UNIFIED LIGHTWEIGHT TITLE

Posted by simguy on 3/2/2002, 10:32 am

Before: Mutual respect, but the hard edges of rivalry just beneath the surface here - Dunning with a KO over Bell and promising another to take her title - Cat nonplussed with the bravado: "Debbe's said a lot of things to get herself this fight. She's sold tickets, it's been good for the promotion, I give her credit for being a good business woman. But she's going to have to pay for some of this stuff. I know she's going to give me a good fight, but if I hurt her, I'm going to finish her." Cat in electric blue bikini, white shoes and gloves, Dunning in purple bikini, white shoes and gloves.

During R1: Bell sends a message early, landing a crashing lead right hand over Dunning's low guard in the opening seconds to put Debbe wobbly butt right off. Hurt Dunning reaches to clinch, but Cat steps back, rips up to bounce her fists off Debbe's straining ribcage - Debbe falters back in confusion. Cat spits jabs to back DD length of the ring, then squares up at the ropes to issue a typically methodical beatdown. Cat face on face with Debbe, jamming gloves to the belly, wedging them into the breasts, clocking chin with clubbing shots inside. Big shutout for the champ - Dunning looking like she's been ridden hard, put away wet.

R2: Shutout Debbe Dunning - it's going to be one of those nights. Debbe shaking off the beating, gets right back into Cat with hellacious strokes across the waist, using the left shoulder bump and cracking over the top with right hands. Bell keeping her back off the ropes, covering up well, but cringing as Dunning lashes at her bodkin - this is terrific stuff. At the bell, Girls swat gloves in mutual admiration - both have taken stern licks through just 2.

R3: Debbe bangs home a hard right cross, gives Cat the shoulder bump and nails another on the way out and Bell is stunned. Debbe batting away with wide lefts and rights, bludgeoning Cat to the ropes - hurting champ has to clinch to slow things down. Bell fighting to get her legs back, stalling Debbe with tactical grabs, using the jab to fend Dunning off - Debbe takes the round as she aggressively walks Cat down, but can't get Bell into any more trouble.

R4: Shutout Cat Bell. Boxing smart - Cat unpacks the jab, gets it to Debbe's face and chest, thumping away between the breasts to back Dunning up. Debbe crossing her arms low, gives up a few cracking right hands on her jaw - she's taking the shots well, but Bell's able to really step in and get the range - Dunning can't take that all night.

R5: Shutout Cat Bell. Cat in control finally, with the thudding jab to Debbe's chest and left eye. Dunning on her heels, can't get off - Cat backing her up, extending on the right cross, coming back with an opportunistic left hook to the liver. Dunning finishes up the round looking tired against the ropes - Cat getting off sharp, spanking away for points.

R6: Shutout Cat Bell. Dunning still has heart, but Cat's burying her with icy class. Outside, Cat's controlling Debbe with the thumping stick to the chest, steering Double D, herding her to the ropes. Bell can get the right cross, and she's landing the left hook in under Debbe's elbow with increasing ferocity. On the ropes, Cat will close distance, get on top of Debbe, work her midsection and club those jugs with hardhearted efficiency. Final moments - sustained beating has Debbe wilting forward off the ropes - Cat touches up the left shoulder then curls in the tight right uppercut, spilling the challenger helplessly against the ropes at the bell. DD dazed, woozy going back to her corner - Cat clipped her clean with that uppercut.

R7: Debbe breaking down badly - Bell surging to close her out this round. Dunning shaky as the chest jabs pound home - Cat leans into a bashing right cross and sprawls Dunning to her back for what looks like the finisher. Double D fights her way up for a swaying 8 - she's shot but refusing to punk. Bell marches in and what ensues is likely the worst round of Debbe Dunning's storied career. Bell putting remorse on the shelf - she tears into Dunning with cold eyes and blazing fists. Smashing body work nearly snaps Debbe in half - she sits on the ropes, bent double, screaming as Bell gets her hips into reefing hooks to the stomach. Bell crossing her arms and chesting Debbe upright, then slamming in the right hand to swivel the challenger's pretty head. Dunning sliding along the ropes, out on her feet - Bell stepping with her, keeping on the pressure. Round ends with Dunning bleak, staring, unable to defend herself as Cat lifts vicious lefts and rights into the brunette's bulging bikini top. Bell in awe as Dunning wobbles back to her corner - simply willing herself to go on.

R8: Dunning flat footed, beaten almost unrecognizable - she lives up to her Arturo Gatti rep with one of the guttiest rounds of the career. Bell looking a little arm weary, tries to slug early, starts to get clipped as Debbe pulls the left hook into the chin and jugs in wide back and forth. Dunning backing Bell up, getting the better of banging exchanges - Cat goes back to tying Dunning up, walking the brunette around to get out of the round.

R9: Cat's given up on the knockout - she goes back to the heavy chest jab, opportunistic right cross, come-back left hook to the body that's essentially winning this fight. Debbe fielding hard, clean shots, gets rocked onto her heels, then struggles forward - she's all fighter.

R10: Exchange of hooks early goes Debbe's way - Cat a little rattled, folds forward to lay in with Dunning and takes a pumping right hand off her breadbasket that freezes the champ. Tired Dunning sensing a break, goes to the tummy with a ripping left, then rocks Bell back the left uppercut. Champ staggery, constantly lolling forward, trying to put her head on Debbe's shoulder - Dunning plowing away to breast with chugging lefts and rights as she steps back. Cat hurting, finally steps back and EATS A HUGE LEFT HOOK! Sickening head snap Cat, she totters on the brink, then crashes to her back as Debbe leaves her feet to miss the follow up hook. Dunning looking on hope against hope - then leaping for joy as CAT CAN'T GET OFF HER BACK! Stunning reversal of fortune leaves Debbe Dunning the winner and NEW lightweight champion!

After: Classic photo shows Debbe in mid leap - Cat in the foreground insensate, stunned pain on her face as her limbs refuse to move - what a heartbreaker. Bell wiping tears away upon recovery - she's inconsolable, breaking down completely when Dunning embraces her. This fight was ALL Cat Bell after the 4th - but Debbe kept her composure, and maybe used Bell up a little bit by refusing to lose in the seventh. "It's all about heart baby," says a teary eyed, gleeful Dunning in post fight, "I knew I couldn't box with Cat, but I never stopped trying to find her chin, and when I finally clamped down, she couldn't take it! This is the BEST! I always knew in my heart that I could win another championship and I love the fact that I did it against Cat Bell. To be the best, you gotta beat the best, and I took it to her tonight." A shattered Cat Bell gets it together to offer some comments, "I wish I could say that the better woman won tonight, because I don't want to take anything away from Debbe, but I just... I just can't say that. Debbe Dunning knows I was beating her up and she caught me, just caught me. She is a good fighter, really a gusty, hard working fighter, but she got lucky tonight and I can't say that she's a great fighter because of that."

Thanks to Apollo for this repost.

Archer 10/19/09.