Moon Bloodgood vs Paula Patton

Celebrity Boxing After Dark
Moon Bloodgood vs Paula Patton
(15-14, 10 KO vs 11-15, 10 KO)
Results: Lookout!; Story: Vassago

BEFORE: One could argue that making Tractorpull's "Ten Who Should Go" list is the biggest news surrounding Moon Bloodgood's career since she was removed from the welterweight throne back in June of 2013. Indeed, the Bazz veteran has struggled for meaningful results since then - save for a tough decision over Gena Lee Nolin - and several pundits question her gatekeeper status which sounds like the proverbial kiss of death for any former divisional champion not named Charlize Theron.

On the other hand we have Paula Patton, the intriguing free agency late bloomer, who's on course to retain her Top 10 welterweight status and vehemently denies rumours linking her to a premature retirement. She might not be good enough to deliver another Upset of The Year (hi, Amanda) but she still has what it takes to compete against the flock of Sports Illustrated models that have stormed the division over the past several months.

Moon Bloodgood wears a black bikini top, matching hotpants and red gloves. Dark brown hair in loose waves. Paula Patton wears an orange bandeau bikini and black gloves. Black hair tied in a sleek ponytail. The fight is scheduled for ten rounds in the welterweight division.

Round 1:
Moon's three inches taller than her opponent and it shows during the opening round; a hectic leather exchange favors Moon's execution better and she picks off the fellow actress from point-blank range. Paula's face develops an early swelling around the eyes and she really soaks up some juice here, perhaps Moon has taken the Tractorpull's retirement message personal - who can blame her for that? - and wants to prove a point at any cost tonight. She's capable of deliviering an early knockout blow and feeds Patton all guns blazing. In fact, Paula's knees buckle underneath the onslaught and she has to circle backwards to escape further punishment come the final minute. Slugging it out in close range was never the best idea against the much taller opponent and no wonder Moon smiles so much at the bell as Paula examines her facial bruises instead.

Round 2:
Bloodgood seeks another mid-distance domination but Patton adjusts her tactics like any veteran would after such a dismal showing; she refuses to engage in a similar slugging galore and frustrates the taller brunette during the opening minute. Moon's punches fail to find the flesh and Patton lands her single reply over the top but lacks the proper series to really throw the Bazz veteran off her comfort zone. As upset as Moon was after the Tractorpull's message, she doesn't lose her temper yet, she keeps her composure just long enough to trigger a more aggressive response from Patton who feels like she's not winning any judges' love with such a defensive approach. It saves her from further facial damage but leaves the crowd - and judges - unimpressed to say the very least.

Round 3:
It's hard to figure out what Paula's doing here, she bunny hops around the taller girl for most of the opening minute but only lands single punches and struggles to punish Bloodgood while soaking up more facial juice instead. Moon finds her point-blank range rhythm early on yet bounces off the high guard a little too often to drive the subdued foe onto the ropes. Paula's superior footwork comes to the fore down the stretch and enables her to stay clear of imminient danger but the single punches are nowhere near good enough to rattle Bloodgood's cage. Both women decide to circle back and resume their thoughts, they are no spring chickens after all and the chance of pace comes as little surprise. Still, Moon's landed the better punches until now and if the unwritten rule of free agents losing the otherwise drawn rounds vs managed competition is true, then Paula's facing a whitewash nightmare on the cards here.

Round 4:
Allthough Moon leads on the cards entering the fourth, she'd like to resume the opening round domination and add more lumps on Paula's face. She becomes a little too predictable in the head hunting pursuit and struggles to match Paula's defensive moves; it gets so bad that she loses her balance after a failed hooking attempt and wobbles forward straight into a jaw-crushing uppercut that springs the younger actress into a steady comeback drive. Ugh! Paula nails the hitherto dominant woman in a close range leather frenzy and snaps her head back so efficiently most of the crowd begins to wonder where was all this before? Patton pumps herself vocally and barks in anger whenever she lands a crisp shot on target and quickly hands her subdued rival a nasty cut below the left eye before thumping the stunned Bloodgood on the ear with a nasty hook. Moon's legs wobble to the extreme and she gets pounded back to the ropes in no time thereafter! She disappears behind a tight earmuff but Patton harpoons her to the body and leaves aching out in disbelief at the bell. The Patton comeback is on and Moon's got that WTF look about her!

Round 5:
A confused Moon is an angry Moon and the Bazz veteran launches immediate recovery plan but Paula grits her teeth and drills through the solar plexus to stun the older woman on the spot! Moon swung over the top during the initial exchange but for once misjudged the approach and got hammered where it almost hurts the most in response! Ugh! Patton camps inside her opponent's chest in a hectic close range dispute but quite frankly Bloodgood pummelled onto her heels and shrieks out in pain as the fellow actress catches her with an accidental head-butt on the nose... "You little...", the Bazz veteran can't finish her sentence in time before she gets nuked on the jaw with a swift uppercut follow up and drops her guard for good which allows Patton to tear more lumps across her face soon afterwards! Moon loses her footing and trips back onto the ropes where she fails to raise her arms in time again and Paula slams a left hook on the nose that sends her into a tail spin. Her knees begin to shake and she just can't fend off the head hunting heat as Patton proceeds to pound away in fury and shuts Moon's eyes while increasing her moaning volume! The crowd begins to chant "BEAT-HER-UP!!! BEAT-HER-UP!!!" and there's no way back from this for the former champ. Moon's arms drop by her side and she slumps on the ropes with eyes closed so she doesn't even notice the drilling hook that busts her nostrils for the last time... BLOODGOOD GOES DOWN... the taller brunette simply can't take the heat anymore and descends face down on the canvas where she remains during the count. KO5 Paula Patton in classic come-from-behind fashion!!!

AFTER: The pressure mounts on the Bazz veteran following this terrible result but she's got a meeting with the high-flying Hilary Rhoda scheduled next and that's a clear upgrade in competition which spells bad news for anyone scolding the recent Tractorpull career-review - and Moon herself in first place. However Paula Patton of all people is personally interested in that particular May PPV match-up since she eyes taking Rhoda down next month too. "They keep asking me if I'm ready to face these hot shot models before I retire", she says during the post-fight media conference, "Of course I am! I've fought with a chip on my shoulder since day one and it doesn't get any easier while I get.. uhmm.. well, older. But look at Moon here, she's done, she's wrecked and I don't see her lasting beyond 2017 in this league. At the same time I'm nowhere to be seen on Tractorpull's goodbye list and plenty of folks actually consider me a Top 10 welter. Hilary Rhoda might look a little spicier in a bikini - and even that's debatable, just wait until she turns 40, but I've hit it out of the park before and she's just another elephant that I'm gonna bag next month. This much is evident!"

Final result: Paula Patton def. Moon Bloodgood KO5.