Post by HBO's Boxing At The Asylum on Oct 31, 2023 18:32:11 GMT -6
BEFORE:
"Kris and I sparred plenty when I was at Front Street," says Leighton with a smile. "I know how good she is. But, I also know how to succeed against her."
"No doubt, we know one another very well," Kristen says with a nod. "And, we like one another a lot. But, we both know who's better."
ROUND ONE:
O'Dell: "Back at ringside and that's 'Somebody To Love' by Robin Thicke..."
McCarthy: "A MUCH better version than the one whatshername sang!"
Cassie: "For those of you joining us for the first time, Mac hates Hall of Famer Grace Slick because Ms. Slick got a COURT ORDER to stop Mac from singing..."
McCarthy: "Hall of FAMER? How did SHE make the FCBA Hall of Fame? She never even FOUGHT in the FCBA! I demand a RECOUNT!"
Tess: "She's in the ROCK AND ROLL Hall of Fame, Mac, not the FCBA Hall of Fame..."
McCarthy: "Well....I was ROBBED and should BE in the FCBA Hall of Fame and SHUT UP, WALMART!"
O'Dell (sighing): "Drink up, boys, and keep your eyes on Leighton Meester, who is getting a warm welcome in her return to Philly. Leighton helped off with the robe and the fans showing appreciation for the former Front Streeter in that red number she likes. And, that's 'Helter Skelter' by the Beatles you hear behind us, and here comes 'The Five-Tool Player', Kristen Stewart!"
McCarthy: "Finally! A REAL fighter!"
Cassie: "Kristen coming off a big win last month against Cheryl Cole..."
O'Dell: "K-Stew taps glove to fist with Mac on the way past the table, climbs into the ring and is helped off with the robe by Jewel and Neve, and, she's looking PLENTY good in that lime green number she likes if the crowd reaction is to be believed. Ladies about ready. Time for some picks. Tess likes K-Stew. Mac?"
McCarthy: "REAL fighter. Stewart!"
O'Dell: "Cassie?"
Cassie: "I agree with Tess!"
O'Dell: "Unanimous for the third time in a row, and Meester wasting no time getting after Stewart. Leighton, of course, very familiar with K-Stew as a result of having spent some time on the roster here at Front Street..."
Cassie: "But, you don't HAVE to have done that to know you aren't likely to out-box her..."
O'Dell: "And, that's why Leighton's not trying. Instead, she's walking in behind the jab, working some body, but mostly concentrating upstairs. Stewart tying up in there, forcing breaks, getting back to range, but Meester right back in her grill..."
McCarthy: "Leighton with nothing to lose here, so she's going for it."
O'Dell: "Definitely appears to be. We're down the stretch in the first, and it's been a good round for Meester. Nice combination there, forces Stewart back a step and there's the bell. Not close in the opener. Leighton takes the points..."
Tess: "And grabs the 10-9 lead."
ROUND TWO:
O'Dell: "Second begins with more movement from Stewart. She's not quite doing the jab-and-circle, but she IS moving the feet and snapping out that excellent, accurate left hand. Meester patient, working past, getting inside..."
McCarthy: "And, Stewart countering by tying her up in there."
O'Dell: "Kristen gets a break, gets right back to moving. Much better stuff from K-Stew this round, but it's still a close one, because, when Leighton gets inside, she's getting work done. She's just not getting in there as often as she did in the previous round."
Tess: "Meester playing this smart. She's very aggressive, but very sound."
O'Dell: "Indeed, she is. Leighton a veteran who's not going to walk into anything stupid in there. We're down under 15 seconds to go in this stanza. GOOD right hand from Stewart and Meester counters with one of her own at the bell. Close. K-Stew."
Cassie: "And that evens things at 19."
ROUND THREE:
O'Dell: "Third begins like the second ended, with Stewart on the move and Meester looking to close and work in the phone booth. Again, it's that educated jab of K-Stew's that's allowing her to create some space and get some scoring done."
Cassie: "But, when Leighton gets inside, she offsets a lot of that with good work to both head and body."
O'Dell: "Definitely does. Leighton looking like the veteran she is right now. Not getting out of true. Working the plan. Scoring points when she can and not allowing K-Stew to dictate terms. SHARP exchange there and both fighters landed a good right..."
Tess: "Leighton looks like she might be looking for something big right now..."
O'Dell: "Might very well be. She's highly unlikely to beat Stewart on the cards unless she manages a couple of big rounds. We're down under ten seconds in this one. Stewart a nice one-two and she circles away. There's the bell. Close. Kristen."
McCarthy: "And Stewart's in the lead 29-28."
ROUND FOUR:
O'Dell: "It's a more aggressive Leighton to start the fourth. She's coming after Stewart in a big way, just like in the first. Kristen content to give ground, work the jab, try to create space, but Meester's not giving her any at the moment..."
Tess: "Definitely isn't. Leighton right in her grill..."
O'Dell: "Stewart tying up, forcing a break, but the older woman right back in her face, wants to work in that phone both, bang away short to both head and body. Stewart extricates herself, gets back to the jab, but Leighton right back at her..."
McCarthy: "Keep doing this and, sooner or later, it's going to cost you..."
O'Dell: "Not going to be sooner, it doesn't look like. Meester's had much of things her own way in this stanza and we're down under ten seconds. GOOD right hand by Leighton and there's the bell. No doubt this time. Meester. Wide."
Cassie: "And, we're even at 38.:
ROUND FIVE:
O'Dell: "Fifth underway and Meester keeping on with the heavy pressure. Stewart giving ground, landing in counter here and there. But, it's Leighton who's doing most of the scoring, getting most of the work done right now..."
Cassie: "Kristen trying to manage this..."
O'Dell: "Definitely is, but not having a ton of success doing it. Leighton's getting to her spots, getting off. She's in Stewart's face, landing a lot of leather and SHE'S DOWN! That quickly, Meester is DOWN after a short right hook from Stewart!"
McCarthy: "TOLD you!"
O'Dell: "Kristen to a neutral corner. Leighton on all fours. Count at three. Four. Five. Meester pushing to her feet at six. Ref going to give her the mandatory. And, he waves on K-Stew! Stewart throwing BOMBS now, backing up the older woman, pinning her to the ropes. Meester in a high guard, taking. GOOD right from K-Stew and there's ANOTHER and Leighton is wobbled and IT'S OVER! The ref leaps in and it's OVER and your winner by TKO5 is 'The Five-Tool Player', Kristen Stewart!"
Tess: "Can't complain about that stoppage. Might have even been a punch too late."
AFTER:
O'Dell: "Let's go up to the ring and Cassie Scerbo!"
Cassie: "I have our winner, Kristen Stewart, and, K-Stew, she really came AFTER you..."
Kristen (nodding): "I figured at some point she would. Leighton's a good fighter and a smart one, too. She wasn't going to try to box with me all night."
Cassie: "You have a lot of respect for her, though..."
Kristen: "Sure do. Good fighter and a great stablemate. I enjoyed it when she was here. Loved working with her. I hope she'll come back here some day."
"Kris and I sparred plenty when I was at Front Street," says Leighton with a smile. "I know how good she is. But, I also know how to succeed against her."
"No doubt, we know one another very well," Kristen says with a nod. "And, we like one another a lot. But, we both know who's better."
ROUND ONE:
O'Dell: "Back at ringside and that's 'Somebody To Love' by Robin Thicke..."
McCarthy: "A MUCH better version than the one whatshername sang!"
Cassie: "For those of you joining us for the first time, Mac hates Hall of Famer Grace Slick because Ms. Slick got a COURT ORDER to stop Mac from singing..."
McCarthy: "Hall of FAMER? How did SHE make the FCBA Hall of Fame? She never even FOUGHT in the FCBA! I demand a RECOUNT!"
Tess: "She's in the ROCK AND ROLL Hall of Fame, Mac, not the FCBA Hall of Fame..."
McCarthy: "Well....I was ROBBED and should BE in the FCBA Hall of Fame and SHUT UP, WALMART!"
O'Dell (sighing): "Drink up, boys, and keep your eyes on Leighton Meester, who is getting a warm welcome in her return to Philly. Leighton helped off with the robe and the fans showing appreciation for the former Front Streeter in that red number she likes. And, that's 'Helter Skelter' by the Beatles you hear behind us, and here comes 'The Five-Tool Player', Kristen Stewart!"
McCarthy: "Finally! A REAL fighter!"
Cassie: "Kristen coming off a big win last month against Cheryl Cole..."
O'Dell: "K-Stew taps glove to fist with Mac on the way past the table, climbs into the ring and is helped off with the robe by Jewel and Neve, and, she's looking PLENTY good in that lime green number she likes if the crowd reaction is to be believed. Ladies about ready. Time for some picks. Tess likes K-Stew. Mac?"
McCarthy: "REAL fighter. Stewart!"
O'Dell: "Cassie?"
Cassie: "I agree with Tess!"
O'Dell: "Unanimous for the third time in a row, and Meester wasting no time getting after Stewart. Leighton, of course, very familiar with K-Stew as a result of having spent some time on the roster here at Front Street..."
Cassie: "But, you don't HAVE to have done that to know you aren't likely to out-box her..."
O'Dell: "And, that's why Leighton's not trying. Instead, she's walking in behind the jab, working some body, but mostly concentrating upstairs. Stewart tying up in there, forcing breaks, getting back to range, but Meester right back in her grill..."
McCarthy: "Leighton with nothing to lose here, so she's going for it."
O'Dell: "Definitely appears to be. We're down the stretch in the first, and it's been a good round for Meester. Nice combination there, forces Stewart back a step and there's the bell. Not close in the opener. Leighton takes the points..."
Tess: "And grabs the 10-9 lead."
ROUND TWO:
O'Dell: "Second begins with more movement from Stewart. She's not quite doing the jab-and-circle, but she IS moving the feet and snapping out that excellent, accurate left hand. Meester patient, working past, getting inside..."
McCarthy: "And, Stewart countering by tying her up in there."
O'Dell: "Kristen gets a break, gets right back to moving. Much better stuff from K-Stew this round, but it's still a close one, because, when Leighton gets inside, she's getting work done. She's just not getting in there as often as she did in the previous round."
Tess: "Meester playing this smart. She's very aggressive, but very sound."
O'Dell: "Indeed, she is. Leighton a veteran who's not going to walk into anything stupid in there. We're down under 15 seconds to go in this stanza. GOOD right hand from Stewart and Meester counters with one of her own at the bell. Close. K-Stew."
Cassie: "And that evens things at 19."
ROUND THREE:
O'Dell: "Third begins like the second ended, with Stewart on the move and Meester looking to close and work in the phone booth. Again, it's that educated jab of K-Stew's that's allowing her to create some space and get some scoring done."
Cassie: "But, when Leighton gets inside, she offsets a lot of that with good work to both head and body."
O'Dell: "Definitely does. Leighton looking like the veteran she is right now. Not getting out of true. Working the plan. Scoring points when she can and not allowing K-Stew to dictate terms. SHARP exchange there and both fighters landed a good right..."
Tess: "Leighton looks like she might be looking for something big right now..."
O'Dell: "Might very well be. She's highly unlikely to beat Stewart on the cards unless she manages a couple of big rounds. We're down under ten seconds in this one. Stewart a nice one-two and she circles away. There's the bell. Close. Kristen."
McCarthy: "And Stewart's in the lead 29-28."
ROUND FOUR:
O'Dell: "It's a more aggressive Leighton to start the fourth. She's coming after Stewart in a big way, just like in the first. Kristen content to give ground, work the jab, try to create space, but Meester's not giving her any at the moment..."
Tess: "Definitely isn't. Leighton right in her grill..."
O'Dell: "Stewart tying up, forcing a break, but the older woman right back in her face, wants to work in that phone both, bang away short to both head and body. Stewart extricates herself, gets back to the jab, but Leighton right back at her..."
McCarthy: "Keep doing this and, sooner or later, it's going to cost you..."
O'Dell: "Not going to be sooner, it doesn't look like. Meester's had much of things her own way in this stanza and we're down under ten seconds. GOOD right hand by Leighton and there's the bell. No doubt this time. Meester. Wide."
Cassie: "And, we're even at 38.:
ROUND FIVE:
O'Dell: "Fifth underway and Meester keeping on with the heavy pressure. Stewart giving ground, landing in counter here and there. But, it's Leighton who's doing most of the scoring, getting most of the work done right now..."
Cassie: "Kristen trying to manage this..."
O'Dell: "Definitely is, but not having a ton of success doing it. Leighton's getting to her spots, getting off. She's in Stewart's face, landing a lot of leather and SHE'S DOWN! That quickly, Meester is DOWN after a short right hook from Stewart!"
McCarthy: "TOLD you!"
O'Dell: "Kristen to a neutral corner. Leighton on all fours. Count at three. Four. Five. Meester pushing to her feet at six. Ref going to give her the mandatory. And, he waves on K-Stew! Stewart throwing BOMBS now, backing up the older woman, pinning her to the ropes. Meester in a high guard, taking. GOOD right from K-Stew and there's ANOTHER and Leighton is wobbled and IT'S OVER! The ref leaps in and it's OVER and your winner by TKO5 is 'The Five-Tool Player', Kristen Stewart!"
Tess: "Can't complain about that stoppage. Might have even been a punch too late."
AFTER:
O'Dell: "Let's go up to the ring and Cassie Scerbo!"
Cassie: "I have our winner, Kristen Stewart, and, K-Stew, she really came AFTER you..."
Kristen (nodding): "I figured at some point she would. Leighton's a good fighter and a smart one, too. She wasn't going to try to box with me all night."
Cassie: "You have a lot of respect for her, though..."
Kristen: "Sure do. Good fighter and a great stablemate. I enjoyed it when she was here. Loved working with her. I hope she'll come back here some day."