Posted by simguy on 12/31/2008

Before: "I know I'm better than Julie," Carmella says without attitude. "I've got that kind of confidence coming in - the knowledge that there is a gap between us and that this fight is mine to lose. But I COULD lose, so I'm not looking at Julie as a second tier blonde who's supposed to roll over for me. I have to make her roll over, and I will. I get that." Benz on the bubble - well respected gatekeeper under pressure from impatient rivals in the top 20, top 25 group: she needs a win. "Carmella's pretty, I mean - look at the poster for this fight," Julie smirks, gesturing to a nearby example that has Carm in the foreground, while backgrounding Julie. "And because of that, people routinely under-estimate her. I can't afford to do that. Carmella's been building credibility for a few years now and she's a dangerous fighter. I've trained to take her apart over the distance - I can't assume she'll give anything to me early: I'm committed to breaking this girl down." Julie in pale blue lace bra and panties; white gloves; white boxing boots to midcalf; feisty blonde ponytail. Carmella in pink HMK fighting bikini with little white belt; white gloves. white boxing boots to midcalf.

R1: Carmella with initiative - circling clockwise around tart up-jabs off her hip. DeCesare loping in wide stance - right hand at chest: she's mobile, springy here, owning midring. Benz staying compact, dukes up, head bobbing - she's parrying poke, weaving her torso, trying to hop inside Carmella's jab and rap Playmate torso right/left. DeCesare conservative with power shots - a few right hands, a few rangy hooks - just to keep Julie ducking and hesitatnt. One highlight for Julie late: quick-pivot right; lean in, bounce a straight, palm-down right hand off Carmella's left-side ribs; DeCesare winces, momentarily rocked by the shot. Other than that - easy, breezy boxing round for Carmella: she illustrates the so-called "gap" nicely in the first.

R2: Similar stuff - Carmella being loose n' lanky outside, ranging to her left: Benz staying compact, bobbing side to side, looking to edge close. Minute mark - Carmella slides a lazy one-two over top Julie's back as Benz ducks: Julie quick-steps in, weight on left (front) foot as she turns a swift, short hook to Carmella's chin, checking Playmate as she's standing tall and leaning back. Head swivel, Carmella: SHE'S DOWN! Sweet, clipping shot locks up DeCesare's legs, drops her to her back: beautiful brunette genuinely hurt - all disconnected as she struggles to rise. DeCesare up and reeling at ropes, eyelashes fluttering in confusion, hands at her chest as she's preparing for the worst...and THE REF STOPS THE FIGHT! Carmella in stupefied shock, woozily quiestioning the man's decision. Julie surprised, but she'll take it - TKO2 Benz.

After: Carmella bitterly disappointed, convinced she could have continued: she's blinking back tears as HMK stablemates huddle about to console her. "I know how she's feeling," Julie sympathizes in postfight. "But she has to realize she got caught. That's about as hard as I've ever hit anyone - got my hips into it, carried through into her chest with my forward momentum, found her chin just so...she has to know I would have battered her if they'd let it go." Good win for Benz lets her keep pace with big-bantam rivals. Heartbreak for DeCesare who had entered a legitimate favourite at most sports books - she just can't let it go: "The ref made a mistake," Carmella says during in-ring postfight. "Look at me - I'm fine! She hurt me - no question - but I've soaked worse. No disrespect to Julie, but she's no finisher: I know I would've absorbed her clean-up, taken the next round to get myself together, then I would've started reeling her in. The ref turned a lucky shot and an early lead for Julie into a win? That's not right."