Unified Middleweight Title

Posted by Simguy on 8/2/2003, 6:17 am.

Before: “It’s simple,” says Ali in preflight, “Becky won’t fight me at welterweight. I want her, I’m going up to get her.” Romijn counting on a few extra pounds to make the difference in this grudge rematch. “Ali won’t be the same at 140. I’ll be quicker, stronger--I carry the weight better than Pudgy Tummy over here. She’s getting chased out of welterweight by hard comp, but it ain’t getting safer where she’s going. I’m going to have fun on Landry--you watch.” Ali in gold bikini, Rebecca in black.

During R1,2: Romijn the more dynamic fighter early--loping around Ali, reaching in long jabs to body, slapping it up top, staying well outside on springy blonde legs. Landry compact, dukes up, bringing her feet with her when she moves, but she’s a step behind, not cutting the ring off. Landry just poking out contact straight rights and jabs from her high guard, taking no chances--Romijn looser, flashier, giving the crowd some candy. Becky winning the rounds based on a few snazzy flurries, getting a wide wallop-right on the ear, a slapping hook other side and a heavy right uppercut, then backing away hands down, looking over the damage as Landry stays covered, not punching back.

R3: Ali not buying into the razzle-dazzle--stays compact, doubles up the jab and starts getting her range this round. Landry pulling the trigger on short rights to the jaw from middle distance, dipping and popping the left uppercut onto the chin, rolling to the right, making Becky miss. Romijn only connecting when she can step out and extend--pretty clear distance management going to be the night.

R4: Ali in a nice, staccato rhythm, contrasting with Romijn’s gliding, loose limbed slash. Landry able to weave Beck’s jab, jab to chest, get her right hand, then snatch at Becky’s liver and ROMIJN’S HURT! Bodey shot cramps Becky up--she backs away elbows in, face cringing--Ali tucks her chin and walks a hurting blonde down. Becky back-to-ropes--leaning forward--Ali palming shoulders, trying to extend, create room and put punches together before Becky can glom on, Romijn open mouthed, gutted, but working to bog Ali down as much as possible--intriguing, desperate stuff as brunette works to pile on more hurt. Ali methodical, mauling with Becky in clinchers, not letting the blonde spin or turn her, touching her upstairs to set up relentless, gouging hooks in and around that right elbow.

R5,6: The relentless body attack of Ali Landry. Romijn pressured to the ropes, eyes cloudy over with swoon, tired arms and hands trying to wrap around Ali’s head and arms as brunette crowd in, shovels it on. Landry setting a workmanlike pace, keeping her head shoulders on Romijn when she’s not punching--Ali wants blonde butt in the ropes at all times. Short, clipping shots about the head and shoulders to get Becky covering and ducking, then all hard to the body, reefing rights and lefts really pounding off the meat. Its just a constant, brutal beat down--Landry greasy with her body on Romijn, discouraging the blonde, wearing her out. 6 minutes of sustained, heartless body punching leaves Romijn open mouthed, grimacing on her stool through the sixth.

R7: Ali conserving energy--Romijn takes the initiative. Becky back outside, striding in with body jabs from a wide stance, bounding back out with a loping gait--Landry using her right hand to swat the stick off her belly, stepping back pretty, purely defensive. Romijn throwing a sidearm wide right, then trying to curl a right uppercut before falling in and pushing Ali in the shoulders--but snap’s gone from blonde punching: Landry’s body work lingering in Romijn’s limbs and power plant.

R8: Ali a little complacent--she’s able to be safe by ear muffing up, leaning inside Romijn’s licks and rolling the side to side buffeting, but brunette not pulling the trigger when opportunity presents. Becky able to reach the jab in, use the ring--blonde getting a second wind has a few good final minute lashing Landry shortened up lefts and rights with wide, lanky strokes.

R9: Ali’s in the homestretch, steps on the gas--she catches Romijn taking a break. Great tracking pressure from Landry--Becky sliding along the ropes, Ali stepping with sandpapering her short, straight lefts and rights, then she’ll bounce a shot off the forehead, ruining Romijn’s balance and putting her in the ropes where Landry can close and work hard to the body. Landry with her head down, going at the torso with single-minded determination, punching up into the lungs, shouldering Romijn back rag doll--brutal stuff. Becky breaking down in stages, getting rubbery legged--final minute she’s hanging on hurt as Landry heaps on punishment, Ali makes the highlight reel in the dying moments--dipping in close gloves at her chin, popping the left uppercut off Becky’s chin, dipping, then turning on a super-short hook, sitting Beck dazed and swooning in the ropes at the bell. Good sportswoman ship from Ali as she loads up, but desalt throw what would have been a clean, late right hand across the chops.

R10: Becky’s got no choice--legs are shot--body screaming with ache--she digs in at the ropes all gritted teeth and stubborn eyes as Ali bores in.; Head to sweaty head, Ali pushing in with her palms on blonde shoulders, extending and trying to step in hooks to the liver. Becky tying up around the elbows, around the head, looking to lean back into the ropes and catch Ali the right uppercut--entertaining stuff as both girls connect with pop. Landry doing the work, routinely arming Becky back into position as the blonde tries to spin out--brunette showing great veteran form with no-nonsense hound and pound 10^th. Comes back UDq20 for the winner and NEW middleweight champ--Ali Landry.

After: Romijn just hang-dog, panting all busted up in the body in her corner, beltless and worked-over. Landry supreme, shiny faced but grinning--she’s clearly not as potentially dominate at middle, but like Daisy Fuentes, has above average hands and brains for the big women. Landry with gold around her waist again--big confidence boost for a quality fighter who’s been on a rollercoaster this year.

Reposted by Archer 7/16/12.