4 Ali Landry Fights July-August 2002

05 AUGUST 2002 TITLE CH CINDY CRAWFORD VS ALI LANDRY







“BIG WOMAN ON SHOWTIME”

MAXIM/REEBOK MIDDLEWEIGHT TITLES


Posted by Simguy on 8/5/2002, 8:42 am.


Before: Spurning HBO for rival Showtime, Landry and Crawford manage to put together that rarest of boxing phenomenons—a superfight that doesn’t involve Cat Bell or Charlize Theron AND an all-brunette affair at that—“I think it’s safe to say the winner of this fight is the best fighter in boxing,” proclaims Landry.


“Theron never proved herself against quality big women and Bell won’t move up period,” adds Crawford. “I think the best brunette in boxing IS the best fighter—it goes without saying. Say what you will about Charlize Theron—at least she tried to step up. I think Cat Bell’s the better woman technically, but she would never try to exert her influence north of 130, When I get pass Ali, people are going to have to realize: Cindy Crawford is still around, and she’s still the boss.”


Ali in pale blue push up, pale blue bikini bottoms—Crawford in red cotton Jockey top, navy cotton Jockey bottoms, ponytail.


During R1: Landry able to jam a hard right hand over Cindy’s left shoulder—Crawford stepping in fence post holes early as Ali shows her power. Crawford saws her class—she’s hurt, but goes to the jab opens up the canvas, effectively clinches whenever Landry cuts off the ring. Cindy drops the round, but escapes what could have been disaster by preventing a Landry follow up.


R2: Ali stepping Cindy back with a thudding jab between the breasts—she’s bending at the knees, spanking body with straight right hand, straightening to clout the hook up top, always using a spitting stick to keep Crawford positioned. Cindy at the rope, hands up just trying to read and react defensively. Midway through, Landry gets to Cindy with gorgeous series of rising lefts and rights to the ribplates just beneath the breasts—Crawford shaken up, falls in to clinch—she’s getting banged up. Ali Landry down the stretch, brawling Cindy at the ropes, big-woman shove and slug to the bell as Crawford covers up and takes like a mute.


R3: Crawford with more veteran, savvy tactics. She’s steering Landry with the long jab, slicing in a slinging Tyra Banks style cross to graze Ali’s jaw, then clinching for breaks. Landry can’t get it going against punch n’ clutch—Cindy effectively controlling her foe despite drawing boos for the stop and go action.


R4: Landry punching her way through the Crawford clinches this round—really bludgeoning away beneath the breastline, standing up into tough, tough body work. Crawford grimacing, makes more veteran adjustments, now getting leggy, circling away from the punishment, feinting to freeze Ali for split seconds to allow for direction changes, Through 4 Ali in control on the cards—Crawford looking like a survivor more than a competitor.


R5,6: Cindy Crawford getting it done—it ain’t pretty, but she’s clawing her way back into this bout. Not many girls control Ali with the jab, but Cindy’s doing it, getting the initiative, positioning Landry in the ring, then lighting her up with slicing right crosses on the jaw. Landry taking the shots well, but Cindy’s able to dive in and clinch, smothering the receipts—Landry increasingly frustrated with the model’s safety first tactics. As frustration grows—Crawford’s opportunities increase She gets a nice bolo-right uppercut onto Landry’s chin as well as a sweet count right hand on the teeth as Landry tries to hound her to the ropes. Landry trying to load up that crushing right hand, but can’t get it off—Cindy very aware of that starboard mitt.


R7: Cindy getting her fight—slow, methodical, stand up stuff midring—she’s able to step in with the jab, spank Ali’s face, step to the left as Landry turn. Patient, accurate stabbing from Crawford—after a minute, Landry’s bleeding from the nose, gnashing her teeth as she circles, but can’t get off, Ali falls apart late—Landry finally getting the timing down, erases minutes of good work from Cindy with a single thunderclap right—short chopping shot over the jab puts Crawford wobbly butt, sends her reeling sideways in disarray. Landry pouncing at the ropes, palms her girls shoulders and WELTS that ribcage with lusty rights and lefts. Crawford stupefied, hanging off Ali’s neck and just getting clobbered at the bell. Ali steals a Crawford round with power—Landry the welterweight looking like the stronger woman.


R8: Cindy Crawford comes back like a champ! Shaking off the punishment, she gets back on top with that harpooning stick, really bashing back Ali’s face, getting Landry onto her heels—Ali looking awkward and uncertain as she hasn’t seen this kind of jab before. Crawford working to her left, eyes focused—just stepping, spearing with leverage. Landry breaking down, hands drooping and down the stretch. Crawford bends into a gorgeous right cross on the jaw. Landry’s head flattened against her shoulder—she wobbles to the ropes with a glazed expression—Cindy on to finish. Crawford cautious, prepping Landry with the jab then leaning in with sizzling right hands, promptly bodying up on follow through to smother the counter and press her girl into the ropes. Landry all jangly and stunned a the bell—Cindy pumping right fist en route to her corner.


R9: Sharpshooting boxing to set up right hands—girls working with their jabs, then leaning in—dangerous stuff as both women open up the offense. Wide ranging action, both girls hinky of the other’s power—both have felt their legs go in this fight, interesting tension as they hunt each other down. Landry gets it late—girls touch each other hard with simultaneous jabs, Landry just misses the right hand, comes back with the left hook as Cindy’s backing straight out and Crawford gets LABELLED on the chin. Cindy clattering back to the ropes, eyes wide, upper body tllting on her hips—she’s desperately grabby, trying to tie Landry up--Ali rolling her shoulder, bashing away at the Crawford ribcage. Cindy ragdolling from one foot to the other, head swiveling dangerously as it all falls apart—she’s out on her feet as Landry is bodied back at the bell.


R10: Landry trembling with bloodlust—she bolts off her stool, charging in to pick up where she left off. Crawford backing away behind away behind s stiffer than expected—she’s slowing Ali’s momentum, breaking up the rush, then TAGGING Landry a crashing right hand to beat the welterweight to the punch! Landry staggering to her right, eyes suddenly glassy—SHE’S hurt! Crawford stalking with a cautious jab as she becomes the predator, Landry ragged as she hops along the ropes, getting wobbled s Cindy leans in with bashing right crosses, but Crawford won’t commit to a second and third follow up. Round progresses with Landry on the verge, but gutting it out—Cindy walking her down but not taking enough risk—Landry able to fall inside, get stable against Cindy’s chest and outwork the supermodel down the stretch. Girls still slugging it up after the bell—ref pulls heaving beauties apart. After lengthy delay, decision comes back a DRAW!


After: Bitter protests from both corners—Ali claiming she hurt Cindy repeatedly, more consistently than in return. Cindy claiming to have outboxed, outmaneuvered her foe, as well as finishing stronger as Landry’s legs looked ramshackle in the tenth. Spiteful give an take doesn’t solve the problem of who’s the better woman, seriously undermines pound for pound pretensions of both.


Reposted by Archer 8/05/21

Reading all these bouts again is amazing.

What happened to Landry?

How come she hasn't come to cougar boxing?

Actually her opponents aside from Cindy C, they should come back to the ring, if they want to.