Posted by Simguy on 2/22/2002, 7:42 am.

Before: Huge lightweight qualifier, both girls need a quality win to solidify their claims to the throne. "We like what Dunning's done lately," says one HBO bean counter, "But we still need to see her beat a top tier name. Halle hasn't had much luck on the scoresheets, but she gave Theron all she could handle and she's had a tougher schedule than Debbe, so we really don't know what to expect." Berry comes in with the speed and class, but also probably the savvy edge - Dunning the veteran, but she's all heart, very little strategy when the bell rings. Berry in gold bikini, highlighted tousle, black shoes and gloves, Debbe in purple bikini, black shoes, yellow gloves.

During R1: Debbe reaching into her distant past to come up with a nice firm jab - keeping the punch in Halle's chest and forcing Berry to step out and regroup. Berry showing the Roy Jones look - standing flat footed with a high right hand, low left, then stepping away to take a look - the constant rhythmic bounce to the right, and sudden, slashing right hand leads up top, pitching left hand whips underneath. Midway through, Berry swats Dunning's left ear with a lead right hand, looks like she's pivoting away to the right, then suddenly jumps in with a whippy left uppercut that splits the gloves, snaps Dunning's head and put the big brunette wobbly butt! Dunning shows typical grit, soaking up the blow and walking her girl down, continues to apply pounding pressure to Halle's shiny flanks with wide hooks and right hands at the bell.

R2: Berry in command with superior reflexes, footwork and handspeed. Stepping to the right, slashing and sniping at Dunning, bouncing in and out - Debbe with her gloves up, covers to block, but she's usually touched and left staring as Berry flits in, out and around. Debbe patient with her jab - it's the one weapon Berry wasn't expecting and it's keeping Dunning in range, giving her some confidence even as she goes down 2 rounds to love on the cards.

R3: Halle still blitzing early - she can drop the right hand around Debbe's guard anytime she wants, she can freeze Debbe with the shoulder feint and lash at the brunette's waist with impunity. Midway through, Dunning staying composed, punches with Berry and finally hits paydirt. Halle gets caught reaching for breadbasket - Dunning skidding a fine right cross over Halle's brow startles Berry, wrong foots her midring. Dunning taking over, stuffing her jab into Halle's chest then bending into a head-swivelling right on the chin to force Berry to the ropes. All Dunning down the stretch, getting big on Berry, pounding the black girl's sides and lower back as Halle bends forward at the waist in deep trouble. Berry sent trembling to her corner - Dunning unhurt and starting to roll after 3.

R4: Dunning cashes in again with a hard right hand between the eyes, nailing Halle as she steps out with hands lazy and low. Berry stupified, legs spasming - she desperately reaches for Dunning's waist to tie up, but the big brunette's not having it. Dunning spinning to her right, pounding her gloves off Halle's skull and shoulder to bludgeon the brunette sideways to the ropes - monster beat down ensues with the crowd roaring to it's feet. Halle Berry suffers one of the grimmest minutes of her career - covering up, lolling forward and back into the ropes, taking a vicious licking to her ribs and ears as Dunning plants and hammers home with vicious side to side haymakers. Storm abates - Halle's still standing and BERRY STARTS TO PUNCH! Halle all busted up and hurting, starts to fit a clipping left hook in between Debbe's punches, rolling with the brunette's right, and coming back with a saucy inside right uppercut to the breasts. Sensational back and forth with Berry rolling and countering off the ropes - Dunning gritting her teeth, accepting the odd lick to continue to slam away with cavewoman strokes to either side. Bell sounds - both girls keep punching until referee intervention. Dunning nodding savagely, touching gloves with a dazed, but defiant Halle who just might have come of age in this round.

R5: Halle's gutsy stand in the fourth costs her this round - eyes are pleading, hands low, legs shot - she slouches away from Dunning behind a don't-hurt-me jab - Debbe staying on her, walking her to the ropes and applying patented steamroller pressure as Berry takes a seat in the strands. Berry being beaten senseless now - Dunning big, using her forearms and shoulders, propping and pounding, getting monster leverage on juicy licks across the abdomen, getting sickening head-spin off clean clouts to the chin - Berry just slumping forward, taking the beating of a lifetime and STILL she won't go down. Final minute should be censored - Dunning baring her teeth, redoubling her efforts - Berry swooning out on her feet, gloves pointlessly at her mouth as she hunches forward, head jerking back at regular intervals from clean Dunning punches, body cringing as Debbe reefs away to the belly and hip - the beating goes on and on and on. FINALLY, Dunning bodies Berry up tall, and starts hooking the black girl's mouth, stunning Halle, sending the mouthpiece flying - Berry topples sideways under the barrage to clatter helplessly into the corner and the ref steps in at the bell! Berry helped to her corner, head drooping forward, eyes swelling shut, blood leaking from her nostrils and lower lip - her corner wisely refuses to let this go on - Halle blissfully unaware of her own surrender. TKO5 Debbe Dunning.

After: Dunning with a demonstrative door-slam, goes to the head of the class. "People forgot I can box, I have some skills," beams a happy Debbe D, "I was able to touch Halle, soak up some of her energy, then really turn it on - the poor kid never knew what hit her. I will give her this though: Berry's guttier than I thought she'd be. When I was beating on her, really laying in the leather, I kept thinking 'when is this girl gonna go down?' and she just kept soaking! I'm impressed - from the third round on she was suffering - a lot of girls wouldn't have wanted as much Debbe D. As far as I'm concerned - that fight was for the championship - now I gotta sit back and see who my first challenger is going to be!" Tongue in cheek reference to Charlize/Cat, but nothing sardonic about Dunning's confidence right now.

Thanks to Apollo for this repost.

Archer 10/19/09