(Thanks to FightFan for this Repost)

Posted by Simguy on Monday, 27-March-2000 08:48:16

Before: Fight that had championship ramifications just few months ago, now a crossroads bout for two struggling contenders. High risk strategy: rather than build up on cupcakes, both beauties want to roll the dice on a dangerous foe and get right back in the picture with an impressive win. Peeples actually a slight dog going in - she hasn't been the same since failing to lift the strap from Gillian, and Liu's quote that Nia is an "80s retread" really stings. White sports bra, light blue Adidas terrycloth trunks, ponytail for Charlotte, red Adidas terrycloth trunks, black sports bra, ponytail for Nia. Very small gloves for both women.

During R1: Girls go shoulder to shoulder, rotating clockwise, stepping into hooks off the jab in a very professional, high contact first. Back and forth slugging, bodies taking the brunt of it, right hands held tightly at the jaw - it's Nia who emerges late with some clever in an out movement to catch Charlotte in the middle of her punches. Peeples pockets a close first.

R2: Charlotte returns the favour as the nip and tuck action continues unabated center ring. Work rate is very high, but not wild - both girls maintain tight stances, moving their heads, cranking hooks, working the body and head with good offensive mix. Ross dropping in the right hand lead late gets the nod.

R3: Ross rolling up a bit on Nia as Peeples goes defensive, bobbing and weaving low as Charlotte gets off. Ross missing Ma's elusive head, but finishing her combinations with a digging left hook to the liver which begins to wear Peeples down. By the final minute, Nia looks a little groggy, standing hunched over and just taking punches as busy Ross gets her brawny shoulders into gouging lefts and rights to the waist.

R4: Nia responding like a veteran, takes the play away with that nifty footwork, sliding in and out, stepping in with a quick, cuffing left hook on Charlotte's teeth or tits that has the blonde on her heels. Ross getting nicked, starts to retreat, and late in the round, Nia switches southpaw, flicking that little righty jab from the elbow, then stepping over to the right, flinging in the straight left up the middle to send Ross careening to the ropes. Ross hurt, busted up in the mouth, and she covers up as Nia flashes quick fists across the blonde's upperback and digs into Charlotte's ribs at the bell.

R5: Smiling Nia still slipping in and out, leaving calling card hooks on Charlotte's jaw that seem to have the blonde discouraged. Midway through the round, Ross times Nia perfectly, bending into a short right hand on the teeth, just inside Nia's hook and NIA IS HURT! Peeples suddenly slack jawed, covers up pathetically as Ross squares up to work. Vicious lefts and rights to the flanks have Nia doubled over, and Ross hammers the brunette to the ropes. All Charlotte Ross down the stretch as she levers Nia back with a shoulder, then steps in with hooks and digging right uppercuts to the body. Peeples glassy eyed and grimacing, staggers to her corner as Charlotte claps her gloves together en route to hers.

R6: Charlotte has Nia's legs temporarily out of the fight, but Peeps goes cheek to cheek to slug it up inside, and brunette shows her heart by fighting hurt toe to toe. Ross giving ground, soaking up leather on her waistback as Nia rolls her shoulders inside. Late in the round, Ross is punchy, Nia having her way by tugging the blonde by the front of her trunks, left mitt gripping the waistband while the right swats away at the blonde's face or chest.

R7: Ross starts strong, but Nia begins to outhustle her in the inside, grabbing Ross' waistband to sling her into the ropes, or maneuver her off balance. Nia with her head on Ross, controlling the blonde's hips with light clinches and constant punching, has Charlotte groaning and folding up - wear and tear starting to show on the blonde's too-cute face.

R8: Pendulum swings back the other way as Ross digs down - specifically into Nia's shorts as she adopts the illegal tactic to tug and push her foe off balance. Ross fighting hurt now, repeatedly holds with the left around Nia's back and digs curling right hands up into Nia's body, folding the brunette over and putting her wobbly butt late in the round. Ross staying on her foe, shoulders Nia into the turnbuckles, then nearly puts her girl down with a thudding one/two to the belly at the bell. Fight even after 8 as neither warrior can put her thumb on the other.

R9: Hammer and tongs, mouth on shoulder brawling as neither girl has any tricks left - they're just putting it out there to make the other quit. Digging hooks cheek to cheek, Nia finally gets the edge, leaning on the blonde, using the right hand to take a hold of Charlotte's trunks at her hip, and jerking her off balance just before slinging in that crunching left to the sternum. Ross wincing, is starting to break down to the body as Nia looks her over after the bell.

R10: Nia sees something, getting right back on top of the blonde and chopping short left hooks in underneath the elbows. Ross starting to fold, buckles to the ropes, and she is hurt, folding up and trying to survive as Peeples starts to roll. Nia up tempoing, pushing Ross by her shoulders, stepping to the left and right to dig into the blonde's stomach - has Ross crying out and crossing her arms across her body. Nia won't let up, digging around the guard to get at the tender ribs beneath, using the shoulder to buck Ross back, and a nice little uppercut to Charlotte's overhanging face. Ross going wobbly butt, just leaning over her legs, weaving weakly, not able to evade Nia's fists, and a series of sweeping lefts and rights across the lower back drives Ross to her knees. AND CHARLOTTE CAN'T GET UP! Ross weeping, clutching her body, hunched over her knees can't go on - Nia leaping for joy - she takes it via KO10.

After: Brilliant give and take war of attrition, with both beauties using any advantage they could find to wear the other down. Peeples simply too strong mentally, finally beating Ross into submission, re-establishes herself at the blonde's expense. Ross a loser in her last 3, needs to re-tool, and consider a more patient strategy to the top - tough fights, and bad luck have conspired to tarnish this once promising prospect.

Sim Guy

ff