|
TOO BIG, TOO STRONG, TOO YOUNG, TOO MUCH
|
 |
|
TOO BIG, TOO STRONG, TOO YOUNG, TOO MUCH
|
|
The conclusion was quick and brutal. Four rounds of pure hell for Martin as Laila Ali jumped on Christy Martin and never let up until her corner decided they had seen enough and ended the one-sided destruction taking place. From the very first punch thrown in the fight it was quite obvious that the Coal Miner's Daughter was in way over her head. Laila set the tone of the fight right away as she jumped on Christy and was willing to take some to give some; the only difference being that Laila was unaffected by anything Martin threw; even the punches that landed didn't seem to phase her in the least little bit. Ali walked right through Martin's punches and continued to press on, keeping Martin on her heels, and beating her from pillar to post.
Martin deserves some credit for showing tremendous heart and that is her only consolation because she had no chance at all of winning this fight. Laila even fought in a style that she wasn't accustomed too. Generally Laila is a stand up boxer who doesn't mind going in the trenches if needed to get the job done, but with the size disparity and height, reach and punching power, along with the bad blood that came from the build up of the fight, it lead to Laila wanting to get Christy out of there as quick as she could, making it as painful as she could. Laila threw caution to the wind and aggressively stayed on top of Christy every single round, bouncing vicious right-hands and left-hooks off her head. It was like a woman against a little girl in there. Then again I guess it was just a case of the Old meeting the New and the Bigger meeting the Smaller.
The torch certainly has been passed on and will likely stay in Laila's grasp for quite sometime. She's a lot more than just a famous name, a lot more than just a pretty face, a lot more than just a Champion Boxer; she's a vital component to the success of Women's Boxing. Laila Ali can take Women's Boxing places no other female boxer ever could. Already she's done some acting and various commercials. She's a part of mainstream America and accepted by Wall Street. Her profile will help to take Women's Boxing to even greater heights. On Saturday, August 23rd things went just as I thought they would. No Dream Team needed in this one. Too Big, Too Strong, Too Young, Too Much.
August 23rd was the biggest fight in the history of Women's Boxing. It was for more than just a World Title it was for the passing of the torch, it was for Bragging Rights, It was for a chance to show the entire world that women's boxing too can be entertaining on the highest level. Most of all it was about who would reign supreme as the best female in boxing, period.
8-25-2003
VISIT JEFF MAYWEATHER'S "KEEPING IT REAL" CORNER
