31 August 2008

WEBA Roundup with Devon Ling and Val Henning
"I'm a fighter", says Heather Corrigan
"It was a wonderful result for us", says Balio Frez
"I will get a rematch", says Stephanie Page

WEBA Roundup with Devon Ling and Val Henning

Val and Devon are back in Devon's office in San Jose, talking about the WEBA's return to action.

Val:  This is my favorite time of the WEBA year, Devon! Everyone's been in the gym training hard and they're all coming back to the ring eager to try improved strategies and game plans.

Devon (grinning):  I hate to see summer slipping away, but we get to see who's hit a sweet spot with their summer training, who's hot and who's not.  

Val: I though the challengers looked hotter than the champions on this first card back, as five titles changed hands on the first card!

Devon: True enough, but some of the belts were back in very familiar hands, Val! Perhaps the least surprising was Texan Carla "Baby Doll" Ramirez winning the world lightweight belt back from Keiko "Kamikaze" Suzuki of Japan, who'd taken it away from her by a TKO stoppage just before the summer break. That had been a shocker because Carla had been on one of the longest winning streaks ever in WEBA before losing to Keiko, They are both fighters at the peak of their WEBA careers so it's always a hard hitting battle when they face each other. That  previous fight had been ended by the referee because Carla took too much damage around her eyes that made it hard to defend herself. This time they traded hard shots for a couple of rounds that left Keiko bleeding from her mouth. Keiko got Carla against the ropes early in the third but Carla fought her way off them then put the hammer down on the Japanese champion big time. Keiko took several huge shots to the head, went to the canvas twice. She was just about out on her feet, desperately trying to tie Carla up in clinches, when Ramirez backed her into the ropes and put her away with a tremendous right uppercut.  

Val: That third round was disastrous for Keiko Suzuki while Carla Ramirez looked like she was right back on her top form again, hon!  Carla's still the one to beat at lightweight despite her setback in their previous fight, where Keiko may have been a little lucky to get the stoppage when she did. These are the two best lightweights at the moment, but the WEBA lightweight belt changed hands again this week as Bolivia's Tulia "Desert Tulip" Minez pulled off a split decision over rising Brazilian star Carmen "Leoparda" Santos.

Devon: Santos got off to a tremendous start in her first season in the WEBA, running up a 12-2 record and taking the WEBA title despite being edged out for the junior title by Mindy Li.  But Carmen had some very close calls in that run for the WEBA belt and this time she came up just a little short against the very experienced Tulia Minez and her veteran trainer Balio Frez. Tulia came out boxing well and got Carmen rattled early, but the Brazilian got busy with fast combinations to even things up in the third and fourth.  Tulia made a statement with a straight right that sent Carmen to her knees against the ropes in the fifth, and looked confident for a while after that as Carmen tried to come back from the knockdown. Carmen stepped up her work rate again in the eighth and the fight got close with Carmen keeping both fists busy and Tulia a little less in control. In the ninth Carmen opened a big cut under Tulia's right eye which began to swell shut and drew the attention of the doctor between the rounds.  Carmen obviously had a chance to pressure Tulia hard at that point, but she may have been running out of gas because she couldn't keep the heat on Tulia, who was boxing well despite the damage to her eye under Balio's expert guidance.  The Brazilian team must have sensed that the fight was slipping away from them as Carmen threw everything she had at Tulia in the exciting final round and almost knocked her out, but Balio's girl hung on to claim a split decision win and regain the WEBA title. 

Val:  Tulia was in big trouble right at the end and she may have been a little lucky to make it to the final bell as Carmen came on so strong in the attept to keep her title.  I thought that fight had "rematch" written all over it, but the world welterweight title fight wasn't that close!

Devon:  Russian welterweight champion Natalya "Bomber" Borozdina hasn't seen a lot of WEBA action recently but she's been a problem opponent for the top welterweights for a long time now.  She's owned Heather Corrigan, stopping her every time they've fought, and she was on an impressive eight-fight winning streak before Lumbee Princess Cyan Locklear knocked her out in a Christmas grudge match at Wu's.  Cyan's win over the Russian at Wu's  may have given Team Strongarm the confidence to come after the new champ for the world title this time, but Natalya had trained hard for this first world title defense. The Russian looked impressive as she held off an initial charge by the Princess in the first round, then gradually took over the fight in the second and third. Cyan was shaken up as she went back to her corner after the third round, and Natalya dominated the fourth, putting the Lumbee Princess on the canvas twice with powerful shots to her jaw.  The doctor was called to Cyan's corner between rounds but the fight went on. Maybe it should  have been stopped, as Natalya decked Cyan with her first punch of the fifth round and then overwhelmed her with a steady barrage of leather for the KO.

Val:  That was a devastating performance by the Russian once she finally got going.  Now that she's KO'd both Corrigan and Locklear, who's gonna step up to take her on?  Lucille Perkins, the WEBA champ?  Rose Mora?  Diedre Dornan?  Jeanette DeCarlo? Or will it be one of the newer faces on the way up?  Looks like an interesting time for the welterweight division as the new season gets going, hon!  Team Strongarm's night at the fights was badly spoiled by Borozdina, but it had looked a lot better for the Carolinans after Jordan Strongarm's win in the featherweight title fight.

Devon: Yeah, Irena "Lefty" Hrbkova of Toronto had already had some close fights with reigning junior champ Sandra "Baby" Perez of Spain and she had knocked Sandra out in a grudge match at Wu's. So the Czech-born Hrbkova may actually have been the favorite coming into their title fight, but it was the blonde Spaniard who had the early edge as she boxed Irena effectively. Sandra bloodied Irena's nose a little with a well-timed left early in the second round. but Irena made a comeback in the fourth by digging into her bag of dirty tricks as well as using her boxing ability to work Sandra against the ropes.  By the end of the seventh Sandra was bleeding heavily from her mouth but Irena's left eye was closing and it was clear we were in for a closely fought battle that would test both boxers' endurance. I thought Sandra might be pulling out the win after she had a good round in the ninth. The ring doctor went to Irena's corner to check her over after that round, but Irena rallied in the tenth and left Sandra badly bloodied at the final bell, a late flurry that may have tipped the judges' scorecards in Irena's favor for a narrow but unanimous decision.   

Val: Both fighters took a lot of damage but they also stayed on their feet throughout a very entertaining fight. I thought the outcome was in doubt until the end and this looks like a good rivalry at welterweight, I imagine we'll see them in the ring together again!  How about the junior featherweights? 

Devon: Experience triumphed over enthusiasm this time as Cathy "Slick" Simmons completed a Canadian trifecta in the junior title bouts by knocking out Stephanie "Diamond" Page. Simmons has been in the WEBA since the 2005/2006 season and she held this belt once before, losing it to fast-rising Fiona Black. Page had joined WEBA just last season and she was defending this belt for the first time. and she had piled up wins at Wu's against the Russians, but she hadn't fought as often in the main WEBA ring.  Stephanie's also a straight-ahead type of fighter while Cathy can be as slick as her nickname, using her long reach to frustrate opponents, and she was riding a five-fight winning streak coming into this title fight. Stephanie fought aggressively and got to Cathy early, dropping the taller Canadian to her knees with body shots in the second. Cathy began to turn the tide in the fourth after absorbing some punishment against the ropes.  She fought back hard to earn a standing eight count on Stephanie, but by the end of the round Stephanie was fighting like herself again and caught Cathy with a great uppercut just before the bell. This punch dropped the Canadian for a five count, but the fifth round saw Cathy rally and do damage to Stephanie's left eye and nose, prompting a visit from the doctor. Cathy was also bleeding from her nose so I thought it was fairly even between the two fighters but Cathy worked her way inside and wore Stephanie down with body shots in the sixth.  With Stephanie in trouble, Cathy was able to turn up the heat and eventually knocked Stephanie out with a series of power shots to the head.  

Val:  This was a rugged fight and Cathy Simmons made the most of her chances to put Stephanie away in the sixth.  That was a tough loss for the Diamond girl, but she has a long career ahead of her if she keeps bringing it to the gym, and could be gunning for Cathy for a long time as they both move up the rankings!

Devon: Any highlights for you on the undercard. Val?

Val: Heather Corrigan took it on the chin again and was knocked out by Swedish lightweight Greta Bergstrom, Bergstrom ate a straight left early in the first round and went down for an eight count but she recovered well and opened cuts above and below Corrigan's right eye. They boxed on fairly even terms for several rounds, but then the fifth was a ferocious brawl that saw Greta break Heather's nose and knock her down twice, then Heather came off the canvas to deck Greta twice.  Bergstrom's right eye was a mess but she came out and hammered Heather in the seventh, putting the former world champion down on the canvas twice and opening a bad cut over her right eye. The eighth was brutal as Greta handed Heather a ferocious beating, sending her to the canvas five times before Heather was finally counted out face down on the canvas.

Devon:  This was a fight Corrigan might have won handily wen she was in her prime, Val, but she's getting murdered in there now.  Another night of hell for the Hellcat as the Iceberg used the former champion as a stepping stone to more training money in the bank!  How about the middleweights?

Val: Jenny Johnson had told us she was planning to be more aggressive this season, and she showed plenty of that in this opener with Maria Lozada, working Maria against the ropes for a short count in the second, then going toe to toe with her in the third. It was a bloody slugfest again in the fourth as both connected solidly, but Jenny got the upper hand in the later part of the fifth and sent Maria to the canvas twice, the second time for the full count.  Jenny's had a lot of problems building early leads but then getting knocked out herself, but this time she got the job done and Maria Lozada was the one on the canvas at the end. . Another impressive showing came from Albuquerque's Katelyn Kennedy, who took the fight to Mr. Wu's Xiao-wei Zhang all the way and overhwlemed her for an impressive knockout in the fourth.

Devon:  Katelyn could be one to watch tis season as she has a victory over Carmen Santos in her record, as well,  But how about the newbies, Val, what did you see there?

Val:, Two new fighters made successful WEBA debuts this time, bantamweight Penny Holt from England and featherweight Shannon O'Sullivan from Northern Ireland, Penny looked calm and confident in her debut against Keiko Suzuki's stablemate Aiko Miyakawa, who's struggling with a 2-11-2 record in the WEBA   I guess any boxer making her debut can get a little nervous but by the end of the third round of this fight Penny Holt seemed to have settled in to a confident boxing style against the shorter and lighter Aiko.  There weren't a whole lot of fireworks in this fight, and no knockdowns or injuries, but by the end of it the decision was clear and unanimous for the debuting Brit, Penny Holt. Belfast's Shannon O'Sullivan also held a significant height and weight advantage over India's Manju Devi, who sports a 3-6 record in the WEBA. Shanon also looked at ease in her debut and controlled the action nicely despite getting a slightly split lip from the Indian.  There weren't any knockdowns in this fight, either, but Shannon outboxed Manju in the early rounds then held on to take a unanimous decision on the scorecards after six.   

Devon: Solid starts by two newcomers who got the chance to show their boxing skills in their openers, but we may see them challenged a little harder in the weeks to come!  

Val: And there may be others coming into the WEBA with them soon, Devon, as new boxers test the waters and a few of the veterans drop out.

"I'm a fighter",
says Heather Corrigan

Heather Corrigan goes to her press conference in Miami angry after losing to Greta Bergstrom. The Hellcat has an ugly plaster over her broken nose and her right eye is bruised and swollen.

Reporter:  What happened in the fight, Heather?

Heather:  I nearly knocked her out in the sixth after she broke my nose but she came back and knocked me out in the eighth.  She's tough, fellas..

Reporter: After all your preparation for a rematch with Carolina Kusmagk, you get knocked out by another Swedish blonde!  Are you going to swear off fighting Swedish girls after these?

Heather:  I haven't had much experience fighting Swedish girls, but so far they are tougher than I expected.  

Reporter:  There has been a lot of talk about you retiring, Heather, and you've been knocked out three straight times. What's in the future for you?

Heather:  I'm a fighter, fellas.  This is what I do.  I've never talked about retiring, I'm always looking forward to my next fight.  I beat Rose Mora for the world title only four fights ago, so it's not like I am all washed up.  That win over Rose was a big thrill for me.

Reporter:  But the two Swedish girls and the Russian have handed your head to you and you've taken a beating in every fight recently.  How much more of this can you take?

Heather: Just watch me.  I can take it and come back, and I want to fight that tart Carolina Kusmagk again after the way she stood over me at Wu's.  I don't take crap like that from anyone! Greta Bergstrom fought a great fight, maybe her best ever. I hurt her then she hurt me and she won, that's boxing.  But Kusmagk is different. She acted like a total jerk after she knocked me down, that was a crappy cheap shot that was meant to humiliate me.  I want her ass for it now, fellas, I won't take that from anyone.    

Reporter:  There are rumors that you are coaching another girl fighter, Heather.  Is that true?

Heather:  There's a girl working out with me in my gym who may be ready to fight very soon.  She's a natural, and with my experience in the WEBA I think I could train her to be a champion.

Devon Ling:  You've had your jaw and your nose broken in your last two fights.  Does this crazy girl really want to walk in your footsteps. and does she have good medical isurance if she does?

Heather (angry):  Get that cheap Chinese tramp out of here!  

Devon Ling is hustled from the room by two burly guys in University of Miami T-shirts. A square-jawed blonde girl looks on, grinning broadly as Devon is escorted away.  Heather's father Mike stands next to the girl.

Mike: Think you're ready for this, Jane?

Jane McGowan (smiling): I can hardly wait, Mike!

"It was a wonderful result for us"
says Balio

Devon Ling is well rested. Devon Ling is fully freshened. Devon Ling has a smile on her face that only the summer break could bring. But it's back to work now. Yep, business as usual ....

Devon (ready for just about anything): Helloooooo Balioooooooo

Balio (beaming): Hello, Miss Devon. We are on the top of all our moons at present. And I'm hoping you have had a terrific break also.

Devon: Yeah, yeah, Frez. All is good. Why wouldn't it be? I've got the best job in the world, doing the rounds for WEBA, sniffing out the hidden info. Life is a ball.

Balio: That is great, Miss Devon. The world is good for us also.

Devon: I imagine it is, Frez. Tulia has quickly grabbed herself a WEBA Title after the short break we enjoyed.

Balio: It was a wonderful result for us, Miss Devon. We have worked so hard, and put so much effort and thought into our gym training. It sure paid off for Miss Tulia this time.

Devon: Yeah, Frez. Well I wonder if she can hold her title longer than you. Your fingers were quite slippery with your own belt as I remember.

Balio (laughing): Yes we remember well, Miss Devon!  But there are no guarantees once the new bell sounds. Miss Carmen was courageous in all her endeavors and put Miss Tulia down twice in the final round forcing the judges to a split decision. We have the highest respect for her, and know a new war is imminent.

Devon (studying Balio intently): Well Santos sure deserves a chance to get her title back in a quick rematch, don't she, Frez ?

Balio (resolute): Absolutely, Miss Devon. Miss Carmen will be our first defense for sure. And she will be a huge hurdle to jump again. But that is the way our Gym operates. We took the title and Miss Carmen will get her chance to win it right back.

Devon: Well you've gotta sit out a card now, Frez. With Minez's eye injury. I take it she is resting up today and not in the gym.

Balio: You are correct with both, Miss Devon. If Miss Carmen puts out a challenge for the WEBA Lightweight Title the card after. We would accept the rematch.

Devon: And your big Maria just couldn't work out Johnson this time.

Balio: No she couldn't, Miss Devon. Miss Jenny is a powerhouse for sure who has trained superbly across the summer. She was all rippling muscle this time. She left no doubt about that result.

Devon (laughing): She sure did, Frez. Sort of like when I was dominant. I used to dream they were all shivering in their boots when facing me.

Balio (roaring): Yes, Miss Devon. Like gran'mama says "the shivering owl greedily devours her furry mice whole."

Devon (beaming): Devours! Yep, Frez. That was me, that was my method. Come on now. I'm hungry for some reason. Let's eat!

Balio (still roaring): Sure, Miss Devon.

"I will get a rematch"
says Stephanie

Stephanie Page exits the hospital, sunglasses on and everything, with Lilka next to her. KOed earlier by Cathy Simmons she still feels a bit bitter over it. She is suddenly approached and surrounded by local reporters. She tries to get through them as they ask her questions.

Reporter #1: Stephanie, any serious injuries?

Reporter #2: Why were you hospitalized?

Stephanie: It's mandatory that I head to the hospital after a knockout for precaution.

Reporter #3: What happened out there?

Reporter #2: You seem to have such a lead early in the fight?

Reporter #4: What attributed to your fall?

Stephanie: She was just better, this night. She got me good.

Reporter #1:  Will there be a rematch?

Reporter #5: Is there any tension between you and Cathy?

Reporter #3: Will there be a grudge match in Pattaya?

Reporter #2: How does it feel to not have your title?

Reporter#4: Lilka, will you try to get revenge for your friend and how do feel about your match with Billy-Jo?

Lilka: Now I have nothing to do with this! I'm just here to aid a friend for now.

Stephanie (stops trying to get through): Look guys. She beat me, and she beat me fair and square. I have a lot of respect for Cathy, and I will get a rematch. That will be all for now. I'll talk to all of you at a later time/

Stephanie walks off with Lilka

 

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