Posted by simguy on 12/13/2002, 5:41 am.

Before: McCarthy rededicating herself to the ring following a rugged disappointment against Dunning. “Jenny’s got this wacky, devil-may-care side,” notes one old Playboy handler, “but she works hard when she’s focused, and Jenny’s focused right now. In her mind, she just does not lose to a Neve Campbell, and she’s putting a lot of pressure on herself to come through in this one.” Campbell getting intelligence from Heather Kozar who’s spent a little time around McCarthy camps in the past - every little bit helps. Navy sports bra, pale blue high waisted trunks Neve - white sports bra, red high waist trunks Jenny, hair black.

R1: No feeling out process - girls hop to midring and start testing one another’s resolve from the outset. Neve nice and compact, hands at her cheeks, bobbing slightly and coming with jagged little lefts and rights inside McCarthy’s overhand rights and wide lefts. Jenny Mac beaten back - she’s snarling, eyes showing a little panicky “not again” early round jitters. Neve fattens up on McCarthy midsection with a driving assault at the end of the first minute. Second minute, Jenny reverses positions with a series of brawny arm locks, levering Neve’s back to the ropes, pushing up on the brunette with strong leg drive. Mac getting her head under Neve’s chin, starts pumping those arms, feet strong, she’s just going at the Campbell torso with thumping persistence. Creeping paralysis setting into Neve’s legs - she’s just standing there, grunting as blonde fists bash off her stomach and trunk line. Mac working hard to the bell, shoving up and stepping with her opponent to prevent Neve from coming forward, putting leather on her in bashing bursts.

R2: Jenny Mac on the attack - Neve stacks her up sweet with piston sticks. Neve rocketing her jab like a power punch, banging it off Jenny’s face and bringing the blonde to a comical halt - Jenny’s butt out, feet square as she bends forward, trying to slip the incoming - she’s startled. Neve steps right, jams a short right hand over McCarthy’s left shoulder, hooks her left eye - McCarthy unraveling as she’s forced back. Campbell with sharp, accurate clubbing blows, bouncing either fist off Jenny’s forehead as blonde totters back to the ropes - brunette drives hard to get Mac on her heels. Neve working over the McCarthy body - looming over the blonde, hooking her right flank, hooking her shoulder, picking her up in the chest with the right uppercut, bodying her back. McCarthy making a high whiny noise, face animated as she suffers under pressure - she’s hiding nothing. Final minute, Neve mopping up, she throws the right uppercut from a little too far out - Mac’s walloping overhand right clangs off temple and NEVE GOES DOWN! Neve bludgeoned to her knees, facing into the ropes - she’s dazed but gets immediately up as the ref packs Jenny back. McCarthy charging back in as ref stumbles - blonde HAMMERING Neve’s groggy face back with a running right, palming her hard to the chest and NAILED her again! Campbell’s limp, head lolling, hands down as as McCarthy POURS IT ON! THE REF JUMPS IN! TKO2 Jenny Mac!

After: Mac hasn’t lost her flair for the dramatic - or the controversial as Campbell’s corner tries to lynch the ref for slipshod ring management. Jenny relieved, bubbly in victory, hugging her entourage - Neve still trying to figure out what happened: “Heather didn’t mention right hands,” Campbell snarls. No 8 count; no neutral corner - Campbell’s knees touched down - McCarthy did what she does best; taking advantage of chaos. “Turned into a brawl and I shut her down,” boasts Jenny in postfight, “big surprise.”