Sophie Mudd versus Martina Vismara (JMD)

BEFORE:

Two fighters whose fortunes have taken a mighty turn of late. Vismara and Mudd had the look of rising stars at both bantam and JMD a little more than a month ago. Now? Things have changed. Just as she was nearing the Top Twenty, Vismara's management collapsed, leaving her scratching and clawing with the indies. As for Mudd, just as it appeared a title shot may be on the radar, she took a shocking loss to Hilary Duff at Asylum that has tongues wagging about the possibility that she might be joining Vismara among the indies while Front Street's new signing, Mikayla Demaiter, takes her spot. So, the pressure is clearly on for both fighters, though neither seems to be feeling it. "Anyone who's watched me fight," says a hard-eyed Martina, "Knows I'm a top shelf bantam and a force at JMD. And, after I blast out Sophie tonight, it will just be a matter of time before I'm managed again."

"Duff got lucky," says Sophie with a shake of the head. "But, that was ONE fight. Tonight, we start a new winning streak by knocking Vismara on her a**!"

ROUND ONE:

No artifice here. Ladies get to work in the phone booth, stepping right to and working one another over to both head and body. The brunettes are grinding, sitting down on punches, bringing their power to bear right off the bat. It's nothing sloppy, mind. Defense is being played. Heads are moved. Hands are moved. Leather is slipped and blocked. But, there's a TON of stuff being thrown, so a LOT of it is getting through. And, while grimaces and groans attest to how effective some of that shot is, neither the American nor the Italian is willing to take a step back. Instead, they tenderize and punish from the opening bell to the final one. When it's over, it's VERY close, but it's Mudd who takes the 10-9 lead.

ROUND TWO:

More of the same. Ladies determined to impose will in classic JMD fashion here. This isn't about who the best boxer is. It's about who can dish out and stand up to the most punishment, and both brunettes are confident they are the answer to that question. Somebody, of course, is wrong, but, through the second, there's no clue as to who that would be, because, once again, there's almost nothing in it. Fighters working, mostly, in the phone booth, digging body, going upstairs, hooking some rack, then going back to ribs and tummy. PLENTY of investment being made, as both brunettes are determined to grind down the other. At the bell, it's close again, but, this time, Vismara takes the points and evens things at 19.

ROUND THREE:

And again. Nobody looking to renegotiate terms, because everybody's happy with the terms we're fighting on. Brunettes more than willing to take a punch to land one, and they are landing PLENTY, concentrating, again, on the body, but getting more work on the racks done in this stanza. And, of course, neither is ignoring the upstairs. There are plenty of short little hooks banging into face and head, and everybody's feeling everything, even if nobody's hurt. For the third straight round, no one's able to establish any kind of control, so, when the bell rings, it's very close once again, but it's Martina, who pulls into the 29-28 lead.

ROUND FOUR:

Right back in the phone booth. There are entire areas of this ring that are growing cobwebs from disuse, because the ladies continue to just meet in the middle and get after one another. About a minute in, Vismara finally breaks a complete deadlock, backing Mudd up with a couple of sharp right hand and then SOPHIE WOBBLES HER WITH A RIGHT HOOK! The Lombardy Lovely's all WOBBLY BUTT as Mudd calls in the heavy artillery, backing her to the ropes and GOING RACK IN A MAJOR WAY! It's HUP-HUP stuff as Martina is PUNISHED along the cables. Vismara looking ready to go. Ref on a hair trigger. LEFT HOOK TO THE CHIN and DOWN GOES MARTINA! Vismara on her left side parallel to the ropes. Sophie to a neutral corner. Ref counting down on the Italian. Martina makes a grab for the bottom rope and can't find it and IT'S OVER! The count passes Vismara by and IT'S OVER and your winner by KO4 is Sophie Mudd!

AFTER:

Mudd may well be somewhat relieved, but she's looking and talking triumphantly. "Just like I said, a new winning streak is underway. And, all those people who've been talking about me being overrated or on the way out, well. Just look at the wreckage I left behind in the ring...and think again."