Post by HBO's Boxing At The Asylum on Jun 30, 2019 18:08:54 GMT -6
BEFORE:
"Yeah," says Tessa with a nod. "Couple of tough losses to start my career here. But, that's how this goes, right? Gotta crawl before you can walk. And, tonight, I start walking."
"She's got the physicals to compete here," says Chloe. "No doubt about that. Unfortunately, she's stepping in tonight with the best bantam on the planet."
ROUND ONE:
O'Dell: "Back at ringside and that's 'I Will Go To War', and down to the ring comes the singer of that song, Valkyrie herself, the lovely Tessa Thompson!"
McCarthy: "And, we're back to THIS again! NO FCBA wins!"
Cassie: "And, as Tessa herself points out, she's only HAD two FCBA fights..."
Tess: "And even YOU didn't have a win in your first two FCBA fights, Mac..."
McCarthy: "I didn't have two LOSSES, either. The first one was a draw and I was robbed so it was really a WIN."
Cassie (mumbling): "The first one was shot on kinescope, too..."
McCarthy: "I HEARD that and it was NOT!"
O'Dell: "Tessa into the ring and helped off with the robe and the crowd liking the way she fills out that coral bikini. And, that's..."
McCarthy: "Horrid! Vile! Terrible!"
O'Dell (sighing): '' 'Uh Oh' you hear behind us, and, of course, the singer of that tune is the lady coming down to the ring right now, 'The Next Big Thing', Chloe Bennet!"
Tess: "Bennet one of the few girls who's secured her spot on Front Street's Tenth Anniversary roster, but, obviously, she's been in the title picture for some time, and, to stay there, she needs this win tonight."
O'Dell: "Chloe into the ring and helped off with the robe by Jewel and Neve. And, the crowd appreciating how she looks in that blue bikini we've seen before. Ladies about ready to go. Let's get some picks. Tess likes Chloe. Mac?"
McCarthy: "NO FCBA wins. Bennet."
O'Dell: "Cassie?"
Cassie: "I agree with Tess!"
O'Dell: "Unanimous. Let's see if our ladies are right. Thompson aggressive early here. She's stepping to Bennet, looking to get physical, and that's probably not a bad plan, because she's not likely to out-box a former FCBA champion like Chloe Bennet, is she, Mac?"
McCarthy: "That's not the way to play this. Especially the way Thompson's built. From what we've seen of her, we know she can hit. That's the way to go."
O'Dell: "And, that's exactly the way Tessa's going, only Chloe's more than willing to play this game. Bennet quite the hitter herself, and she's not going to be forced into retreat. No serious fire fights going on right now, but both fighters standing and banging to both head and body."
Tess: "Wonder if Bennet wouldn't be better served using her reach and boxing, though."
O'Dell: "Could be, but we're not going to find out right now, because she's determined to bang right back with Tessa, at least for the moment. Fifteen seconds left in a close first round. Not a ton in it, as the ladies thump away to body right to the bell. And, there it is. Thompson. By a cat's whisker."
Cassie: "And, Tessa's up 10-9."
ROUND TWO
O'Dell: "Second begins with Tessa again looking to close and CHLOE STOPPING HER COLD with a NASTY combination! Bennet following on with ANOTHER big flurry that forces Thompson to cover and give some ground. Tessa not hurt. Those sturdy legs doing their jobs..."
Cassie: "And, sturdy they are, because about half the division would be on the canvas right now..."
O'Dell: "Chloe stepping forward, walking Tessa down. She's sitting down on everything at the moment, imposing will on the lovely Ms. Thompson. Tessa trying to hold ground, banging back when she can, but Bennet's got her in reverse and is mostly keeping her there..."
Tess: "This is why Bennet's right at the top of this division. If you want to box, she can. If you want to bang, she'll do that, too."
O'Dell: "And, she's using the boxer-puncher skills to great effect right now, setting up hard right hands with excellent jabs, keeping Thompson off balance and on the defensive. Ten seconds left in what's been a dominant round for Bennet. One more big combination and there's the bell. Chloe. Wide."
McCarthy: "And, we're even at 19."
ROUND THREE:
O'Dell: "Thompson again looking to come forward. This time angling, moving the feet and head, not coming straight in, and the adjustment bearing fruit, as she's getting inside Bennet's defenses now, where she can work the body. Chloe not trying to reestablish distance, instead responding in kind..."
Tess: "Like I said. If you want to bang..."
O'Dell: "LOTS of body work happening right now. Neither fighter giving an inch in there. Both WHACKING the midsections and THUMPING the ribs...but, nobody ignoring the upstairs, either. Plenty of hard leather being tossed up there and enough of it landing to keep everyone honest."
McCarthy: "I hate to say Walmart was right, because that happens about once a decade, but, Bennet ought to be enforcing distance now."
O'Dell: "Instead, she's in the booth with the sturdy Thompson banging away in what's become a war of attrition, at least for the moment. Both ladies going to know they've been in a fight after this one, because those bodies are being tenderized right to the bell. There it is. Another close one to Thompson."
Cassie: "And, Tessa's back up by one, 29-28."
ROUND FOUR:
O'Dell: "Fourth sees Tessa right back inside mugging and thumping. No question this girl can be VERY effective on these terms. This is Dani Fishel stuff. And, that's no surprise, because Thompson has that Fishel build and has shown some of that same physicality..."
Cassie: "You could also call it Kat Dennings stuff. Or, Neve Campbell stuff."
McCarthy: "Excuse me. I threw up in my mouth a little just then..."
O'Dell: "Bennet hooking the ribs. Ladies with heads on shoulders just tenderizing meat right now. And, it may take quite the investment to actually see any profit in working bodies like these. Both brunettes willing to make it, though, hammering away downstairs in what might just be a contest of wills."
Tess: "Just what I was thinking, Jenny."
O'Dell: "Coming into the final thirty seconds of yet another close round. GOOD uppercut by Thompson that backed Bennet up for the first time all night. Chloe steps right back to, though, and the ladies remain in the booth digging away. And, there's the bell. For the third time, a close one to Tessa, who's up 39-37."
ROUND FIVE:
O'Dell: "Pattern set. Thompson closes, Bennet joins her in the booth, and, to work we go. ANOTHER nice uppercut by Tessa backs Bennet up and CHLOE REPONDS with a BOOMING right hand! Thompson staggers and nearly goes down and now Chloe's all in, thumping away at the listing S.S. Tessa..."
Cassie: "Long way to go in this round...not good for Thompson."
O'Dell: "Bennet letting the hands go. Tessa in DEEP trouble as the former champion works her back to the ropes. Thompson in a high guard and Chloe goes BODY. Bennet digging away to those pre-tenderized areas looking to bring the guard down, but Tessa made of sterner stuff!"
McCarthy: "This Thompson kid is starting to impress me..."
O'Dell: "Tessa taking the punishment downstairs and keeping the guard high. Bennet back to head hunting, banging away, looking to finish this thing. GOOD right hand from the Front Streeter shakes the shorter brunette. Chloe doubling down as we roll through the final seconds. But, Thompson's going to ride it out. There's the bell. Bennet. Wide."
Tess: "But, Thompson survives and still leads 48-47 at the half."
ROUND SIX:
O'Dell: "Bennet right back to work, stepping to Tessa and backing her up. Thompson looking to have shaken the worst of the damage, but Chloe's got everything working right now, and those are words that no bantam in the FCBA wants to hear. Bennet's got the range, she's got the targeting in, and she's giving the shorter woman a THUMPING..."
Tess: "I've said before that Chloe's the best fighter in the Front Street stable. What you're seeing is why I say that."
O'Dell: "Thompson game, trying to hold ground, firing back in spots. But, Bennet just too much right now, firing flurry after flurry of hard, accurate leather that keeps Tessa on the back foot, on the defensive, in retreat. Bennet a SOLID right hand there, and that got Thompson's attention..."
Cassie: "Tessa's got to figure something out here, or this is just a matter of time..."
O'Dell: "Speaking of time, we're rolling into the last half minute of the sixth. It's been Bennet from the opening seconds and it's Bennet as we close it out. Another solid flurry from Chloe forces Tessa to cover up yet again. Thompson's managed to stay off the ropes and stay on her feet, but that's about the only good news. There's the bell. Bennet. And VERY wide."
McCarthy: "Even at 57."
ROUND SEVEN:
O'Dell: "Bennet continuing the offensive as we start the seventh. She's again setting up hard right hands with that accurate left jab. Thompson again in retreat, trying to hold ground but not having much success doing so. Tessa RUNG UP by a solid right hand, there, but she shakes it off..."
Cassie: "Going to say this again. This girl can TAKE a punch, because a lot of bantams would be down right now..."
O'Dell: "Chloe continuing the steady pressure, pouring accurate fire at the shorter brunette. Thompson a nice right hand counter and BENNET LANDS A BOOMING RIGHT HAND AND DOWN GOES TESSA! Oh, what a right hand that was from Chloe Bennet..."
McCarthy: "She's not getting up from THAT one..."
O'Dell: "Chloe to a neutral corner. Tessa down on her back, eyes closed, as the referee counts down at her. Three. Four. Five. Six. No movement at all from Thompson. Seven. Eight. This is academic. Nine. TEN! It's OVER! And your winner by KO7 is 'The Next Big Thing', Chloe Bennet!"
Tess: "Took longer than I expected, but I never had a doubt about the result."
AFTER:
O'Dell: "Let's go up to the ring and Tess Valmore!"
Tess: "I have our winner, Chloe Bennet, and, Chloe, she came to fight..."
Chloe (nodding): "Sure did. She wasn't going to try to survive in there. She came to win and get physical. She wasn't afraid to trade with me. I have a lot of respect for her and how she fought tonight."
Tess: "No point in my asking what's next for you, because we all know what your goal is..."
Chloe (smiling): "Yeah. I want that gold back. So. Whatever gets me closer, Tess. Whatever gets me closer."
"Yeah," says Tessa with a nod. "Couple of tough losses to start my career here. But, that's how this goes, right? Gotta crawl before you can walk. And, tonight, I start walking."
"She's got the physicals to compete here," says Chloe. "No doubt about that. Unfortunately, she's stepping in tonight with the best bantam on the planet."
ROUND ONE:
O'Dell: "Back at ringside and that's 'I Will Go To War', and down to the ring comes the singer of that song, Valkyrie herself, the lovely Tessa Thompson!"
McCarthy: "And, we're back to THIS again! NO FCBA wins!"
Cassie: "And, as Tessa herself points out, she's only HAD two FCBA fights..."
Tess: "And even YOU didn't have a win in your first two FCBA fights, Mac..."
McCarthy: "I didn't have two LOSSES, either. The first one was a draw and I was robbed so it was really a WIN."
Cassie (mumbling): "The first one was shot on kinescope, too..."
McCarthy: "I HEARD that and it was NOT!"
O'Dell: "Tessa into the ring and helped off with the robe and the crowd liking the way she fills out that coral bikini. And, that's..."
McCarthy: "Horrid! Vile! Terrible!"
O'Dell (sighing): '' 'Uh Oh' you hear behind us, and, of course, the singer of that tune is the lady coming down to the ring right now, 'The Next Big Thing', Chloe Bennet!"
Tess: "Bennet one of the few girls who's secured her spot on Front Street's Tenth Anniversary roster, but, obviously, she's been in the title picture for some time, and, to stay there, she needs this win tonight."
O'Dell: "Chloe into the ring and helped off with the robe by Jewel and Neve. And, the crowd appreciating how she looks in that blue bikini we've seen before. Ladies about ready to go. Let's get some picks. Tess likes Chloe. Mac?"
McCarthy: "NO FCBA wins. Bennet."
O'Dell: "Cassie?"
Cassie: "I agree with Tess!"
O'Dell: "Unanimous. Let's see if our ladies are right. Thompson aggressive early here. She's stepping to Bennet, looking to get physical, and that's probably not a bad plan, because she's not likely to out-box a former FCBA champion like Chloe Bennet, is she, Mac?"
McCarthy: "That's not the way to play this. Especially the way Thompson's built. From what we've seen of her, we know she can hit. That's the way to go."
O'Dell: "And, that's exactly the way Tessa's going, only Chloe's more than willing to play this game. Bennet quite the hitter herself, and she's not going to be forced into retreat. No serious fire fights going on right now, but both fighters standing and banging to both head and body."
Tess: "Wonder if Bennet wouldn't be better served using her reach and boxing, though."
O'Dell: "Could be, but we're not going to find out right now, because she's determined to bang right back with Tessa, at least for the moment. Fifteen seconds left in a close first round. Not a ton in it, as the ladies thump away to body right to the bell. And, there it is. Thompson. By a cat's whisker."
Cassie: "And, Tessa's up 10-9."
ROUND TWO
O'Dell: "Second begins with Tessa again looking to close and CHLOE STOPPING HER COLD with a NASTY combination! Bennet following on with ANOTHER big flurry that forces Thompson to cover and give some ground. Tessa not hurt. Those sturdy legs doing their jobs..."
Cassie: "And, sturdy they are, because about half the division would be on the canvas right now..."
O'Dell: "Chloe stepping forward, walking Tessa down. She's sitting down on everything at the moment, imposing will on the lovely Ms. Thompson. Tessa trying to hold ground, banging back when she can, but Bennet's got her in reverse and is mostly keeping her there..."
Tess: "This is why Bennet's right at the top of this division. If you want to box, she can. If you want to bang, she'll do that, too."
O'Dell: "And, she's using the boxer-puncher skills to great effect right now, setting up hard right hands with excellent jabs, keeping Thompson off balance and on the defensive. Ten seconds left in what's been a dominant round for Bennet. One more big combination and there's the bell. Chloe. Wide."
McCarthy: "And, we're even at 19."
ROUND THREE:
O'Dell: "Thompson again looking to come forward. This time angling, moving the feet and head, not coming straight in, and the adjustment bearing fruit, as she's getting inside Bennet's defenses now, where she can work the body. Chloe not trying to reestablish distance, instead responding in kind..."
Tess: "Like I said. If you want to bang..."
O'Dell: "LOTS of body work happening right now. Neither fighter giving an inch in there. Both WHACKING the midsections and THUMPING the ribs...but, nobody ignoring the upstairs, either. Plenty of hard leather being tossed up there and enough of it landing to keep everyone honest."
McCarthy: "I hate to say Walmart was right, because that happens about once a decade, but, Bennet ought to be enforcing distance now."
O'Dell: "Instead, she's in the booth with the sturdy Thompson banging away in what's become a war of attrition, at least for the moment. Both ladies going to know they've been in a fight after this one, because those bodies are being tenderized right to the bell. There it is. Another close one to Thompson."
Cassie: "And, Tessa's back up by one, 29-28."
ROUND FOUR:
O'Dell: "Fourth sees Tessa right back inside mugging and thumping. No question this girl can be VERY effective on these terms. This is Dani Fishel stuff. And, that's no surprise, because Thompson has that Fishel build and has shown some of that same physicality..."
Cassie: "You could also call it Kat Dennings stuff. Or, Neve Campbell stuff."
McCarthy: "Excuse me. I threw up in my mouth a little just then..."
O'Dell: "Bennet hooking the ribs. Ladies with heads on shoulders just tenderizing meat right now. And, it may take quite the investment to actually see any profit in working bodies like these. Both brunettes willing to make it, though, hammering away downstairs in what might just be a contest of wills."
Tess: "Just what I was thinking, Jenny."
O'Dell: "Coming into the final thirty seconds of yet another close round. GOOD uppercut by Thompson that backed Bennet up for the first time all night. Chloe steps right back to, though, and the ladies remain in the booth digging away. And, there's the bell. For the third time, a close one to Tessa, who's up 39-37."
ROUND FIVE:
O'Dell: "Pattern set. Thompson closes, Bennet joins her in the booth, and, to work we go. ANOTHER nice uppercut by Tessa backs Bennet up and CHLOE REPONDS with a BOOMING right hand! Thompson staggers and nearly goes down and now Chloe's all in, thumping away at the listing S.S. Tessa..."
Cassie: "Long way to go in this round...not good for Thompson."
O'Dell: "Bennet letting the hands go. Tessa in DEEP trouble as the former champion works her back to the ropes. Thompson in a high guard and Chloe goes BODY. Bennet digging away to those pre-tenderized areas looking to bring the guard down, but Tessa made of sterner stuff!"
McCarthy: "This Thompson kid is starting to impress me..."
O'Dell: "Tessa taking the punishment downstairs and keeping the guard high. Bennet back to head hunting, banging away, looking to finish this thing. GOOD right hand from the Front Streeter shakes the shorter brunette. Chloe doubling down as we roll through the final seconds. But, Thompson's going to ride it out. There's the bell. Bennet. Wide."
Tess: "But, Thompson survives and still leads 48-47 at the half."
ROUND SIX:
O'Dell: "Bennet right back to work, stepping to Tessa and backing her up. Thompson looking to have shaken the worst of the damage, but Chloe's got everything working right now, and those are words that no bantam in the FCBA wants to hear. Bennet's got the range, she's got the targeting in, and she's giving the shorter woman a THUMPING..."
Tess: "I've said before that Chloe's the best fighter in the Front Street stable. What you're seeing is why I say that."
O'Dell: "Thompson game, trying to hold ground, firing back in spots. But, Bennet just too much right now, firing flurry after flurry of hard, accurate leather that keeps Tessa on the back foot, on the defensive, in retreat. Bennet a SOLID right hand there, and that got Thompson's attention..."
Cassie: "Tessa's got to figure something out here, or this is just a matter of time..."
O'Dell: "Speaking of time, we're rolling into the last half minute of the sixth. It's been Bennet from the opening seconds and it's Bennet as we close it out. Another solid flurry from Chloe forces Tessa to cover up yet again. Thompson's managed to stay off the ropes and stay on her feet, but that's about the only good news. There's the bell. Bennet. And VERY wide."
McCarthy: "Even at 57."
ROUND SEVEN:
O'Dell: "Bennet continuing the offensive as we start the seventh. She's again setting up hard right hands with that accurate left jab. Thompson again in retreat, trying to hold ground but not having much success doing so. Tessa RUNG UP by a solid right hand, there, but she shakes it off..."
Cassie: "Going to say this again. This girl can TAKE a punch, because a lot of bantams would be down right now..."
O'Dell: "Chloe continuing the steady pressure, pouring accurate fire at the shorter brunette. Thompson a nice right hand counter and BENNET LANDS A BOOMING RIGHT HAND AND DOWN GOES TESSA! Oh, what a right hand that was from Chloe Bennet..."
McCarthy: "She's not getting up from THAT one..."
O'Dell: "Chloe to a neutral corner. Tessa down on her back, eyes closed, as the referee counts down at her. Three. Four. Five. Six. No movement at all from Thompson. Seven. Eight. This is academic. Nine. TEN! It's OVER! And your winner by KO7 is 'The Next Big Thing', Chloe Bennet!"
Tess: "Took longer than I expected, but I never had a doubt about the result."
AFTER:
O'Dell: "Let's go up to the ring and Tess Valmore!"
Tess: "I have our winner, Chloe Bennet, and, Chloe, she came to fight..."
Chloe (nodding): "Sure did. She wasn't going to try to survive in there. She came to win and get physical. She wasn't afraid to trade with me. I have a lot of respect for her and how she fought tonight."
Tess: "No point in my asking what's next for you, because we all know what your goal is..."
Chloe (smiling): "Yeah. I want that gold back. So. Whatever gets me closer, Tess. Whatever gets me closer."