Posted by simguy on 1/28/2005

Before: Landry losing to Bellucci last time out seen as an off night by American press, largely dismissed as such: different story overseas. Bellucci feted like a returning caesarette: ticker tape parade in the streets of Milan; keys to the city from the Doge; kiss on the cheek from Sophia Loren - beating one of the most internationally recognized American Pageant Beauties makes it "Bellucci Week" on 'Il Mondo Oggi'. Monica merciless for the rematch, bending Ali and her people over the table to hog most of the money and site fees, showing up late to press conferences and even then, wearing sunglasses indoors - she's flaunting her supremacy in Ali's face: Landry seething whenever the two are in the same room together. "Everyone except Monica knows that last fight was an aberration," Landry maintains. "I know how to beat Bellucci - I just have to execute. She throws about four punches a round, then it's all belly-wrestling: I can outwork Monica where she lives - on the inside. I also need to change the geometry of the fight a bit: Monica doesn't throw a punch until she knows she can smother the receipt; I'll jab her more, move her around, pick her apart from outside. This chick can't compete with me on the outside - you'll see." Ali in gold bikini - Monica in silver. Final indignity heaped upon Ali: she's forced to enter the ring first, made to wait over 15 minutes as Bellucci takes her sweet time entering.

During R1: Fired up Ali Landry nevertheless keeps coldblooded discipline - goes to work with her jab in first minute action. Heavy stick body and head has Bellucci on her back foot, dukes up to block, not advancing - Landry banging away, stepping to the side, looking things over. Midway through, rifling lefts and rights pound through Monica's guard, spanking her face in rapid succession - she turns her head to the right, staggers away and TAKES A KNEE! Bellucci up quick, not seriously hurt, but she's busted up inside her mouth, wide eyed from Ali's meanspirited punching. ON COMES LANDRY! Jabs spritz the guard, right hand up top, hook loud off the waist and BELLUCCI GOES DOWN! Monica gasping on all fours, shaking her head - she's achy, wincing getting to her feet, badly rattled, taking deep breaths at the ropes as ref barks out 8. ON COMES LANDRY! Ali pressing Monica pancake style into the ropes, camps out in Bellucci's trunks and POUNDS AWAY TO RACK! Ali head forward, shrugging her shoulders in furious little chugs and jerks, gets after Bellucci's world-class jugs with a terrific buffeting action, leaving Italian breathless at the bell. Landry bellowing, scowling back to her corner - message loud and clear as Italian corner is thrown into chaos - 3 people all shouting at once as poor Bellucci groans, grimaces.

R2: Monica trying to close - she just can't let Ali potshot from outside. Ali crafty: closed stance, she accepts Bellucci onto her left shoulder, then pumps Italian belly short right hands; clips Italian chin tidy little right uppercuts; throws nifty little left shoulders to Italian jaw. Outworking Bellucci on the inside as promised, Ali slides out to disengage, coaxing Monica forward and tapping her some thudding jabs en route.

R3,4: Subtle, but masterful stuff from Ali Landry. Plan is always the same - pepper, molest and sting Bellucci outside with hard body and head jabs, rifling right hands. When Monica gets close - Ali puts the left shoulder in Bellucci's chest, stays compact and gets right hands to pale Italian paunch, right uppercuts to tit and chin, bumping left shoulders to jaw. Then, Ali slides out and restarts the whole thing, forcing Monica to walk through the jab, making Bellucci pay for real estate. Bellucci not shutout - she's getting off on the inside, working the lats, hips and arms of her girl, but clearly coming off second best in the exchanges.

R5: Monica with some cute veteran pushing and tugging inside, manages to turn Ali off balance with a shove on the elbow, then rams a short right hand to jaw to wobble American backside. While Ali's stunned, Monica jams in another right to cheek, then lays in close to haul thick right hand to paunch - Ali's hips shunt back, chest comes forward: she's hurt. Monica bodying up, walking Ali brawny to ropes and going to work: head scrub across the face, under the chin; tidy, short rights and lefts kneading tanned midsection; curling, nasty uppercuts in close. Ali soaking up a tremendous beating, but hanging in there - late the round she starts finding ways to punch back. Landry dukes up, leaning into the ropes to bounce and weave, dropping chop right hands and hooks as she times Bellucci and DOWN GOES MONICA! Both girls working hard - Landry just torquing the shortest of short-arm hooks to beat Mon to her hook: head snap Bellucci and she's looking up stunned from the seat of her trunks! Monica up achy, forlorn: Ali just stole Bellucci's best round right out from under her!

R6,7: Ali working her plan to perfection - she's the confident beauty, practically glowing, feeding off Bellucci's disappointment, frustration. Monica trudging forward, trying to work hard, but she's being shredded hard pageant jabs, then mauled on in the inside where she should be dominating. Always same pattern from Landry - tidy-punching rights to belly, breasts and chin inside, closed stance forcing Bellucci to punch out wide and leave herself open, then Ali slides back and makes Monica work her way inside all over again. Monica busting up around the eyes, cut inside her mouth, ribs throbbing: she's getting tanned by Ali through 7.

R8: Monica finally on the board with her best sustained body punching off the bout. Landry hounded to the ropes: she can't disengage and do her thing - forced to slug with Bellucci on her chest for all three minutes. Monica palming Landry out of her closed stance, bumping, mauling and jostling her more - it's effecting Ali, loosening her up. Monica able to bash to either flank, using her left shoulder/extended left elbow to nudge drooping Ali back into position, then lick the right uppercut, swatting left hook up top. Bellucci also able to lay waste to Ali's heaving bosom this round, finally clubbing away with authority in there, while grinding her forehead against Ali's in the trenches. Break: Landry reminded to keep her back clear of the ropes - she snaps back "I know. Water."

R9,10: Ali proves she does indeed know - back to back shutouts close out a decisive Landry performance tonight. Monica beaten speechless these rounds - Landry just doing her plan, gentle slide-outs and slight rotation to the left coaxing Bellucci forward. Monica sullen, groggy - she's wading in dukes at her temples, trying to smear Ali, but it's just not working. Ali reaping the benefits of consistent body work all night - Bellucci wobbly butt, unable to get off even when she's in position - creeping paralysis has long since set in. Ali smiling at the final bell as she comes out of her closed stance to ring Monica up a showy 6 punch combo of clubbing lefts and rights head and shoulders: Bellucci staggered back on her heels, destitute at the bell. Comes back UD10 WIDE, Ali Landry.

After: Landry justly vindicated - scowling, nodding her head violently as gloves are removed - she struts the ring hands held high, shaking out her glossy mane with a pulverizing decision under her belt. Bellucci spellbound, badly, badly beaten in this fight - eyes swelling shut, ribs and tummy so tender, jugs throbbing: she took it all night long from a very sharp, motivated Ali Landry tonight.