Originally posted by Simguy on 1/6/2002, 9:45 am.

Before: Interesting choice for Berry—Jenny a notorious rulebreaker with a knack for turning boxing matches into saloon brawls—it’s been a very effective style against Halle in the past. Jenny referring to Halle throughout prefight as “Gutless Tramp”, like it’s a proper noun—it’s going to be that kind of fight. Black string bikini for McCarthy; black lace push up and panties for Halle, soft black velvet coverings on the ring ropes.

During R1: Perfect Halle Berry round. She’s roaming around the ring, giving Jenny plenty of movement, changing directions, stepping out, circling back in. Berry with her left elbow out to the side, left hand at her hip, chin tucked behind that left shoulder, right hand at her mouth—body is tensed to either hoist jabs into Jenny or twist off hooks from the hip, McCarthy reacting late, getting her face spanked as Berry gets off at will, then gets away. Halle using the left hand like an artist, painting Jenny, never hurting the blonde but landing clean, often and sweet. Shutout Berry.

R2: More class from Berry, but Jenny turns the round around with a rampaging series to the  to the groin to back Berry to the ropes, then blonde takes over with the left arm wrap around the brunettes shoulders. Holding and hitting from Jenny as she cradles Berry, crams away with tough right hands to the jugs and belly. Halle grimacing, whining to the ref--she’s getting bullied up against the ropes. Ref issuing breaks, prying Jenny off, pushing her back, but she keeps wading back in, pinning Halle ropeside and savaging her in close. Down the stretch, McCarthy stomps forward with brutal rights and lefts—just twisting her torso back and forth to pull shattering punches into Berry and HALLE GOES DOWN! Berry sputtering on all fours—Jenny pinwheeling hammer-blows and HALLE GOES DOWN! Berry sputtering on all fours—Jenny pinwheeling hammer-blows to the girl’s upperback until ref can tackle the blonde into the ropes. Big 10-8 Jenny Mac.

R3: Jenny’s done it again—Berry standing flat footed early, snarling, looking for payback—Mac holding her own, slugging midring with Berry as Halle forgets her gameplan. Joyous jug slugging from both combatants—girls just stepping in close, tugging leather into breast in spiteful trade, Down the stretch, Berry shakes off the spell and starts working in and out on Jenny, changing up distance, making the blonde kiss, and making her pay with keen right hand counters straight from the shoulder.

R4: Halle back wheeling and dealing—she’s quick enough to lead with hooks, biting them off her hip, across Jenny’s face as McCarthy can only stare in drowsy objection. Halle stepping in, getting off left/right/left to the face, then pivoting off—McCarthy getting polished up by stunning blows, turning, stumbling after the fleet-footed brunette. Halle turns it up at the half way point, doubling the hook, slashing the right hand in, stepping back to allow McCarthy to crumble forward and lathering away with more cuffing lefts on the face. Jenny Mac pushes out a desperation tight simultaneously with Halle, but Berry able to snap off a follow-up hook catches Jenny on the point of the chin. Mac crashing to her back, hands up around her face—legs flexing as she groans, but can’t get up—KO4 Halle Berry.

After: Where was this in the title fight? Berry surviving a scare, digs down, finds some heart, executes brilliantly, and puts a tough blonde on her back for a 10 count. Mac truly surprised to have been stopped—she came into this fight with virtually no respect for Ms. Berry’s pageant polished skills. Speed equals power in this instance—McCarthy truly saw the punch that cashed in her chips.

Reposted by Archer 8/2/09