Post by HBO's Boxing At The Asylum on Feb 29, 2020 21:45:20 GMT -6
BEFORE:
"It's been a few," says Rachel with a smile, "But, it's like riding a bike. And, I can't wait to get back on and start pedaling."
"No question about her ability," says Gemma with a nod. "Three time champion? Some of the scalps she claimed? She's very, very good. And, tonight, I'll bring my 'A' game and prove I'm just a bit better."
ROUND ONE:
O'Dell: "Back at ringside and that's 'I See Trouble' by Rich Hope you hear behind us, that tune on the soundtrack of 'Continuum', and here comes the star of that series, former Unified Lightweight Champion and Queen of The Ice Hotel, Rachel Nichols!"
Cassie: "Gemma talked about some of the girls Nichols beat. Lima, Peregrym, Palicki, Lively, Helfer, Larter, Strahovski, Biel..."
Tess: "McCarthy..."
McCarthy: "Shut UP, Walmart!"
O'Dell: "Drink up, boys, and drink in Ms. Nichols as she climbs into the ring and is helped off with the robe by the Foxfire corner crew to reveal a marigold bikini that has the crowd all atwitter. And, that's 'London Calling' by The Clash pounding through the arena, and that can only mean that 'The Gravesend Gladiator', Gemma Arterton, is on her way to the ring..."
Tess: "Gems started the year out with a win last month. Looking to make it two in a row in her quest to reclaim the lightweight belts."
O'Dell: "Arterton into the ring. Helped off with the robe by Jewel and Neve to reveal that violet number we've seen before. And, the ladies about ready to go. Time for some picks. Tess likes Gemma. Mac?"
McCarthy: "Nichols got LUCKY against me, but she's STILL better than THIS Dancing Hooker. Rachel!"
O'Dell: "Cassie?"
Cassie: "I agree with Tess!"
O'Dell: "Another split panel. Ladies setting up at gunnery range early. No surprise there, as both are rangy and both can box, but Rachel now stepping to and letting the hands go! Foxfire blonde BLITZING the brunette in the opening minute of this one! Arterton in full retreat!"
Cassie: "Got to admit, I'm surprised at this strategy..."
O'Dell: "And, so is Gemma, as Nichols comes forward banging away. Arterton with the guard high, giving ground. She's not hurt, but she's on the back foot and not able to do much more than counter here and there as Rachel grabs full control of this thing, now pinning the brunette to the cables..."
McCarthy: "Finish her NOW!"
O'Dell: "Rachel going all in at the moment. Again, Gemma doesn't look hurt, but Nichols wants to get this thing over with right now, and she's unloading on the British beauty. Ten seconds to go in the first round. GOOD right by Rachel and there's the bell. Wow! Nichols grabs the first wide and lets Arterton know she's in a fight."
Tess: "10-9, Rachel after one."
ROUND TWO:
O'Dell: "Rachel continuing to pressure, but Gems holding ground now and banging right back. Brit not going to be forced onto the back foot again and we've got a FIREFIGHT in the middle of the ring! They are trading some BOMBS right now, and nobody's taking a step back..."
Tess: "The Bar Room Brawl is up next..."
McCarthy: "A Bar Room Brawl WITHOUT J-Mac, the INVENTOR of the Bar Room Brawl..."
Cassie: "You DO know you can't be in EVERY fight..."
McCarthy: "Why NOT! I'm the Greatest Fighting Playmate of All-Time! I'm ranked in the Top Twenty at age 47! I can do ANYTHING!"
O'Dell (sighing): "Ladies at range now and the brawling becoming boxing. Arterton has stabilized her front and that's led Nichols to let up on the gas. Result is some spirited boxing, as both fighters are now putting punches together and getting combinations on target."
Cassie: "Still plenty of action."
O'Dell: "Definitely is, and that's been the theme of this one in the early going. Nichols a NICE combination there and the brunette bangs back with one of her own. Just five seconds to go. Good right from Gemma at the bell. Close, but the points go to Arterton in this stanza."
McCarthy: "And, we are even at 19."
ROUND THREE:
O'Dell: "Back to range and some boxing with high work rates, especially for this division. Both ladies comfortable on offense at the moment, getting combinations built. Good defense being shown as well, though, as punches are slipped and blocked. But, there's plenty of leather getting through..."
McCarthy: "Nichols not showing much rust..."
O'Dell: "Good point. That hot start seemed to get her right back in the swing of things, and she's on even terms with one of the top lightweights on the planet. Nice combination there by Rachel and GEMMA POLEAXES HER WITH A STRAIGHT RIGHT HAND! Down goes Rachel!"
Cassie (singing): "Turn out the liiiggghhhhtttsss. The party's ohhhhhverrrrrr...."
O'Dell: "What a shot that was! Rachel down on her right side and unmoving as Gemma gets to a neutral corner. Referee's count at three. Four. Five. Still no movement from the blonde. Six. Seven. Eight. Not going to happen for Rachel. Nine. TEN! It's OVER! And your winner by KO3 is 'The Gravesend Gladiator', Gemma Arterton!"
Tess: "Nothing lucky about THAT punch."
AFTER:
O'Dell: "Let's go up to the ring and Tess Valmore!"
Tess: "I have our winner, Gemma Arterton, and, Gems, that early aggression looked to surprise you..."
Gemma (nodding): "Yeah. She hasn't been in the ring in a while. I figured she'd ease into it. Well. She didn't and she showed she can still fight. I needed to just settle things down. Once I did that, it was all good."
Tess: "What's next for you?"
Gemma: "Well, obviously, I want another shot at the belts. So. What gets me closer? Whatever that is. That's what's next."
"It's been a few," says Rachel with a smile, "But, it's like riding a bike. And, I can't wait to get back on and start pedaling."
"No question about her ability," says Gemma with a nod. "Three time champion? Some of the scalps she claimed? She's very, very good. And, tonight, I'll bring my 'A' game and prove I'm just a bit better."
ROUND ONE:
O'Dell: "Back at ringside and that's 'I See Trouble' by Rich Hope you hear behind us, that tune on the soundtrack of 'Continuum', and here comes the star of that series, former Unified Lightweight Champion and Queen of The Ice Hotel, Rachel Nichols!"
Cassie: "Gemma talked about some of the girls Nichols beat. Lima, Peregrym, Palicki, Lively, Helfer, Larter, Strahovski, Biel..."
Tess: "McCarthy..."
McCarthy: "Shut UP, Walmart!"
O'Dell: "Drink up, boys, and drink in Ms. Nichols as she climbs into the ring and is helped off with the robe by the Foxfire corner crew to reveal a marigold bikini that has the crowd all atwitter. And, that's 'London Calling' by The Clash pounding through the arena, and that can only mean that 'The Gravesend Gladiator', Gemma Arterton, is on her way to the ring..."
Tess: "Gems started the year out with a win last month. Looking to make it two in a row in her quest to reclaim the lightweight belts."
O'Dell: "Arterton into the ring. Helped off with the robe by Jewel and Neve to reveal that violet number we've seen before. And, the ladies about ready to go. Time for some picks. Tess likes Gemma. Mac?"
McCarthy: "Nichols got LUCKY against me, but she's STILL better than THIS Dancing Hooker. Rachel!"
O'Dell: "Cassie?"
Cassie: "I agree with Tess!"
O'Dell: "Another split panel. Ladies setting up at gunnery range early. No surprise there, as both are rangy and both can box, but Rachel now stepping to and letting the hands go! Foxfire blonde BLITZING the brunette in the opening minute of this one! Arterton in full retreat!"
Cassie: "Got to admit, I'm surprised at this strategy..."
O'Dell: "And, so is Gemma, as Nichols comes forward banging away. Arterton with the guard high, giving ground. She's not hurt, but she's on the back foot and not able to do much more than counter here and there as Rachel grabs full control of this thing, now pinning the brunette to the cables..."
McCarthy: "Finish her NOW!"
O'Dell: "Rachel going all in at the moment. Again, Gemma doesn't look hurt, but Nichols wants to get this thing over with right now, and she's unloading on the British beauty. Ten seconds to go in the first round. GOOD right by Rachel and there's the bell. Wow! Nichols grabs the first wide and lets Arterton know she's in a fight."
Tess: "10-9, Rachel after one."
ROUND TWO:
O'Dell: "Rachel continuing to pressure, but Gems holding ground now and banging right back. Brit not going to be forced onto the back foot again and we've got a FIREFIGHT in the middle of the ring! They are trading some BOMBS right now, and nobody's taking a step back..."
Tess: "The Bar Room Brawl is up next..."
McCarthy: "A Bar Room Brawl WITHOUT J-Mac, the INVENTOR of the Bar Room Brawl..."
Cassie: "You DO know you can't be in EVERY fight..."
McCarthy: "Why NOT! I'm the Greatest Fighting Playmate of All-Time! I'm ranked in the Top Twenty at age 47! I can do ANYTHING!"
O'Dell (sighing): "Ladies at range now and the brawling becoming boxing. Arterton has stabilized her front and that's led Nichols to let up on the gas. Result is some spirited boxing, as both fighters are now putting punches together and getting combinations on target."
Cassie: "Still plenty of action."
O'Dell: "Definitely is, and that's been the theme of this one in the early going. Nichols a NICE combination there and the brunette bangs back with one of her own. Just five seconds to go. Good right from Gemma at the bell. Close, but the points go to Arterton in this stanza."
McCarthy: "And, we are even at 19."
ROUND THREE:
O'Dell: "Back to range and some boxing with high work rates, especially for this division. Both ladies comfortable on offense at the moment, getting combinations built. Good defense being shown as well, though, as punches are slipped and blocked. But, there's plenty of leather getting through..."
McCarthy: "Nichols not showing much rust..."
O'Dell: "Good point. That hot start seemed to get her right back in the swing of things, and she's on even terms with one of the top lightweights on the planet. Nice combination there by Rachel and GEMMA POLEAXES HER WITH A STRAIGHT RIGHT HAND! Down goes Rachel!"
Cassie (singing): "Turn out the liiiggghhhhtttsss. The party's ohhhhhverrrrrr...."
O'Dell: "What a shot that was! Rachel down on her right side and unmoving as Gemma gets to a neutral corner. Referee's count at three. Four. Five. Still no movement from the blonde. Six. Seven. Eight. Not going to happen for Rachel. Nine. TEN! It's OVER! And your winner by KO3 is 'The Gravesend Gladiator', Gemma Arterton!"
Tess: "Nothing lucky about THAT punch."
AFTER:
O'Dell: "Let's go up to the ring and Tess Valmore!"
Tess: "I have our winner, Gemma Arterton, and, Gems, that early aggression looked to surprise you..."
Gemma (nodding): "Yeah. She hasn't been in the ring in a while. I figured she'd ease into it. Well. She didn't and she showed she can still fight. I needed to just settle things down. Once I did that, it was all good."
Tess: "What's next for you?"
Gemma: "Well, obviously, I want another shot at the belts. So. What gets me closer? Whatever that is. That's what's next."