Post by HBO's Boxing At The Asylum on Feb 28, 2021 14:27:00 GMT -6
BEFORE:
"I am absolutely SCANDALIZED by the fact that I got no FCBA action at ALL last year," says a hard-eyed Poppy. "Those idiots at Girls Friday dumped me when I was the best fighter they had, and, now everyone's ducking me! Well. Give Bennet credit. SHE'S not afraid. And, I'm going to show the REST of this division why it SHOULD be!"
"I'll be honest," says Chloe with a smile. "She's right. This girl should be a regular in the FCBA. But, that's not my problem. My problem is getting back in the title picture. And, unfortunately for Poppy, she's standing in my WAY."
ROUND ONE:
O'Dell: "Back at ringside and that's 'Eye of the Storm' by X Ambassadors, that one from the soundtrack of 'The Shannara Chronicles', and here comes the star of that series, the lovely Poppy Drayton!"
Tess: "Drayton's beaten some good fighters, including Rambin and Lotz. She's no pushover."
O'Dell: "Poppy down the aisle and into the ring. She's helped off with the robe to reveal a lavender number that has the crowd popping..."
McCarthy: "I swear, if I ever go up there and disrobe, these people's heads are going to explode like that 'Scanners' guy...AHHHH! HORRIBLE! AWFUL! An assault on my OLFACTION!"
O'Dell (sighing): "That song you're hearing and Mac is plugging her ears in an effort NOT to hear..."
Cassie: "ABOVE the headset. She is jamming her fingers against the outside of the headset, not in her ears..."
McCarthy: "SHUT UP, SCABBO!"
O'Dell: "One more fight. Then a bottle of Pointy's good stuff. That song is, of course, 'Uh Oh' and the singer of same, 'The Next Big Thing', Chloe Bennet, is on her way to the ring as we speak..."
McCarthy: "Singer? More like the person repeatedly stomping a cat's tail!"
Tess: "Shall we point out again the LEGAL DOCUMENT that prevents YOU from singing?"
McCarthy: "JUST ONE SONG! I'LL SING RIGHT NOW..."
O'Dell: "Don't..."
McCarthy (singing): "Volarrrreeeee...oh oh....Atariiiii....oh oh oh oh....um....del...um...um...Amtri..."
Tess: "For the love of..."
O'Dell (sighing): "I'm going to need that bottle in the truck as soon as we're off the air. In fact, I might have you deliver it to the table. Bennet into the ring. Helped off with the robe to reveal that blue number the crowd always appreciates. And, the ladies are about ready. Time for some picks. Tess likes Chloe. Mac?"
McCarthy: "This kid HAS FCBA wins! Drayton!"
O'Dell: "Cassie?"
Cassie: "I agree with Tess!"
O'Dell: "There's the bell and the ladies set up at range to get their respective boxes on. And, Bennet quickly getting off with some nice combinations, forcing Poppy to cover up. Drayton hasn't been in an FCBA ring in a minute, and Chloe getting after her right away..."
Cassie: "Smart cookie, that Chloe Bennet..."
O'Dell: "And a very effective boxer, too, as we've seen before. She's getting off quickly, beating Drayton to punches, keeping the Brit on the defensive, forcing her to fight in counter. Poppy able to score some that way, mind, landing some sharp rejoinders, but it's Bennet who's calling the tune..."
McCarthy: "Slick defense from Poppy, though..."
O'Dell: "We're definitely seeing some of that. Drayton able to slip and block some of the leather coming her way. But, only some. No question about who's in command as the final seconds tick away in the first. There's the bell, and it's Bennet and quite wide, too, in the opening stanza."
Tess: "And, Chloe grabs the 10-9 edge..."
ROUND TWO:
O'Dell: "Second underway and both ladies still good with ranged boxing. And, some of the rust seeming to be flaking off Drayton now, that or she's getting comfortable in there, because, while Chloe's still getting off well offensively, Poppy's now getting some work done, too..."
McCarthy: "Sometimes, when you've been out of the ring for a bit, you need that first round just to get into rhythm again."
O'Dell: "And, that may well be the case with Drayton, because she's looking MUCH more competitive in this stanza. Sharp exchanges dominating now, as both fighters are getting off in combination. British brunette landing a nice right in that flurry and Chloe responds with one of her own..."
Tess: "This is purist stuff right here. Everything sound. Really slick."
O'Dell: "No question about it. Final seconds ticking away in a fast-paced second. It's been two-way the WHOLE way and that's not going to change before the bell. One last exchange with both girls landing a hard right and there's the bell. Much closer this time, and Poppy's on the board."
Cassie: "Evening things up at 19."
ROUND THREE:
O'Dell: "Pattern set now, ladies boxing at range and both having some success doing so. Drayton a good combination right there, forces Chloe to cover up and then follows on with another nice flurry. Poppy starting to get into a nice rhythm here, Mac, and this is a girl who's shown she can beat good fighters..."
McCarthy: "Exactly why I picked her. She's not the typical tomato can Weirdo brings in here..."
O'Dell: "Bennet suddenly taking the worst of things. She's not hurt, but it's Poppy who's getting off first now, suppressing a lot of what Chloe wants to do with steady, accurate fire. Bennet now forced to work in counter, and that's not what she wants to be doing right now..."
Cassie: "Drayton REALLY firing on all cylinders now."
O'Dell: "Definitely does, and she's continuing to score points with both hands as we roll into the final 20 seconds of the round. Good combination from Poppy, forces Chloe to cover up. Bennet fires back, lands a nice right hand, but it's too little, too late. There's the bell. Poppy. Wide."
Tess: "And, Drayton pulls into the lead 29-28."
ROUND FOUR:
O'Dell: "We start the fourth the way we ended the third, with the fighters boxing at range. Bennet getting more aggressive now. She's getting off first again, tossing Poppy over to the defensive. GOOD right hand by Chloe there, and that got Drayton's attention in a BIG way..."
Tess: "This may be what Bennet needed, up the aggression..."
O'Dell: "Seems that way, because she's taken over the fight, throwing the British brunette onto the defensive again and again as Chloe herself gets off in combination, scoring well with both hands and keeping Drayton's own offense under suppressive wraps at the moment..."
McCarthy: "Poppy's got to get off the back foot."
O'Dell: "Definitely does, but, at the moment, Chloe's is keeping her there. Bennet's not the one firing on all cylinders now, and you're seeing the stuff that makes Front Street management call her, perhaps, the best fighter the stable has ever had. Final seconds tick away in the fourth and there's the bell. Bennet. Wide."
Cassie: "And, we're even at 38."
ROUND FIVE:
O'Dell: "Bennet continuing to come after Drayton aggressively. Poppy playing defense, countering in spots, but Chloe's dictating terms and boxing lead. Bennet now upping the aggression by coming forward behind the jab some. Poppy giving some ground but engaging in a fighting retreat..."
Cassie: "May be trying to walk Chloe into something here. But, that's not going to work with Bennet."
O'Dell: "Not likely to, but no harm in looking for that opportunity when you're being forced to the counter and to give ground, which is where Drayton finds herself at the moment. Good combination from Bennet, forces Poppy to cover up and THERE'S A RIGHT HAND FROM CHLOE AND DOWN GOES DRAYTON!"
Tess: "Wow! Keyholed it!"
O'Dell: "Absolutely did and sent Poppy crashing to her back! Chloe to a neutral corner Referee's count at three. Four. Five. Drayton sitting up. Six. Seven. Poppy to her feet. Ref going to give her the mandatory and ON COMES CHLOE! Bennet letting the hands go in a BIG way, drives the Brit to the ropes and ROCKS her with a right hand! Ref looking in closely. Drayton wobbled AGAIN with a straight right and it's OVER! Referee leaps between the fighters and bundles Poppy to safety and it's OVER! And your winner by TKO5 is 'The Next Big Thing', Chloe Bennet!"
AFTER:
O'Dell: "Let's go up to the ring and Tess Valmore!"
Tess: "I have our winner, Chloe Bennet, and, Chloe, lots of solid boxing early..."
Chloe (nodding): "This girl has the goods. Not sure why her management gave up on her, but, I can tell you, she can fight. I expected a challenge, and she gave me one."
Tess: "You had to turn up the heat at one point..."
Chloe (nodding): "Yeah, no doubt. She got going and she's got a bunch of tools. Just not as many as I have. And, that was always going to be the difference."
"I am absolutely SCANDALIZED by the fact that I got no FCBA action at ALL last year," says a hard-eyed Poppy. "Those idiots at Girls Friday dumped me when I was the best fighter they had, and, now everyone's ducking me! Well. Give Bennet credit. SHE'S not afraid. And, I'm going to show the REST of this division why it SHOULD be!"
"I'll be honest," says Chloe with a smile. "She's right. This girl should be a regular in the FCBA. But, that's not my problem. My problem is getting back in the title picture. And, unfortunately for Poppy, she's standing in my WAY."
ROUND ONE:
O'Dell: "Back at ringside and that's 'Eye of the Storm' by X Ambassadors, that one from the soundtrack of 'The Shannara Chronicles', and here comes the star of that series, the lovely Poppy Drayton!"
Tess: "Drayton's beaten some good fighters, including Rambin and Lotz. She's no pushover."
O'Dell: "Poppy down the aisle and into the ring. She's helped off with the robe to reveal a lavender number that has the crowd popping..."
McCarthy: "I swear, if I ever go up there and disrobe, these people's heads are going to explode like that 'Scanners' guy...AHHHH! HORRIBLE! AWFUL! An assault on my OLFACTION!"
O'Dell (sighing): "That song you're hearing and Mac is plugging her ears in an effort NOT to hear..."
Cassie: "ABOVE the headset. She is jamming her fingers against the outside of the headset, not in her ears..."
McCarthy: "SHUT UP, SCABBO!"
O'Dell: "One more fight. Then a bottle of Pointy's good stuff. That song is, of course, 'Uh Oh' and the singer of same, 'The Next Big Thing', Chloe Bennet, is on her way to the ring as we speak..."
McCarthy: "Singer? More like the person repeatedly stomping a cat's tail!"
Tess: "Shall we point out again the LEGAL DOCUMENT that prevents YOU from singing?"
McCarthy: "JUST ONE SONG! I'LL SING RIGHT NOW..."
O'Dell: "Don't..."
McCarthy (singing): "Volarrrreeeee...oh oh....Atariiiii....oh oh oh oh....um....del...um...um...Amtri..."
Tess: "For the love of..."
O'Dell (sighing): "I'm going to need that bottle in the truck as soon as we're off the air. In fact, I might have you deliver it to the table. Bennet into the ring. Helped off with the robe to reveal that blue number the crowd always appreciates. And, the ladies are about ready. Time for some picks. Tess likes Chloe. Mac?"
McCarthy: "This kid HAS FCBA wins! Drayton!"
O'Dell: "Cassie?"
Cassie: "I agree with Tess!"
O'Dell: "There's the bell and the ladies set up at range to get their respective boxes on. And, Bennet quickly getting off with some nice combinations, forcing Poppy to cover up. Drayton hasn't been in an FCBA ring in a minute, and Chloe getting after her right away..."
Cassie: "Smart cookie, that Chloe Bennet..."
O'Dell: "And a very effective boxer, too, as we've seen before. She's getting off quickly, beating Drayton to punches, keeping the Brit on the defensive, forcing her to fight in counter. Poppy able to score some that way, mind, landing some sharp rejoinders, but it's Bennet who's calling the tune..."
McCarthy: "Slick defense from Poppy, though..."
O'Dell: "We're definitely seeing some of that. Drayton able to slip and block some of the leather coming her way. But, only some. No question about who's in command as the final seconds tick away in the first. There's the bell, and it's Bennet and quite wide, too, in the opening stanza."
Tess: "And, Chloe grabs the 10-9 edge..."
ROUND TWO:
O'Dell: "Second underway and both ladies still good with ranged boxing. And, some of the rust seeming to be flaking off Drayton now, that or she's getting comfortable in there, because, while Chloe's still getting off well offensively, Poppy's now getting some work done, too..."
McCarthy: "Sometimes, when you've been out of the ring for a bit, you need that first round just to get into rhythm again."
O'Dell: "And, that may well be the case with Drayton, because she's looking MUCH more competitive in this stanza. Sharp exchanges dominating now, as both fighters are getting off in combination. British brunette landing a nice right in that flurry and Chloe responds with one of her own..."
Tess: "This is purist stuff right here. Everything sound. Really slick."
O'Dell: "No question about it. Final seconds ticking away in a fast-paced second. It's been two-way the WHOLE way and that's not going to change before the bell. One last exchange with both girls landing a hard right and there's the bell. Much closer this time, and Poppy's on the board."
Cassie: "Evening things up at 19."
ROUND THREE:
O'Dell: "Pattern set now, ladies boxing at range and both having some success doing so. Drayton a good combination right there, forces Chloe to cover up and then follows on with another nice flurry. Poppy starting to get into a nice rhythm here, Mac, and this is a girl who's shown she can beat good fighters..."
McCarthy: "Exactly why I picked her. She's not the typical tomato can Weirdo brings in here..."
O'Dell: "Bennet suddenly taking the worst of things. She's not hurt, but it's Poppy who's getting off first now, suppressing a lot of what Chloe wants to do with steady, accurate fire. Bennet now forced to work in counter, and that's not what she wants to be doing right now..."
Cassie: "Drayton REALLY firing on all cylinders now."
O'Dell: "Definitely does, and she's continuing to score points with both hands as we roll into the final 20 seconds of the round. Good combination from Poppy, forces Chloe to cover up. Bennet fires back, lands a nice right hand, but it's too little, too late. There's the bell. Poppy. Wide."
Tess: "And, Drayton pulls into the lead 29-28."
ROUND FOUR:
O'Dell: "We start the fourth the way we ended the third, with the fighters boxing at range. Bennet getting more aggressive now. She's getting off first again, tossing Poppy over to the defensive. GOOD right hand by Chloe there, and that got Drayton's attention in a BIG way..."
Tess: "This may be what Bennet needed, up the aggression..."
O'Dell: "Seems that way, because she's taken over the fight, throwing the British brunette onto the defensive again and again as Chloe herself gets off in combination, scoring well with both hands and keeping Drayton's own offense under suppressive wraps at the moment..."
McCarthy: "Poppy's got to get off the back foot."
O'Dell: "Definitely does, but, at the moment, Chloe's is keeping her there. Bennet's not the one firing on all cylinders now, and you're seeing the stuff that makes Front Street management call her, perhaps, the best fighter the stable has ever had. Final seconds tick away in the fourth and there's the bell. Bennet. Wide."
Cassie: "And, we're even at 38."
ROUND FIVE:
O'Dell: "Bennet continuing to come after Drayton aggressively. Poppy playing defense, countering in spots, but Chloe's dictating terms and boxing lead. Bennet now upping the aggression by coming forward behind the jab some. Poppy giving some ground but engaging in a fighting retreat..."
Cassie: "May be trying to walk Chloe into something here. But, that's not going to work with Bennet."
O'Dell: "Not likely to, but no harm in looking for that opportunity when you're being forced to the counter and to give ground, which is where Drayton finds herself at the moment. Good combination from Bennet, forces Poppy to cover up and THERE'S A RIGHT HAND FROM CHLOE AND DOWN GOES DRAYTON!"
Tess: "Wow! Keyholed it!"
O'Dell: "Absolutely did and sent Poppy crashing to her back! Chloe to a neutral corner Referee's count at three. Four. Five. Drayton sitting up. Six. Seven. Poppy to her feet. Ref going to give her the mandatory and ON COMES CHLOE! Bennet letting the hands go in a BIG way, drives the Brit to the ropes and ROCKS her with a right hand! Ref looking in closely. Drayton wobbled AGAIN with a straight right and it's OVER! Referee leaps between the fighters and bundles Poppy to safety and it's OVER! And your winner by TKO5 is 'The Next Big Thing', Chloe Bennet!"
AFTER:
O'Dell: "Let's go up to the ring and Tess Valmore!"
Tess: "I have our winner, Chloe Bennet, and, Chloe, lots of solid boxing early..."
Chloe (nodding): "This girl has the goods. Not sure why her management gave up on her, but, I can tell you, she can fight. I expected a challenge, and she gave me one."
Tess: "You had to turn up the heat at one point..."
Chloe (nodding): "Yeah, no doubt. She got going and she's got a bunch of tools. Just not as many as I have. And, that was always going to be the difference."