Posted by simguy on 1/11/2003

Before: Laetitia grateful for the return match, gracious in praise of a classy champ...but there is one little thing bothering her. "It was a lucky punch," Casta insists of the right hand that took everything away from her last time out, "I didn't see the punch and it was just one of those things. I've definitely been hit harder, but the punch you don't see is the one that gets you. I promise my fans, that can't happen again." Jeri respectful of her challenger, recognizing the justice of the rematch...but, she's got her own take on the dais, "Laetitia, you need to watch the tape of that last fight again. I touched you hard, VERY hard, with a couple of body shots - you were stiff and cramped up, and that allowed me to drop the right hand. That's me setting up my power - that's what I do. I know you're going to be stronger in this fight and I welcome the challenge, but make no mistake: when it's time for you to go, you're going to go. And it won't be luck." Jeri in red bikini, Laetitia in bra and panties, black in the back, leopard print in front, hair back tight.

During R1: Crisp professional action. Jeri throwing hard rights off her jab, dipping left on follow through, ripping back up the gut a spanking hook. Casta also body conscious, shooting the left hand high to intercept Ryan's right on the way in, hoisting a pitiless right hand square to Jeri's flat stomach. Even to final moments - girls duck in close to work the body, graduating up top and RYAN BEATS CASTA TO A HOOK! Laetitia's legs queered - Jeri hopping in, knuckles a rangefinding left against Laetitia's upperchest and BENDS into a greasing right hand off the chin - CASTA GOES DOWN! Laetitia off her feet, lands buttocks, elbows and back with a crash at the ropes! Ryan BEAMING at the sight - no fluke as she comes off the body and clips Casta too clean! Heroic effort from Laetitia to beat the count - OH she's woozy at the bell.

R2: Great recuperation from Laetitia as she roams right, fending Jeri off with a scraping jab - blonde in pursuit, walking her prey down but not getting off. Casta buying time and space with her legs, stopping to lug in that thick right hand flat to gut, clinching up smart to smother the receipts. Stop and go action frustrates Ryan - she's trying to get Laetitia trading combinations and Casta's not cooperating.

R3: Jeri punishing Casta with hard sticks early, banging away on French forehead and upperchest to get Laetitia backing up. Casta counterpunching, closing up her stance, trying to walk Jeri into the right, but Ryan not buying. Jeri systematic, jabbing to set up the right cross, finishing up with rigid, banging hooks on the right side, up the gut on Casta. Laetitia's back visits all four ropes - Ryan putting hard miles on French legs through 4.

R4: Jeri stays consistent - she's a non-believer in Laetitia's body, going there with every hook, shouldering Casta back, walking her down. Ryan right hands are whistling past Casta's chin - Laetitia pulling away from the shots, bending at the waist, very aware of the need to move her head. All Ryan to the last minute, Casta backing down in good order - Laetitia swinging as she bends side to side lands a walloping left upside the head to PUT RYAN WOBBLY BUTT! Jeri startled, hands out wide, legs loose - Laetitia stepping forward, pulls in haymakers - clobbering lefts and rights wide on the chin as she puts her back into blows! Ryan catching clean, staggering back - RYAN GOES DOWN! Jeri hammered to her back - head under the bottom rope - she lifts her skull off the mat in a wide eyed daze and BARELY beats the count. Ryan ramshackle, stooping forward - Casta sails into champion midsection, lowering her shoulders to bump 3,4,5 HARD lefts and rights against Jeri pain-wracked belly. Jeri's face blank with shock - she's reaching pathetically to clinch - Casta stepping back and TURNING on tight right hands to the chin, clipping Jeri, fading back, clipping Jeri and RYAN SPRAWLS TO THE MAT! Ryan on her face - she's OUT! KO4 Laetitia Casta in spectacular fashion!

After: Ryan distraught in defeat - keys to the penthouse yanked away just as she was getting used to the joint! Casta bouncing and giddy in triumph, crying tears of vindication - Laetitia naysayers soundly rebuked as French girl reclaims her title with Lennox Lewis like authority. "I want to thank Jeri for giving me the opportunity to prove that the last encounter was pure chance," says Casta, hammering home that sore point amidst the grace, "when it came to us really going at each other, only one could stand. I have nothing but respect for Jeri, but I hope she realizes how far she has yet to go. I think we understand each other now." Well, that remains to be seen. Still, get used to it sports fans - French woman holds the FCBA's most coveted unified belt and shows no signs of fading away.