break. Comes back 1 point duke--Michelle Rodriquez.

After: All even after 9--just a great back and forth slugfest that gives the crowd its money’s worth. Michelle making no mistake with the fight on the line in the 10th--she got on top of Elisha and worked her over bell to bell, never giving the blonde a chance to complete the comeback. Janet hugging a battered Elisha in post fight--rare show of support from Jones, who has been a harsh task mistress in the post with the ingénue.
“Elisha didn’t do as she was told--she fought the wrong fight, a stupid fight, and she damn near pulled it off,” says Jones. “Rodriquez is a one-trick pony who got everything she needed tonight and still almost coughed it up. We’ve got her number now--it’s just a matter of getting Elisha to concentrate in there.”

Reposted by Archer 6/7/11.