6. Sophie Mudd vs. Hilary Duff (JMD)

BEFORE:



"Let's face it," says a hard-eyed Hilary, "She got LUCKY the last time. Well, tonight, we do this JMD. And, she's not going to get lucky again."

"Hilary's talking awfully big," says Sophie without a hint of a smile, "For a girl I left lying on the canvas the last time we fought. And, if she thinks tonight will be any different, well. I'm about to disabuse her of that notion."



ROUND ONE:



O'Dell: "Back at ringside and that's 'Wake Up' you hear behind us, and here comes the singer of that tune, blonde beauty Hilary Duff!"

McCarthy: "And, I'll say again that Duff is a real fighter and Mudd DID get lucky the last time! She was behind when she got the knockout!"

O'Dell: "Duff wasting no time getting to the ring. She's inside and helped off with the robe, and the crowd showing appreciation for Hilary in that fuschia number. And, that's 'Hotter Than Hell' by Dua Lipa pounding through the arena, but that's not Dua coming to the ring, it's 'Sultry' Sophie Mudd..."

Tess: "Mudd on quite the winning streak, one that's shoved her into the bantamweight title picture AND the JMD title picture."

Cassie: "And that's what Front Street 3.0 is about. We're competing everywhere..."

O'Dell: "Mudd into the ring and helped off with the robe by Jewel and Neve and the crowd popping big for Sophie in that Egyptian blue number we've seen before. Ladies about ready. Time for some picks. Tess likes Mudd. Mac?"

McCarthy: "REAL fighter. DUFF!"

O'Dell: "Cassie?"

Cassie: "I agree with Tess!"

O'Dell: "Here we go. Early pressure from the blonde and no surprise there. This is Duff's style. She wants to get in there and get physical, go body. Mudd, of course, can play that game, but she has reach here and might want to work at range. Not getting the chance right now..."

McCarthy: "This is how you beat these Dancing Hookers. Get physical and they wilt."

O'Dell: "Mudd looking to tie up now, trying to slow the blonde down. Having very little success doing it. Duff very skilled and experienced. Knows how to lever, wrestle in there, punch free of clinches. This is excellent stuff from Hilary. Lots of the same kinds of things we saw her do the first time."

Cassie: "She's got Sophie out of sorts, that's for sure."

O'Dell: "We're down under 15 seconds to go in this one, and there's been no doubt about who's in control since the opening bell. Duff's getting what she wants right now, and the former champ is plenty effective when that happens. Final seconds tick away and there's the bell. Hilary wide."

Tess: "And with the early 10-9 lead."



ROUND TWO:



O'Dell: "Mudd adjusting now. She's moving the feet, working the jab, looking to keep Hilary off, and, for the moment, it's working. Blonde being held out on the end of the brunette's punches, which is NOT where she wants to be. Sophie getting in rhythm in a big way..."

Tess: "And, we've seen how good she can be when she has it all working."

O'Dell: "Have, indeed, and we're looking at more of that right now. Duff working hard, trying to get to spots, and, when she does, she's able to get off here and there, even hook a little rack, but, mostly, she's being kept at bay as Sophie puts punches together at range."

Cassie: "And Mudd banging some rack out there at times."

O'Dell: "Coming down the stretch in the second, and, like the first, it's been pretty one-sided, only, this time, the brunette's getting the work done. GOOD combination by Sophie backs up Hilary and Mudd lands a SOLID right hand at the bell. No doubt about that one. Sophie wide."

McCarthy: "And, we're even at 19."



ROUND THREE:



O'Dell: "Duff making the adjustment now. Blonde angling, playing some geometry here as she tries to work past Sophie's defenses. Mudd scoring again when they're at range, but, when Hilary's able to get inside, work body, it's all blonde all the time as she forces the younger woman to back and cover..."

McCarthy: "Kid needs to fire back in there."

O'Dell: "She's not getting much of a chance, because Hilary's preempting her very, very well. Duff hooking ribs and tummy, hooking and uppercutting rack. Mudd shoves off, gets some space, gets to work with the jab, lands a NICE right hand that got the blonde's attention..."

Tess: "All about terms right now, Jenny."

O'Dell: "Definitely is, and with both fighters getting some but not all of what they want, we have our first two-way round of the night. SHARP exchange there and ANOTHER. Both fighters landing some hard rights and there's the bell. Close this time, but it's the blonde who gets the points."

Cassie: "And Duff goes back into the lead 29-28."



ROUND FOUR:



O'Dell: "More two-way stuff here in the fourth. It's like it's been for the entirety of the bout so far, and, for most of the first contest between the two, Mudd at range, Duff in close. And, with both fighters working hard to get their terms and having some success doing that, there's not a lot in it."

Tess: "Have to wonder, though, if the body work Duff is putting in will pay off..."

O'Dell: "It well may, but, for the moment at least, Mudd's taking it and staying afloat, all while giving as good as she gets, at least in this stanza. Sophie putting punches together at range, landing some solid right hands, including the occasional one to the rack."

Cassie: "And, on the inside, Hilary not shy about going jug."

O'Dell: "She is not. She's staying sound, working upstairs, then down, hooking ribs and tummy, but she's not ignoring the rack by a long shot. Final seconds ticking away in what's been a close one. GOOD combination by Mudd backs up Duff and there's the round. Close to Sophie."

McCarthy: "And, we're even again at 38."



ROUND FIVE:



O'Dell: "Fifth underway and Mudd getting off with a solid combination that backs up Duff. Sophie walking forward behind that left now, getting aggressive. She's got the blonde on the back foot and she's determined to keep her there. Duff in retreat, countering here and there..."

Cassie: "Complexion of this fight has changed all of a sudden, Jenny."

O'Dell: "It sure has. Sophie's found something here, and she's making good use of it. She's got the blonde backing and covering and Duff can't seem to get out of reverse. GOOD right hand by Mudd and she BANGS a left hook to rack. Duff wincing when that one landed..."

McCarthy: "Ref has to watch this kid for low blows. CAMPBELL is her trainer!"

O'Dell: "Just ten seconds remaining in what's been a pretty one-sided round for the brunette. GOOD right from Sophie backs Hilary up again. Duff covering up, backed to the ropes, takes a pair of hooks to the rack and there's the bell. No question this time. Mudd and wide."

Tess: "And Sophie leads 48-47 at the half."



ROUND SIX:



O'Dell: "Mudd pressing forward. She's got it going now and she's looking to keep the blonde on the back foot. Sophie working everything off the left jab. She's dropping hard rights behind it, then sometimes hooking body or rack. Duff covering, backing, countering here and there..."

Cassie: "Sophie really on a roll right now..."

O'Dell: "Is, indeed. ANOTHER combination from Mudd backs Duff up again and SOPHIE'S HURT! A right-hand counter from Hilary and Sophie wobbles and DOWN SHE GOES after a barrage of leather from the blonde! Duff to a neutral corner. Count at three. Four. Five. Sophie sitting up at six. Seven. Eight. To her feet at nine. Ref thinking about it as he gives the brunette the mandatory...and waves on Hilary..."

Tess: "Duff pulled one of the biggest upsets in FCBA history. This wouldn't match that one...but it would be pretty big..."

O'Dell: "Hilary all in. She's winging away with both hands. Backs Sophie into the ropes and GOES RACK IN A MAJOR WAY! Duff hup-hup to jug as Mudd hangs on in a high guard and IT'S OVER! IT'S OVER! The referee leaps in and it's OVER! Mudd protesting, but to no avail. The ref has seen enough and your winner by TKO6 is Hilary Duff!"

McCarthy: "ANOTHER Dancing Hooker bantam BITES THE DUST! I LOVE it!"



AFTER:



O'Dell: "Let's go up to the ring and Tess Valmore!"

Tess: "I have our winner, Hilary Duff, and, Hilary, we talked on the air about the huge upset you pulled when you beat Dushku for the Unified Bantamweight Championship. This doesn't measure up to that, but..."

Hilary (shaking her head): "Here's the thing. I didn't think that was an upset. I was EVERY bit as good as Eliza, and I proved it that night. I'm BETTER than this girl, and I proved it tonight. It's not an upset. The better fighter won..."

Tess: "Well, either way, this had to open some eyes tonight..."

Hilary (smiling): "Listen, Wiz just dumped a disappointing bantam earlier this month and he brought in a girl who's basically a blonde clone of THIS girl. Mudd's nothing special. She's no champion, at bantam OR JMD. She's just a girl who looks good in a bikini. If Wiz wants a REAL bantam, a girl who can get him that gold back, well. He HAS my number."