Posted by Simguy on 11/8/2002, 6:09 pm.

Before: Fights falling through for Jeri Ryan despite the losing streak--girls just don't want any part of this hard blonde if it can be avoided. "Ryan wanted Jones," says an East Coast HBO matchmaker, "and that was smart--always fight the biggest name celebrity you can eat. But we knew that fight wasn't going to happen. Ryan's all wrong for Jones--Jeri's too long and strong and she just barbecued Catherine last time out--why risk another beating when Jeri doesn't have a belt?" Same old story--Jeri too good for her own good, but plucky Heidi Klum more than willing to cross the pond for the payday. "Jeri Ryan's not scary for me," says a beaming supermodel in pre-fight, "I will take what I want from her." Ryan in red bikini, red gloves, Heidi in grey/silver bikini, white gloves.

During R1: Klum pinwheeling, slapping, swarming early--Ryan obviously surprised by the all-out aggression. Jeri falling back, trying to set up her offense, batting punches out of the air as she retreats--Klum throwing herself into her work, backing Ryan up with sheer ferocity. Second minute--Jeri stands her ground more, bending at the waist to slip punches, sensing Klum's undisciplied attack's leaving openings. Ryan gets under a swinging Klum right, Jeri positioned over Heidi's hip. American brings her elbow back hard to the kidneys, arching Klum's back, drawing a cry from the stunned German as she stumbles forward. Jeri's stolen the momentum--she goes to work. Ryan stepping in the spearing jab to the trunkline, then jabbing to the face--Klum's head spanked back, feet doing silly jigs in random patterns as Jeri touches her up. With range, balance and initiative, Ryan able to set down on humming right hands, pounding away to the chest and chin of her foe, battering Klum around the ring to the bell. Heidi staring, bleeding from the nose--she at a lot of fine Jeri right hands to end the frame.

R2: Klum improvising, throwing herself at Jeri again--Ryan composed, guard high, she dips inside the flailing arcs of Heidi's blows, deposits a single shoveling right to the breadbasket and Klum folds up to the canvas sobbing for breath. Heidi guts out the count, but those long legs are shabby--Jeri follows up hard after 8. Spearing jabs body and head beat Heidi in stupor along the ropes, Jeri stepping with just teeing it up. Banging right hand on the ear sits Heidi woozy into the ropes, Jeri twisting into the short punch, hands tight at her chest as she follows through to her left. Ryan swivelling  back hard to starboard, clanging a short, clubbing left to the temple, bending right in a compact stance. Klum's out on her feet--swaying for a monment, then crumpling to the mat as Ryan thinks about unleaswhing a final right hand coup de grace. KO2 Jeri Ryan.

After: Heidi badly shaken, escorted to her stool, but Jeri unsatisfied--Ryan gathers her goirl up for a brazen walk of shame--German girl barely aware if the proccedings. "We worked on head movement, countering the jab in camp and she came out brawling," says a bemused Ryan in postfight, "go figure. Once I figured her out, she was right there in my wheelhouse." When asked about the vicious elbow strike to the back, Jeri grins, "Heidi was showing me no respect, coming at me like I was some punk kid who couldn't handle herself, I was just breaking her momentum, using some tools. I learned against Cat Bell you have you use every weapon at your disposal, and the elbow tip was there. Took a lot of heart out of Heidi--she wasn't nearly as game after that." Veteran just doing whatever it takes to win or cheap shot from a girl who's too classy for that sort of thing: you decide.

Reposted by Archer 9/6/11.