Posted by simguy on 7/16/2004

Before: Sophie Marceau one of the most elliptical, elusive figures in FCBA history - surely the most glacial of the ice queens. "Sophie's complicated," notes one Euro-beat scribe. "She's world class - there's no doubting that - but she's never been totally comfortable fighting on US soil. She hasn't embraced the American scene the way Laetitia Casta has, won't play the politics, doesn't trust the officials. On the continent, Marceau's treatment of ingenues is legendary - she's infamous for stalking the Cannes festival and luring young kittens to their dooms - and girls who get worked over by Sophie don't come back. That could be the secret though - Sophie's a front runner, loves to ride, doesn't like resistance and a lot people suspect that she's not a strong competitor because of that. Cat Bell's the kind of girl who stands up to Marceau and Sophie doesn't like it - it's really a surprise that she's taking this fight at all." Bell in lime green bikini with white flower print, white strings (from Yesterday's Heroes episode of Jag - Cat recently turned down 1,000 pounds for it), Sophie in white peasant blouse top, bare midriff, white tie side bikini bottoms (retro cut).

During R1: Cat orthodox, Sophie southpaw - lots of feints, twitches and subtle footwork as girls try to establish position. Cat looking to control Sophie with the jab - Marceau countering supple - sliding in under the stick and stuffing a slinky straight left onto left side of Cat's mouth/jaw. Awkward angle to get hit on - Bell disoriented - Marceau getting a few slicing blows in, placing slinging left hands body and head.

R2: Cat a little more comfortable, stepping left to get her front foot outside Sophie's, then dropping right hand leads straight down the pike. Marceau bailing, twisting and slide-stepping away, but retreating most of the round - French minx making sure she doesn't get caught flush, but not doing much offensively this round.

R3: Sophie gets the edge - sliding right to get her lead foot outside Cat's, ducking in to thrust the lead left into Bell's body, then leaning away to pull a tidy right hook across Cat's face. Bell taking it well, but not seeing everything - Sophie not just a cute southpaw, but so sinuous in her delivery, punching as she moves her head - she gets some nice slashing touches to startle Cat in nip and tuck, cat and mouse action.

R4: Sophie winning the battle of position, cashing in with cleaner connects. That thrusting lead left to the body setting up biting hooks on Cat's temple, eye, jaw - Final minute sees Bell stunned, wobbly butt and shaky as Marceau's slicing combinations take effect. Sophie polishing up the gut with a little tucking shoeshine, sliding her fists, forearms, elbows across ribs and tum. Cat at the bell: cramped up, dukes at her temples, standing there hurt as Marceau turns away with a sneer of contempt.

R5: Cat's legs aren't good - she's flat-footing around, dukes up at her temples - very laboured movements. Sophie's eyes glittering: she can smell weakness and Cat's veritably PUNGENT with the stuff. Marceau easing around Cat, feinting her seductively, leaning in to get that oily left straight into Bell's body, leaning out to pull the right hook across - Bell getting tagged, rocked, stoically trying to square up. Midway through, Sophie nice and loose - feints the left downstairs, swats that righty hook to temple, then turns it over to pick up Cat's chin nice and tasty that right uppercut. Bell stepping in fence post holes, storm-tossed - she's still trying to keep the canvas under her when Sophie slides all-in: greased left hand straight to the point of Cat's chin, blasting her head back on her neck and BELL GOES DOWN! Cat electrified, eyes wide as she sits up. Tries to roll up off her left hip - no go. Tries to get up off her right hip, plops back down to her backside and it's OVER! 10 count passes a shocked Cat Bell by as Sophie Marceau glares down in deep, dark satisfaction. KO5 Sophie Marceau!

After: Thrusting left coup de grace punch reminiscent of the shot Sophie starched Cate Blanchette with in a tune up for this fight: Marceau's still got it. TE corner open mouthed. Ringside press still don't know if they should start typing. Crowd stunned. It's not upset of the year material given Marceau's credentials, but the chilling dominance of it, the systematic breaking down, and thunderous dismissal of Cat Bell still hard to accept. Marceau reeking of superiority, removing her gloves, brushing out her hair as a terrified assistant holds up a compact mirror - no word of acknowledgment or consolation to a devastated Cat Bell as Sophie addresses French media, and French media alone in postfight (word 'cochon' comes up frequently - Sophie's favourite descriptive for opponents). Bell unaware of her conqueror's words, is very complimentary when she comes around. "Well, Sophie's just very dangerous if you don't rattle her cage, and I didn't - she did what she wanted with me. I don't think I can remember being that controlled by an opponent - she did a very nice job tonight. She's very much like a Hurley in that southpaw stance, but unlike Liz, Sophie's always looking to hurt you - she's a much more offensive minded fighter. That shot she caught me with - her 'coup de grace' punch - damn near took my head off. That's not in Hurley's arsenal."