Posted by simguy on 10/23/2004

Before: Fight ostensibly for brunette supremacy, viewed schizophrenically from the pages of BLONDE! magazine. On the one hand, editorials take the view that 'were the contestants blonde' this would be an 'every day event'. On the other hand, half an issue is dedicated to breaking down the fight, predictions etc. Common opponents Charlize Theron and Jeri Ryan have their says. Theron: "I just think the fight's coming too late in her career for Cat Bell. This last loss to me really devastated Catherine; she left chunks of herself in that ring that night that she will never get back. I've dominated both women of course, but I haven't done the damage to Landry that I've heaped on Bell, so I think Ali has more in the tank. It's just timing - even three years ago, Bell was still fighting like a young 30 something - that would've been enough to batter Ali. I'll admit, when I saw this fight get made, I called Bell and just told her flat out: 'don't go through with this, you can't beat Landry now'. Ryan has a different take: "Cat's going to learn two things about Ali in the first round: her so-called 'pageant jab' is nothing special and deep down, Landry lacks heart. Physically, I think Ali IS stronger, and I'd hate to see Cat try to body up and muscle her because I think that would be a mistake. But if Bell boxes for control - that'll help her to stop Ali, because Landry is easily frustrated. If Cat's on her game, I see her busting Ali up round after round and something - maybe a hard right hand or a knockdown or SOMETHING will make Ali quit. You watch - if it gets tough, Landry will look for a way out - no question Bell's mental game is superior: she doesn't crack." Gold bikini for Ali, white FHM bikini for Cat - both girls receiving hefty suit fees from trash rags on top of the PPV cut.

During R1: It's been a pattern whenever Cat faces a younger, stronger vixen - come out punching to establish dominance early. Ali caught by surprise, expecting a thinking-woman's feeling out period - Bell jabbing past Landry's right ear and leaning in with blunt right hands on the chin backs the welter champ up in first minute slugging. Bell dishing out a pinata-beating at the ropes - great batting strokes to the flanks, doubled-pumping right hands up underneath - Ali stunned, stooped forward, soaking up shellack. Cat cold-blooded as she settles in brawny, palming Landry upright, hooking her waist, then pulling a tidy hook across jug then POUNDING a right hand against Landry's hulking cleavage. LANDRY WON'T HAVE IT! Cat's hamhanded rack attack draws fire in kind - Landry gritting her teeth, chugging up into Cat's bulging beauties - it's hammer and tongs as girls take turns working each other over. Ali can't get off the ropes however - Cat staying on her, pushing and bumping as necessary to keep Landry pinned down - demonstrative Cat Bell round as nervous ref jumps in quick at the bell.

R2: Cat looks to hang back and box this round - Ali bangs away a superb pageant jab that certainly looks special from this angle. Bell hounded to the ropes - Ali sets up on her and girls slug it up toe to toe on a little patch of canvas near the TE corner. Ali with her forehead on Cat's chest, bracing Bell with palms on the hips or tuff forearm nudging in the ribs - Landry just huddled in close, thumping out rhythmic 3 and 4 punch bursts. Bell butt-in-ropes, cheek on Landry's skull, elbows either in, or she's trying to wrap up around Landry's triceps - it's sweaty stuff. Cat offering back downstairs, reaching round Ali's body to dig at her flanks, or looking for uppercuts while leaning back into the ropes. Landry carries the round though - fists methodically bashing away to the waist, chest and face, laying down a nice numbing barrage as Bell lays in.

R3: More of it - Ali able to body up and walk Bell to ropes, set up strong on Cat's chest and get off rhythmic. Cat concentrating, in a bad position, weight on her heels, butt in the ropes as Landry presses in on her. Landry keeping punches short, fitting 'em in snug, swiping and clubbing 'em. Cat gritting her teeth as her face is routinely swatted side to side, jugs bunching up at intervals, tummy cringing from taut spank. Bell answering back with long snappy lefts in the body or sneaky counter uppercuts - but she's operating at a clear deficit as Landry grinds away for points.

R4: Characteristic pattern - Ali bulling Cat ropeside punching, bumping, or holding, then it's a systematic beatdown as brunette gets on brunette and works. Nothing fancy for Ali - she's just leaving her scent on Cat, head rubbing against upperchest, hands constantly pushing at bicep or hip when they're not pounding away in threes. Bell's lips tight, eyes wincing - she's dipping side to side, trying to snap-snatch licks off Ali's bronzed body or clip that chin a lean-away uppercut, but she just can't get Miss USA off her. Not shutout rounds, but clear, decisive big woman points for Landry as she scoops her third straight. Ali pushing up off Cat all sweaty at the bell - gleaming look of satisfaction Landry to Bell as Ali forces eye contact.

R5: Cat's been taking murderous, sustained punishment and it all starts to add up. Ali going hook up top, hook downstairs, shoulder - bumps and punches rhythmically at the open and CAT SINKS TO ONE KNEE! Bell weary, lumping up, takes an 8 just to relieve pressure: Ali wades back in. Landry the boss, really pushing up on Cat, muscling her, mauling, then digging in brutal to the ribs and tum. Landry coming off the body with abrupt hooks or jerking uppercuts - Cat stooped forward taking too much too cleanly and SHE'S DOWN AGAIN! Landry hooting with glee as she hops to the neutral corner - she's wearing Bell down and loving it. Cat throbbing, face pained as she fights her way off the canvas: she's hurting. ON COMES ALI! Landry steams in, eyes bright with KO hopes and CAT CATCHES HER A SNEAKY COUNTER RIGHT HAND! Landry put wobbly butt, nearly chopped to one knee - she reels to her right, Bell on her with right hands in the ear as Ali's driven across the ring. Landry hits far ropes and Bell unleashes - big batting strokes against the body, whistling right uppercuts face and body. Ali glassy eyed, crossing her arms, bobbing and weaving in dazed fashion - she's just taking a shellacking at the bell. Cat can't hear the bell for crowd roar - she's just slamming away lefts and rights until ref intervenes. Gutsy Bell rally converts 10-7 to a 10-8 - Ali still commanding the high ground for the second half.

R6: Cat finished the fifth strong, starts the sixth where she left off. Jab over Ali's right shoulder to spoil Landry's right and channel her into Cat's bludgeoning right on the chin - Bell pounding away with the semi hold-and-hit maneuver as Ali staggers in a little counterclockwise circle. Cat getting her back into it, really going at the Landry chin, but Ali soaks it up, starts punching back in the middle minute. Down the stretch, Cat a little arm weary, tying up around Landry's elbows, swamping Landry as Ali walks Cat back into the ropes where she belongs.

R7: No nonsense Cat Bell boxing/punching. Hard, pounding jabs midring, face, upperchest, left shoulder - Ali dazed, backing off from howitzer stick. Cat stepping forward, chin tucked, occasionally sliding back a step to change up distance - it's smart, patient pursuit as Landry retreats, hoping to counter. Tactical seventh sees Cat establish air superiority with that jab - she's keeping the pageant stick in it's holster as Landry tries to protect her face.

R8: Cat pounding away from outside. Stupendous jab spanking back Ali's startled/tired face, dotting the exposed top of that glorious rack, steering Landry around the ring. Bell launching into right hands, carrying herself into Ali and smothering the receipt - TE punch n' clutch executed to perfection. Cat walking Ali to ropes for the ref's break - pace is slow, methodical as Bell systematically breaks her woman down.

R9: Ali's face swelling up - she's jab-shy, right hand at her chin, left across her gut, left shoulder pointed at Bell as Ali slides away to her right. Bell spotting her stick up and down on Landry, slanting long right hands down into the body, leaning in to jam those close right hands to chin and promptly holding for breaks. Landry swatting little hooks to Cat's body late the round, but nothing on them: Ali just accepting the clinch when it comes - corner begging her to work in there when Cat wraps up.

R10: Crowd roars as Cat gets that sneaky short right hand blocky to the jaw - Ali's legs give way, jiggly body stumbling sideways as Landry nearly goes to her knees. Cat pushing her foe downhill, rides her hard to the ropes, gives her a tough veteran shoulder butt in the mouth and sets up shop. Bell on Landry, all one way - it's Cat at her late-rounds beatdown best. Ali cramped and sullen, right hand at her cheek, left hand alternating from her quivering belly to her left cheek as she turns her shoulders or bends forward, trying to find an interior angle to relieve pressure. Bell: staring with concentration, elbows in, strapping long lefts to the ear and body, trying to find a crippling liver shot; arching her back to get quick-licking left or right uppercuts, shots skidding off Ali's face or guard; brutal right hands up into the body, left hand bracing Landry in the shoulder as she hunches forward. Three of the worst minutes of Ali Landry's career, but those curvy legs won't give out - she stands in, soaks it all up, still standing at the bell. SMOLDERING look from Cat as she reins in on a late right hand, falling in to chest up instead - Ali shoving Bell off and ref jumps in as it looks brunette beauties haven't had enough yet. LONG delay, very tense as ref stands with fidgeting amazons midring - comes back UD10 by a single point...CAT BELL!

After: Bell lifting hands to face, sobbing in triumph: Ali mouthing 'what', bug eyed in shock - she can't believe it. Camera cuts to Jeri Ryan in her robe at ringside, pumping her fist and whistling - lightweight champ played a big part in orchestrating this defeat of her bitter stable rival. Bell approaches to shake hands, gets shoved back for her troubles - Syren moving Cat away before anything gets out of hand - Ali's just not ready to be gracious. Cat pulls it out with a strong second half, virtually shutting Ali out for four straight rounds, it's a masterful display that shows Cat still has the goods. Landry doing well, bullying the lighter woman early, and clearly enjoying a net power advantage as Bell's big shots couldn't get Ali off her feet the way Landry's did Cat. In the end though, fight up for grabs in the tenth and Cat bears down - you really have to hand it to her: what a closer. "Fifth round," Cat says in postfight, white towel across her shoulders, face all puffy and sore, "a fight like this usually comes down to one decisive moment, and that's where I beat her. She put me down twice and her emotions spiked - she really thought she was going to get after me, but when I hurt her in return it really shocked her. That was it, that was the moment - she lost her focus and couldn't get it back. I took her apart after that and I'm just so glad it was enough. We were really worried, you know, because I couldn't put her down and you wonder how the judges are seeing things, but I think by the end, it was obvious who the better woman was."