Posted by Simguy on 9/20/2003, 9:38 am.

Before: Mixed emotions for Elisha as she ponders upcoming test. “Demi’s one of my idols--I grew up watching her take other women apart and she’s one of the reasons I decided to get into celebrity combat sports ion the first place. But this whole cradle robbing thing of hers, all the plastic surgery, fighting on the beach--it’ just yucky and pathetic. When she wakes up after the fight, she’s going to thank me for pounding her out of this sport and saving what little dignity she has left!” Moore nonplussed at Cuthbert’s braying rhetoric--brunette retains Lucy liu to work her corner. Lots of flat glares from the former Asian Krusher on Demi’s side of the dais--Janet J promising Liu “your days coming”, as Cuthbert continues to improve every time out,.  Fightin’ white bikini Cuthbert, black filigree Angels bikini, Moore, slick low ponytail.

During R1: Demi skirting the perimeter, feinting and fading the kid, just taking a look-see. Cuthbert the aggressor, stalking Demi to the ropes, crouching close and getting off in rapid-fire bursts, Elisha also showing some cheek--dropping her hands to her sides and affecting a Lucy Liu look, bending in with her waist, sidestepping with a hand saucy at Demi’s back--Demi taking it in stride, but Liu up off her chair, indignant at ringside. Moore lurking her girl to corners then slipping, spinning to navigate back to midring. No damage done--Moore giving up a harmless shutout as she gathers intel on Cuthbert’s tendencies, strengths and reflexes.

R2: Brisk two-way trade as Moore gets off her  bicycle, edges in close to trade with the youngster. Demi bending in low over her front foot, straightening to lean onto her back foot--she changes up distance this way, pounding the right on the way forward, clipping the hook on the way out, Cuthbert’s hands up at her chest/chin, dipping side to side, throwing her right hand hard to Demi’s flank, bending in close, then also looking for the lean-away hook. Moore slightly more accurate--good head movement making Elisha miss a lot of shots.

R3: More busy trade as the girls work in front of each other, casually stepping left, not quite all the way in, but close enough to really get stinging power on all shots. Moore mixing it up pretty, using stubby jab to wreck Elisha’s timing, beating the blonde to cute little right hands as both lean in, beating Cuthbert to comeback hook. Elisha taking a good shot--not backing up as Demi clocks with biting pop. Moore stepping right late, raking an insolent hook across Elisha’s breasts to take a close third.

R4: ‘Lisha doubling up the jab and getting cheek by jowl with Demi--girls lathering it up downstairs as both lay inside to work. Sizzling turn-taking going on-Cuthbert hup-hup-hupping her fists in curling, rising arcs to the offending flat abs and plump jugs of her foe, then covering up as Demi answers back with rapid licking combos herself, This is heartless stuff, neither girl taking a backward step, both midirffs pinking up nicely as tearing abuse is inflicted. Cuthbert’s aggression shutting Demi down in the dying seconds, backing her up--Moore on the ropes at the bell as Elisha keeps slugging, heaping in extra until the ref gets involved.

R5: Moore doubling up her jab, looking inside, then stepping out--she’s got Cuthbert falling in, picking her up tuff with the short straight right, or counter right uppercut, THEN laying in. Moore working in and out, reaching under ‘Lisha’s arms and walking her around, clinching AROUND Lisha’s arms and heeling her just above the hip, Jones up in arms--bellowing about the heel-touches, the holding--Moore getting away with a little veteran skullduggery to outwork her girl in close quarters this round. Through rfive, fight couldn’t be closer--Demi ahead by a round, but both girls about equal in time of possession.

R6: More of a boxing look for Moore--eyes intent--bending at the waist as she shoots her jab in, then steps back, then circles to the right, giving ‘Lishy angles. Cuthbert stepping forward, moving her guard from chest to eyebrows and back, leading with power shots--she’s getting ore-empted by brunette stick and walked into pesky potshotting right hands. Moore having it her way sharpshooting style, getting some nice right hands on the left side of Cuthbert’s jaw this round.

R7: Cuthbert won’t be denied. Blonde’s been coming forward all night long--it’s hurt her at times, helped her at others, but Moore starting to show signs of give as she spends a lot of time up against the ropes this round. Cuthbert fighting off Demi’s chest, thumping away on that taut belly, pushing those wiry arms back, tousle rubbing Demi’s fragile face and slamming away tight to jug when it’s there. Moore relying on single shot counters, doing a lot of tieing up after trying the right uppercut or left hook--she needs to slow the youngster down. Cuthbert breaks away late, rampaging to gut with both fists--Moore just stooped forward face on face with her blonde, hands light on ‘Lishy’s shoulders as the kid pumps away.

R8: Moore stepping right, backhanding out the jab--but this stuff isn’t keeping Elisha off any more. Cuthbert stubbing her jab out ion Demi’s face and chest, leaning forward to loop the overhand right, jumping in the hook--Moore’s crowded and banged to the ropes. Demi setting up dukes at temples, bent at the waist--Lishy pushing her face through Demi’s gloves and working the body, coming up the middle with rude uppercuts, wearing brunette defenses down, Demi sitting in the ropes, using little torso turns to slip punches, getting low and shouldering Lishy back, but Cuthbert just pounding away on the 40-something body, breaking on Demi in waves, slugging after the bell to leave those trim legs quaking.

R9: Moore’s not a legend for nothing. She’s boxing in spots, spitting the jab at Elisha’s eyes, stepping back, then driving in on counter-right hands flush on the face as Cuthbert walks in. Demi clinching, walking her girl to ropes, hardhearted as she shoulder butts Cuthbert in the teeth while holding her, heeling her in the kidneys with the ref out of position. Cuthbert mauled and worked over--when she angers-up and looks to work, she’s bogged down and held for breaks. Bell sounds--Demi pushing herself up off her foe, then driving a harsh right hand to the pit of the stomach, falling in to press Cuthbert deep into the ropes as blonde sobs aloud in protest.

R10: Hammer and tongs--it’s a close ‘un! Jones and Liu bouncing up and down, screaming and slapping the ring apron like a couple of jockeys whipping their mounts down the stretch. Moore and Cuthbert leaning in close and going at each other with vicious, ripping bursts of punches. Both girls dipping down to thump away to gut. Moore crisscrossing lefts and rights against Cuthbert’s face--momentarily dazing the blonde. Elisha’s hands useless at her chest as her head absorbs shock. Cuthbert back with a clanging hook on the eye, then another as Moore falters back, then another as Moore misjudges distance, Elisha leaping in to cover the back. Moore twisting her torso side to side with short cropped punches, stepping back to let Cuthbert fall in. Cuthbert soaking it up, walloping over the top the big right hand, then savaging Moore’s expensive jugs with rapacious hooks. Back and forth, beauties staggering around the ring--punching splatters on past the bell as ref struggles to enforce the break. Comes back a gut-wrencher: a DRAW!

After: Cuthbert all fiery-eyed, lower lip cut and swollen, she climbs the ring ropes, thumps her chest--many expected the kid to get chewed up tonight by one of boxing’s true hard women: didn’t happen. Moore’s chest heaving, face all scuffed up and body aching--she got the better of the kid in the first half, but had to delve into her bag of tricks to string this thing out. Liu getting into Janet’s face and demanding a crack at Cuthbert--Janet shoving the smaller woman back--FCBA officials intervene before the inevitable “black eye for the FCBA” can occur.

Reposted by Archer 6/19/11.