Originally posted by Simguy on Thursday, 22-Apr-1999 16:53

Before: Carpenter hyped as the best brunette since Lynda Carter and does appear to have some of the tools. A strong, upright style, KO power in the left hook, slicing jab and tireless legs bode well for the future. CTS offers no surprises—she’s one of the best balanced celebs out there, and a blonde stalwart for as long as anyone can remember. If Carpenter is to live up to her press, she needs to get by this woman, red addidas terrycloth trunks and black jogbra Charisma, teal trunks and white top Courtney.

During R1: Smith tastes Carpenter’s power early, standing helpless in front of her early fury, and a sizzling 8 punch flurry drives her to her butt. Wide eyed and hurting, Courtney wobbles to the ropes and is battered nearly unconscious by Carpenter’s unbridled assault, Smith shows tremendous fortitude in soaking up head-torquing punishment and actually counters to the body late in the round to salvage pride if not points.

R2,3,4: Good, solid rounds of boxing. Charisma settles down, and the girls circle each other, putting punches together and using jabs to probe, feint, and hurt like pros. Charisma takes every round from Courtney, who goes back to her corner just that much more beat up, that much more discouraged each time. Whenever she hits Charisma, Carpenter comes back with something harder, and the younger girl isn’;t falling for any veteran traps.

R5: Carpenter starts behind a strong jab, but she’s bringing it back low, and midway through the round, the savvy vet counter attacks, Stepping into a crashing overhand right, Court rocks Charisma, exploiting her low left and Carpenter’s legs go stiff. Smith pours it on, throwing combinations and batting Carpenter’s head around with slick lefts and rights. Charisma shows her mettle however, and finally responds with a smacking right uppercut to the pit of the stomach, stopping Smith in her tracks. Wading into the blonde, Carpenter undoes all Courtney’s good work with clubbing, wide lefts and rights, finally driving Smith to the ropes and the bell saves the blonde from potential stoppage. Carpenter takes the round, and Smith is devastated in her corner.

R6: Courtney gets an unexpected gift as Charisma takes a round off. Smith boxes, staying low and potshotting with her jab, takes a nothing round.

R7:,8: Charisma smacks Courtney all around the ring with back to back shutouts on the cards. Smith just stands in, guard high, as Charisma leans forward, smacks the blonde’s sides, leans back to look Court over then forward again with combinations upstairs, She’s working Smith over lie a punching bag—and Courtney seems to have no answer to the punishment.

R9: Early action even as the girls circle and pop one another with good form even this late in the bout. In the final minute however, Charisma stuns Smith again with that biting left hook, dipping her shoulder and stepping into the tight punch.

R10: Carpenter knows she has it won and lays on the ropes as Smith leans inside, slugging tiredly at the waist with both hands. At the bell, Charisma churlishly shoves Courtney back and laughs—unanimous decision Charisma Carpenter.

After: gutty effort from Smith, who was clearly disheartened at the sheer power advantage Charisma seemed to have in this fight, As for Charisma, it’s a good bell to bell performance as she really lays a thorough beating on a very proficient veteran.

Reposted by Archer 7/17/09.