Post by HBO's Boxing At The Asylum on Jul 31, 2021 20:01:30 GMT -6
BEFORE:
"Yeah, I'm probably past fighting five or six times a year," says Tricia with a, well, bewitching smile, "But, I can still box with the best of them, as Kara's about to find out."
"She's the biggest challenge of my career so far," says Del Toro. "But, like all the other challenges, I'm going to meet this one, too."
ROUND ONE:
O'Dell: "Back at ringside, and that's 'Season of the Witch' by Donovan you hear, and here comes the bewitching former lightweight champion Tricia Helfer..."
Tess: "Our former commissioner used to call her a 'sorceress', and, there's no doubt her skill set is among the very best in the history of the FCBA. But, you have to wonder about the physicals at this point."
O'Dell: "Trica into the ring and helped off with the robe to reveal a sky blue number and a body that could pass for 27..."
McCarthy: "Nothin' but a number."
O'Dell: "And, that's 'Flawless' by The Ones thumping through the arena, and here comes Kara 'The Body' Del Toro..."
Cassie: "And, as Kara points out, Tricia quite the challenge for her. An extremely skilled veteran against a girl in her eleventh FCBA fight..."
O'Dell: "Kara wasting little time as she climbs into the ring and is helped off with the robe by Jewel and Neve and the crowd pops for the body of 'The Body' in that neon green number she likes..."
McCarthy: "Overrated!"
O'Dell: "Ladies about ready. Time for some picks. Tess likes Kara. Mac?"
McCarthy: "Nothin' but a number! Helfer!"
O'Dell: "Cassie?"
Cassie: "I agree with Tess!"
O'Dell: "And, we're underway. Helfer making with the jab early, and no surprise there. Former champion likes to box, and there may not be a lightweight anywhere better at it. Kara on the defensive early. She's spending most of her time fending off Tricia's offense and not getting much done..."
Cassie: "This is some of what Tess talked about in her picks..."
O'Dell: "Helfer very, very slick. Using that left to set up right hands. She's got Del Toro figuratively on the back foot right now. Kara's not backing up, but she can't figure out where the fire is coming from or how to get where she needs to to get some offense going..."
Tess: "Classic Helfer sorcery..."
O'Dell: "Just fifteen seconds to go in the first, and it probably can't end quickly enough for Del Toro. She's just getting SCHOOLED in there right now. She's landed a one-off shot here and there, but that's all she's been able to do. There's the bell, and it's not close. Helfer."
McCarthy: "And Tricia takes the 10-9 lead."
ROUND TWO:
O'Dell: "Tricia working that magic early. Del Toro determined to get physical though. She's got the hands high, working forward, trying to close and bang. Tricia using the legs and geometry to make that difficult, but Kara getting inside to do some mugging now, thumping body, forcing the older woman to tie up."
McCarthy: "Unskilled. Are you sure Weirdo doesn't have Campbell training the lights now?"
O'Dell: "Helfer giving ground, working that left, trying to enforce range, but Kara not having it. She's walking forward, crowding, banging. Tricia tying up. Del Toro shoves off and lands a SOLID right hand that backed Helfer up a step. Tricia jabbing, looking to get the range she wants..."
Cassie: "This is good stuff from Kara. She's picking that jab off with those high gloves..."
O'Dell: "And, when she does, she's quickly in and going body. These aren't the terms Tricia wants, but Kara's the one doing the enforcing right now. Del Toro has tons of power, and she's trying to bring that to bear. Ten seconds. Good right from the younger woman and there's the bell. Not close again. Kara."
Tess: "And, we're even at 19."
ROUND THREE:
O'Dell: "Helfer using a drop step now, giving herself an extra instant to get that jab on target. Kara still coming forward with the hands high, looking to pick off the left. When the American does it, she gets in Tricia's grill and works body, gets physical, but, when the Canadian gets the jab on..."
Tess: "Makes all the difference. When they're at range, Tricia's getting much the better of it."
O'Dell: "Certainly is. Canadian piling up points on those terms, but the American offsetting a lot of that when she can crowd and make with the physical. She's doing a lot of body work, but not neglecting the upstairs. Helfer doing her best to keep those instances short..."
McCarthy: "And having some success doing that."
O'Dell: "Indeed, she is, and that's been the big difference in the third. Kara getting SOME of what she wants, but not nearly as MUCH of it as she wants. As a result, as the final seconds tick down, it's been a two-way round for the first time. There's the bell. Close. Tricia."
Cassie: "And, Helfer's back in the lead 29-28."
ROUND FOUR:
O'Dell: "Helfer casting spells as we begin the fourth. Tricia just SO slick. She's using that length and all that experience to make things very, very difficult on Kara. Del Toro resolute. Working hard. Moving the feet, getting inside to work body when she can, but Helfer quickly out of Dodge and back to range..."
Cassie: "Kara's got to keep at it. She's not outboxing Tricia Helfer..."
O'Dell: "I can count on one hand the lightweights who might be able to do that...and have fingers left over. Tricia with a good combination. Kara bobbing forward, gets to the body and ROCKS HELFER WITH A RIGHT HOOK! Tricia's knees wobble and now Kara's all in!"
Tess: "Del Toro looking for the finisher..."
O'Dell: "Definitely is. She backs Helfer to the ropes and begins calling in the heavy artillery. Tricia in a high guard, rolling with, blocking, but plenty of leather getting through. Ref looking in closely. Ten seconds. Canadian going to ride this out. There's the bell. Del Toro. Wide. But Helfer still standing."
McCarthy: "And we're even at 38."
ROUND FIVE:
O'Dell: "Del Toro pressing forward as we start the fifth. She's determined to get Helfer out of there. Tricia giving ground, jabbing. Legs clearly not back, but she's managing the threat pretty well at the moment. Kara inside to work some body and Tricia ties up immediately, getting a break..."
McCarthy: "Smart stuff from a veteran fighter..."
O'Dell: "No doubt. Del Toro right back after the Canadian, backing her up with a sharp flurry to the head. Tricia moving a little better, managing to stay off the ropes. Kara a SOLID right hand, and that got Tricia's attention and DOWN GOES HELFER after a BLISTERING combination!"
Cassie: "That might do it..."
O'Dell: "Tricia down on her back, staring up at the referee. Kara to a neutral corner. Referee's count at three. Four. Five. Tricia sitting up at six. Seven. Helfer trying to rise at eight and STUMBLES BACK TO HER KNEES. Nine. TEN! It's OVER! And your winner by KO5 is Kara 'The Body' Del Toro!"
Tess: "Big win for Kara. Big win."
AFTER:
O'Dell: "Let's go up to the ring and Tess Valmore!"
Tess: "I have our winner, Kara Del Toro, and, Kara, tough assignment tonight..."
Kara (nodding): "No question. I know why they call her The Sorceress. She's really, really good. I knew I'd get some chances to get her, though. And, when I did, I took advantage."
Tess: "It's been a heck of a year for you..."
Kara (smiling): "And, the best part is, we still have five months to go!"
"Yeah, I'm probably past fighting five or six times a year," says Tricia with a, well, bewitching smile, "But, I can still box with the best of them, as Kara's about to find out."
"She's the biggest challenge of my career so far," says Del Toro. "But, like all the other challenges, I'm going to meet this one, too."
ROUND ONE:
O'Dell: "Back at ringside, and that's 'Season of the Witch' by Donovan you hear, and here comes the bewitching former lightweight champion Tricia Helfer..."
Tess: "Our former commissioner used to call her a 'sorceress', and, there's no doubt her skill set is among the very best in the history of the FCBA. But, you have to wonder about the physicals at this point."
O'Dell: "Trica into the ring and helped off with the robe to reveal a sky blue number and a body that could pass for 27..."
McCarthy: "Nothin' but a number."
O'Dell: "And, that's 'Flawless' by The Ones thumping through the arena, and here comes Kara 'The Body' Del Toro..."
Cassie: "And, as Kara points out, Tricia quite the challenge for her. An extremely skilled veteran against a girl in her eleventh FCBA fight..."
O'Dell: "Kara wasting little time as she climbs into the ring and is helped off with the robe by Jewel and Neve and the crowd pops for the body of 'The Body' in that neon green number she likes..."
McCarthy: "Overrated!"
O'Dell: "Ladies about ready. Time for some picks. Tess likes Kara. Mac?"
McCarthy: "Nothin' but a number! Helfer!"
O'Dell: "Cassie?"
Cassie: "I agree with Tess!"
O'Dell: "And, we're underway. Helfer making with the jab early, and no surprise there. Former champion likes to box, and there may not be a lightweight anywhere better at it. Kara on the defensive early. She's spending most of her time fending off Tricia's offense and not getting much done..."
Cassie: "This is some of what Tess talked about in her picks..."
O'Dell: "Helfer very, very slick. Using that left to set up right hands. She's got Del Toro figuratively on the back foot right now. Kara's not backing up, but she can't figure out where the fire is coming from or how to get where she needs to to get some offense going..."
Tess: "Classic Helfer sorcery..."
O'Dell: "Just fifteen seconds to go in the first, and it probably can't end quickly enough for Del Toro. She's just getting SCHOOLED in there right now. She's landed a one-off shot here and there, but that's all she's been able to do. There's the bell, and it's not close. Helfer."
McCarthy: "And Tricia takes the 10-9 lead."
ROUND TWO:
O'Dell: "Tricia working that magic early. Del Toro determined to get physical though. She's got the hands high, working forward, trying to close and bang. Tricia using the legs and geometry to make that difficult, but Kara getting inside to do some mugging now, thumping body, forcing the older woman to tie up."
McCarthy: "Unskilled. Are you sure Weirdo doesn't have Campbell training the lights now?"
O'Dell: "Helfer giving ground, working that left, trying to enforce range, but Kara not having it. She's walking forward, crowding, banging. Tricia tying up. Del Toro shoves off and lands a SOLID right hand that backed Helfer up a step. Tricia jabbing, looking to get the range she wants..."
Cassie: "This is good stuff from Kara. She's picking that jab off with those high gloves..."
O'Dell: "And, when she does, she's quickly in and going body. These aren't the terms Tricia wants, but Kara's the one doing the enforcing right now. Del Toro has tons of power, and she's trying to bring that to bear. Ten seconds. Good right from the younger woman and there's the bell. Not close again. Kara."
Tess: "And, we're even at 19."
ROUND THREE:
O'Dell: "Helfer using a drop step now, giving herself an extra instant to get that jab on target. Kara still coming forward with the hands high, looking to pick off the left. When the American does it, she gets in Tricia's grill and works body, gets physical, but, when the Canadian gets the jab on..."
Tess: "Makes all the difference. When they're at range, Tricia's getting much the better of it."
O'Dell: "Certainly is. Canadian piling up points on those terms, but the American offsetting a lot of that when she can crowd and make with the physical. She's doing a lot of body work, but not neglecting the upstairs. Helfer doing her best to keep those instances short..."
McCarthy: "And having some success doing that."
O'Dell: "Indeed, she is, and that's been the big difference in the third. Kara getting SOME of what she wants, but not nearly as MUCH of it as she wants. As a result, as the final seconds tick down, it's been a two-way round for the first time. There's the bell. Close. Tricia."
Cassie: "And, Helfer's back in the lead 29-28."
ROUND FOUR:
O'Dell: "Helfer casting spells as we begin the fourth. Tricia just SO slick. She's using that length and all that experience to make things very, very difficult on Kara. Del Toro resolute. Working hard. Moving the feet, getting inside to work body when she can, but Helfer quickly out of Dodge and back to range..."
Cassie: "Kara's got to keep at it. She's not outboxing Tricia Helfer..."
O'Dell: "I can count on one hand the lightweights who might be able to do that...and have fingers left over. Tricia with a good combination. Kara bobbing forward, gets to the body and ROCKS HELFER WITH A RIGHT HOOK! Tricia's knees wobble and now Kara's all in!"
Tess: "Del Toro looking for the finisher..."
O'Dell: "Definitely is. She backs Helfer to the ropes and begins calling in the heavy artillery. Tricia in a high guard, rolling with, blocking, but plenty of leather getting through. Ref looking in closely. Ten seconds. Canadian going to ride this out. There's the bell. Del Toro. Wide. But Helfer still standing."
McCarthy: "And we're even at 38."
ROUND FIVE:
O'Dell: "Del Toro pressing forward as we start the fifth. She's determined to get Helfer out of there. Tricia giving ground, jabbing. Legs clearly not back, but she's managing the threat pretty well at the moment. Kara inside to work some body and Tricia ties up immediately, getting a break..."
McCarthy: "Smart stuff from a veteran fighter..."
O'Dell: "No doubt. Del Toro right back after the Canadian, backing her up with a sharp flurry to the head. Tricia moving a little better, managing to stay off the ropes. Kara a SOLID right hand, and that got Tricia's attention and DOWN GOES HELFER after a BLISTERING combination!"
Cassie: "That might do it..."
O'Dell: "Tricia down on her back, staring up at the referee. Kara to a neutral corner. Referee's count at three. Four. Five. Tricia sitting up at six. Seven. Helfer trying to rise at eight and STUMBLES BACK TO HER KNEES. Nine. TEN! It's OVER! And your winner by KO5 is Kara 'The Body' Del Toro!"
Tess: "Big win for Kara. Big win."
AFTER:
O'Dell: "Let's go up to the ring and Tess Valmore!"
Tess: "I have our winner, Kara Del Toro, and, Kara, tough assignment tonight..."
Kara (nodding): "No question. I know why they call her The Sorceress. She's really, really good. I knew I'd get some chances to get her, though. And, when I did, I took advantage."
Tess: "It's been a heck of a year for you..."
Kara (smiling): "And, the best part is, we still have five months to go!"