Before: “Spare me,” breaths an exasperated Heather in response to the suggestion that her upcoming fight with Cole has that old Heather Thomas/Catherine Bach vibe to it. “I fought wars with Cathy, Cathy was a savage in there: Taylor Cole is no Catherine Bach.” Thomas more than welcome on the beach, signing autographs for a legion of nostalgic fans--but cynics sees this for what it: a grooming fight in the promising  career of young Ms. Cole. “What can I say,” gushes Taylor, “Heather’s a legend. I don’t buy this guff about Heather being brought in to pad my resume--she still looks like she can handle half the Top 10 in the FCBA. I know I’ll win, but people shouldn’t just dismiss Thomas--this is going to be a stern test.” Sounds a lot like Oscar hyping the Chavez fights--but Taylor’s learning to play the game inside and out of the ropes. Lime green crochet bikini ntop, blue jean cutoffs Taylor--black cup, yellow cup bikini top Heather, blue jean cutoffs, Ring posts set directly in sand, bleachers, So. Cali. Beach.

During R1: Thomas’ stance SO different from her youthful prime--right open palm out at her left jaw line, left across her gut, stepping slowly, bending at the waist with the left shoulder pointed at Taylor. Cole swishing across sand and hauling home wide thunder--but Thomas clam, cool, collected in the pocket. Heather accepting blows to her shoulders, picking off shots with that right hand, ducking and slipping others--she’s getting into Taylor’s breadbasket with tucking hooks, clapping the kid’s jaw the hook up top, rolling and countering with stubby right hands on the chin, Cole very busy, chucking leather and tightening up her stroke as girls get close--but experienced viewers will see the bite being taken off these punches--its glancing contact only. Thomas dipping an digging out of the crossed arm--by the midway point she’s nice and loose, punching and bumping, with her left shoulder, bobbing her head, collecting tummy, jugs and chin with nice, tidy clouts, Down the stretch, Cole facing into the blows and looking a little ragged--Heather twists left to pull a banging right across Taylor’s brows. Cole startled, already tottering backward when a third biting hook sweeps her chin and TAYLOR’S DOWN! Roar from the crowd as Cole hits turf with a muffled thump, feet pushing out into the sand as she sits and shakes her pretty head. Thomas glaring, swishing chubbily through the sand at the bell--she put a counter-punching clinic together in the first, sending Cole to her corner all shook up.

R2: Cole pawing the jab, getting Heather to lay over to the right--Taylor able to shoot down and across with the right, catching Thomas behind the ear--Heather’s turn yo stagger back under withering fire. Cole eyes wide, jumping in with a rising hook, bending down into a looping overhand right--Thomas hit’s the ropes stunned. Taylor wading in--beefy right hand pounding in above Heathers left hip, crippling blonde beauty--raking hook sweeps across the mouth, then doubles up to really clip the chin--Thomas wilting back into the ropes, right hand under her chin, left across her gut. Thomas bends forward, ducking Taylor’s murderous right cross just in time, but Cole twists into a clean-up hook up underneath that PUTS HEATHER ON ALL FOURS! Taylor breathing hard, eyes blazing--she’s bodied back as heather sucks it up, struggling to her feet for an achy 8.

ON COMES TAYLOR

Cole wading in thick, lugging sidearm lefts and rights wide, up and in under Heather’s ribs--blonde trying to ride it out, block with her elbows but still soaking up a beating. Thomas still cute with her hands though--picking Taylor up hooks, right uppercuts, bibbing and bending side to side, tucking in shots behind Taylor’s elbows. Slowly, in bitter toe to toe bumping, punching, bobbing, Heather works around Taylor, putting brunette back to ropes and HEATHER TURNS UP THE HEAT! Thomas unleashing--sizzling right hands abrupt off the shoulder, carries her in and down so she can slice that vicious hook on the belt line of Cole’s cutoffs. Taylor crossing her arms, stooping forward, straightening, but getting hammered--she’s getting tagged on her chin and RIPPED to her body--Thomas setting a peppering pace and putting it to her youthful opponent, COLE GOES DOWN! Taylor taking a series of liver shots finally goes to all fours lips a-quiver--she’s all cramped up, lips peeled back as Thomas backs off for 8.

ON COMES THOMAS! 30 seconds left--Thomas assaulting a windblown Cole at the ropes--poor Taylor just facing into blows, not as elusive or cute as Heather was whe hurt. Thomas able to feint the right hand and rip-dig that hook to waist first, THEN drop the right hand on the face--Cole staring, shipping shots and TAYLOR’S DOWN AGAIN!  This time Cole drops to all fours, but then collapses hurt to the sand, rolling to her back and lifting her knees in gut-shot agony. Good Lord--say it ain’t so: KO2 Heather Thomas!

After: ESPN showing slow mo replays of Thomas’ withering hooks cutting up Taylor’s trunks and tummy--blonde borderline, but setting those shots FIRM--poor Cole simply unable to take determined Thomas punching, head and body. How does an ingénue go from punking Gena Lee to being dismissed by Heather T? “People forget Heather was one of the most complete blonde fighters of the last 50 years,” says one beaming BLONDE! Beach correspondent, “Stamina never came into play--that was our big fear, that Heather would get old as rounds passed--especially with the heat out here--but she cleaned Taylor up before that could be a problem. Clean punching off the counter, thumping body shots, tremendous head movement--Heather’s still got it and thank GOD Cole’s been exposed! The beach is no place for a brunette.” Shock, awe in the Cole corner--nobody expected this, nobody’s prepared--Thomas takes advantage of the chaos. Heather pulling Cole to her feet, slipping fingers through belt loops at either Taylor hip and tugging her forehead to forehead, then it’s just a one-way verbal dressing down--Heather really getting into a woozy Taylor with some hurtful stuff. Cole blinking, unfocused, hands lightly protesting against Heather’s wrists and inner elbows, but Taylor’s just going to have to stand here and listen as Thomas lists the kid’s shortcomings.

Reposted by Archer 9/20/11.