Posted by simguy on 4/28/2007, 9:18 am.

UNIFIED WELTERWEIGHT TITLE BOUT

Before: Spontaneous applause greeting Rebecca as she takes the scales - blonde beaming majestically out at a sea of admirers: Ali's jaw tightens as statuesque Becky garners the kind of reaction usually reserved for Landry alone. "Mandy Moore's not ready," Ali says by way of explanation for the surprise title defense against the appealing, but unranked Romijn. "Gena Lee's shopworn, Mariah couldn't make her fighting weight in time - I wanted big, strong and blonde and there's a pretty short list of that commodity. The only woman I can see offering me any kind of challenge whatsoever is Rebecca Romijn - so I'm taking her out first." Becky buff and ready - strapping blonde maturing into a legit big woman with lightweight athleticism - great opportunity for her to retake center stage. "I'm pumped," Becky grins at the podium. "Ali's always been very vulnerable to long right hands: I'm just gonna Angie-Everhart her all over again. I'm thinking KO - big n' splashy - I don't want Ali walking out of the ring under her own power." Becky in metallic bluey/grey bikini, white gloves, scruffy ponytail. Ali in gold bikini, white gloves.

During R1: Ali crisp, decisive - doubling her jab to close distance; announcing herself sharply to Becky's torso THUMP-THUMP right/lefts; crowding in close with left shoulder to smother receipts. Romjin trying to maintain wide stance - exending arms to push Ali off: Becky trying to lean into Ali with long-limbed power but it's not happening. Landry muscling Becky off her stance, beating blonde ribs and waistline consistently - solid, workmanlike pressure from the champ in the first.

R2: Becky spearing her jab, intercepting Ali - 30 seconds in, she's got Ali stymied at medium distance, leans in a slamming right cross to chin. LANDRY'S ROCKED! Ali staggering sideways all wide-eyed and loose - legs stamping in fence post holes as Becky registers fight's first telling blow. Becky hops-to, sweeps a whippy hook from well outside Ali's left shoulder, clouting Landry flush to face, knocking brunette back wobbly butt. Ropes: Ali covers up, ducks forward under another slinging Romjin right; Landry rolling out of the crouch to clip her blonde a tidy, authoritative hook, getting good head-movement on surprised Becks. Ali crouching, compact - she slips and counters again, then one more time - getting under lanky Romjin head shots and answering back tidier, snappier rights and lefts to ribs and chin: Becky backs off wary. Landry recovering well - she's cautiously aggressive, walking Becky down the rest of the way as girls prowl around flat-footed and scowling.

R3: Systematic, methodical, pulverizing pressure applied - Ali understanding geometry of the fight very well, penetrating to do all her punching on the inside. Becky's jab foiled by Ali's bob-and-weave - Landry not getting picked up on the way in - then she's outworking blonde chest to chest. Rebecca driven to ropes and pummeled - she ties up quick as she can, denying Landry extended sequences of domination at the apron. Stop and go action between ref's breaks - brunette driving blonde repeatedly to ropes and scrounging for points before clinches.

R4: Ali the more consistent, but midway through, Becky rips a gorgeous left uppercut off her right foot, catching Landry's chin and buckling Ali's legs. Landry proving resilient - she staggers away hurt, but rallies - Romjin a little too cautious lets a dangerous moment slip away as Ali resumes her offensive in final minute.

R5: Ali showing good chin and resolve tonight: Becky's cracked her a few beauties, but Landry shaking off blonde power during the breaks, coming back with high performance/sharp execution off the stool. Ali driving on Rebecca - double jabs and good head movement making Landry a difficult target: brunette routinely able to crowd tall blonde and muscle her to ropes. Becky doing a bit more punching on the inside - grimacing with the effort of trying to push Ali off; tightening up stroke to nip and scrape lanky uppercuts. Landry grabby with Becks, rough with her - brunette alternating her head position on either blonde shoulder, constantly pushing and pulling at blonde arms. Brunette beef starting to tell as Landry batters her foe's biceps and chest as well as tucking into flank and midriff. Softening barrage has Becky mouthbreathing, shiny-eyed at the bell.

R6: Ali stuns Becky a short right cross as blonde guard starts to droop - picturesque head-swivel as Becky takes clout, woozily digs in, standing before her tormentress all face-in-gloves. Ali pushes her head into Becky's guard, rips short, bouncy lefts and rights against the ribcage: thumping bite has blonde groaning, backing up to ropes. Methodical pushing, slugging, mauling beat down ensues - Ali going through her checklist of Becky's body-parts - steadily pounding at the resistance. Romjin shows heart - firming down the stretch to lick some dip-n'-rip left uppercuts into her foe's midsection to avoid the shutout.

R7: Suffocating pressure being applied by Ali - Landry constantly forward, but coming in smart - she's rarely touched by one of the best blonde jabs in the game. Fight playing out against the ropes now - Becky shopworn, eyelashes fluttering, growing weaker as minutes drag on under the constant clout of Landry's thumping mitts. Becky no longer able to tie up consistently - Ali wriggling free, staying on her girl, keeping busy. Even if it's just a bumping series of little rights and lefts against flat blonde tummy - Ali will make the effort. Numbing barrage really breaking Becky down visibly. At the bell, she's swaying, swooning - Ali breaking into a happy smile at the sight.

R8: Becky catches Ali a right cross as Landry's coming in - but there's not enough on it to hold Landry off now. Ali judging the moment exquisitely - veteran fighter can tell when a girl's on her last legs: Landry pouring it to Becky now, upping the tempo, hounding Romjin all around the ring. Becky under constant assault - covering up face-in-gloves while sliding along ropes or trying to disengage - it's a jailbreak, Ali on Rebecca. Landry stepping-with, focusing on ribcage - steady attrition loosens Becky up, rendering her vulnerable to uppercuts and hooks. Middle minute - Romjin hits ropes in disarray - guard is loose, head bobbling, legs shaking - she's helpless, and Ali squares away. Stop the fight ref - Becky's getting battered: poor Romjin sobbing, cowering with her left shoulder turned into ropes, right hand cupped atop her head as snarling Landry settles into chugging rhythm of rights and lefts. Ref jumps in after a jolting barrage paralyzes Becky - TKO8, Ali Landry!

AFter: Queen is back - Landry decisively defending her championship like the Landry of old - plenty of swagger as brunette struts the ring, holding belts aloft and letting everyone get a good look at The Body. Becky sniveling - simply worked over by a re-energized, rejuvenated Ali Landry tonight. Blonde unable to work her fight plan, unable to handle curvy Ali inside - heartbreaking evening sends beautiful Romjin back to the drawing board.