Another Night at Johns
by NRG
Another night of boxing at private gym.
Update: 27/09/1997 to nrg

  
We had been back in England for a little over a month since Paula had lost
her title fight with the Austrian woman Eva. Although the physical injuries
she had suffered healed quickly, she was still rather depressed about losing
and had yet to return to work.
"I'm sure you'll get another chance," I told her.
"Not sure that I want to," she replied. I knew I had to do something to
restore her self- confidence and the only way I could think of was to arrange
another fight. The only problems with doing this were, could I stand to see
her run the risk of being badly hurt again and would her self esteem be
further damaged if she were beaten again?
My dilemma was solved for me. Whilst I was at work one day, Paula received a
phone call from our old friend John, asking her if she was available to fight
at another of his business soirees. Telling him that she would have to talk
it over with me, she asked him to wait for an answer.
"Why didn't you give him an answer right away?" I asked her, when she told me
about the call.
"Because I wasn't sure if you wanted me to box again. You weren't very happy
after my last fight."
"Of course I wasn't happy I'd seen you get a bloody good hiding," I said
surprised that Paula had noticed how worried I had been about the beating she
suffered at the hands of Eva. I thought I had hidden my feelings quite well.
"If you want to fight again at John's go ahead. Just promise me that if you
are getting hurt you'll let me pull you out."
"I promise," she said, sounding like a child that had been promised a trip to
the zoo but only if they behaved in the meantime.
"Okay, I'll phone John and let him know that you are available."
Paula's whole mood changed, now that she had decided to fight again. She went
back to work and restarted her fitness routines and arranged for some more
boxing coaching from Peter and did some serious sparring with his wife
Joanna.
The night of the fight arrived and despite Peter and Joanna being along for
support, Paula was as jittery as a kitten.
"I don't know if I can go through with this," she said, as I parked the car
outside the gymnasium that belonged to John's company.
"It's too late to back out now," Peter told her, "you'll be all right once
you are in the ring."
"Are you sure?" she asked him seeking reassurance.
"Positive," he replied, " you are in the best shape I've ever seen you, just
remember everything I've taught you and you'll be okay."
We walked into the gym and Joanna pulled me to one side.
"You're not helping her much," she said accusingly, "you're obviously worried
that she's going to get hurt again and your fear is rubbing off on her."
"It's that obvious is it?" I replied sheepishly, "but what can I do? I've
tried to make all the right reassuring noises but it hasn't worked."
"Let Peter work in her corner instead of you. He won't let her get hurt and
she is more likely to listen to what he tells her, after all he has been
coaching her for nearly a year."
"Okay I'll do that then."
Catching up with Peter and Paula I told them what I had decided and they both
agreed that it was a good idea. Leaving Paula in Peter's capable hands, Jo
and I headed for the bar.
"Thanks Jo," I said, taking a long gulp from my pint, "I don't think I would
have been any use to Paula tonight."
"Shall we grab a couple of seats John's about to introduce the first fight,
or do you want to stay here propping up the bar?"
"Let's go and sit down," I said, collecting a second pint from the bar, "Pete
will drive home won't he?"
"Yes but that's not your cue to get pissed," frowned Joanna. We took our
seats as John began to introduce the first pair of fighters.
"Ladies and gentleman, the first contest of the evening, will be a
lightweight contest over six two-minute rounds. Between in the blue corner,
weighing in at 115lbs Pamela." The small crowd applauded appreciatively. I
had seen Pam fight before and the young black girl was every bit as pretty as
I remembered. Her hair was still cut short emphasising her elfin good looks,
her firm large nippled breasts bouncing as she skipped nervously from one
foot to the other. She was wearing white satin shorts that contrasted with
the darkness of her skin and a pair of white tasselled boots completed her
outfit. "And in the red corner," continued John, "weighing in at 112lbs, from
the USA Donna." Donna was a wavy haired brunette with a mischievous, tomboys
look about her. I placed her age at around eighteen and was surprised to
learn later that she was actually twenty-six. The same height as her black
opponent but not as well built, she stood confidently in the middle of the
ring. Her tomboy image was further enhanced by her cut down denim shorts worn
in preference to the more conventional attire of Pam. The referee was the
very capable Ann-Marie, who looked very professional, kitted out in a white
blouse with a small black bow tie, a short black skirt, black stockings and
flat heeled black patent leather shoes. I wondered briefly if her pristine
white shirt would remain unbloodied for the whole evening.  
The fight itself started briskly, the two girls clashing in the centre of the
ring. Donna's opening jab was repaid with a couple of hooks into the ribs
from Pam as she ducked inside the American girl's guard. Shortening her
punches the tough looking brunette forced Pam backwards with a series of
hooks and uppercuts.
"That's the way girl," shouted a good looking middle-aged blonde sitting next
to Joanna. "Give her one in the tits," she continued, her own threatening to
fall out of her low- cut dress as she jumped up and down in excitement.
With her back to the ropes the black girl counter attacked digging her left
deep into Donna's belly and landing a hard right to the side of her head
which knocked her sideways into the corner of the ring. Before she could
cover up Donna took another left-right to the head, which sent her sagging to
her knees. Ann-Marie  quickly pushed Pam to a neutral corner and began the
count. Donna was back on her feet at eight but not looking so confident now,
she moved away from the ropes to face Pam once more. Scenting another quick
win Pam darted forward feinting a left to the head and then smashing a right
into the brunette's breast followed by a hook to the head. Sent flying
backwards by the force of the black girl's punches and off balance donna fell
to the canvas with a resounding bump. Sitting with her back against the
ropes, Donna spat out her gumshield and shook her head when Ann-Marie began
to count. She made no attempt to rise. Ann-Marie signalled that the fight was
over and raised Pam's hand in victory. John climbed onto the ring to announce
the official result.
"Ladies and gentlemen, the winner by a knock out in one minute and twenty
seconds of the first round Pamela."
Pam took a bow, collected a small trophy from John, gave Donna a hug and left
the ring. Announcing a break before the next fight John climbed out of the
ring and came to speak to me and the beautiful Joanna. 
"Bit disappointing that. I expected Donna to give Pam a much harder fight,"
he said, taking a sip from a whiskey glass that appeared as if by magic in
his hand. "How is Paula tonight?" he asked changing the subject.
"She's very nervous as usual but she should be okay. Peter's going to act as
her second and he should be able to help her relax a bit."
"Ah, well time to circulate, I've got a group of Russians here who are
interested in buying some of our equipment," he said as he disappeared
towards the bar. As there was  time to kill I suggested that we go and check
on Paula, but Jo advised against it, on the grounds that it would only look
as though I was worried. That course of action effectively vetoed, I went to
the bar for another beer. When I returned to my seat at the ringside, I
fidgeted nervously waiting for John to climb into the ring and for the next
two fighters to enter the hall. Paula was on next, up against a girl we knew
nothing about. John climbed into the ring, the hall lights dimmed and the
ring lights blazed to their full intensity. Paula's opponent was first into
the ring her features, hidden for the moment by the hooded gown she was
wearing. Then Paula led by Peter climbed up into the squared circle wearing
her old towelling robe rather than the expensive silk one she had worn in
Hamburg. Slipping off her gown, she jigged around nervously waiting for John
to get on with his introduction. Across the ring her opponent stood banging
her gloves together, but had yet to disrobe.
"Ladies and gentlemen, the second bout of the evening, a heavyweight contest
of six two-minute rounds. Between in the blue corner weighing in at 151lbs
Paula." Paula acknowledged the applause from the crowd, many of whom had seen
her in action before. She had chosen to wear her usual red shorts and boots
in an attempt to improve her luck.
"And in the red corner weighing in at 159lbs Kate," went on John. Kate
finally removed her gown to reveal a short haired blonde of around
twenty-five, dressed very sexily in black shorts, black boots and fishnet
stockings. She was not a stunningly pretty girl and her looks were not
improved by the scowl she was giving Paula. As she turned o her corner, I
noticed a tattoo of a bulldog on her shoulder. Quite a resemblance I thought.
Ann-Marie was  the referee once more, she quickly went through the
preliminaries and then sent the two combatants to their corners to await the
opening bell.
>From the start Kate advanced aggressively, her nylon stockings making a
distinct swishing noise as her legs brushed together. Keeping low and
throwing hooks at Paula's head and breasts she made Paula back pedal straight
away. Despite landing some stiff jabs to Kate's head she couldn't avoid being
forced back to the ropes. Covering up and with her ample bottom almost
resting on the lower rope she desperately bobbed from side to side and waited
for the blonde storm to blow itself out. A couple of hard shots to the
blonde's midriff made her grab Paula in a clinch and finally allowed Paula to
move off the ropes. Back in the centre of the ring, Paula snapped Kate's head
back with a double left jab but was caught on the side of her own hide by a
hard swinging right. Darting away from her adversary, Paula took a breather
and Kate, wary of Paula's stinging jabs was slow to go after her. Seizing the
initiative, Paula came forward ducking under another swinging right and
sinking her leather- clad fist deep into Kate's left tit. Grunting in pain
she stepped backwards and managed to avoid Paula's left hook, which would
have taken her head off, had it landed. The bell ended the first session and
both girls returned quickly to their corners.
Paula looked very calm during the break, listening to Peter as he told her
what he wanted her to do in the next round. On the other side of the ring,
Kate's second was bobbing from side to side as he explained animatedly what
he expected of her in the next round. When Paula stood up for round two there
was no sign of the nervousness that had plagued her before the fight.
As before Kate began the round pressing forward and had to take a couple of
stiff jabs in the face, to land her  crushing right to Paula's left breast.
Grabbing and holding, Paula prevented Kate fro doing any more damage.
Ann-Marie pushed them apart and warned Paula about holding. The two women
clashed again, Paula ripping an uppercut into the middle of Kate's face and
taking another hurtful blow to her own breast as they fell into a mutual
clinch.
"Stop dancing and hit each other!" someone shouted from the back of the hall.
Prised apart and both warned this time for holding by the referee, they
circled looking for an opening. All the time Paula was flicking her left jab
into Kate's face which was already beginning to show signs of wear and tear.
Becoming increasingly frustrated by Paula's nagging left, Kate threw herself
forward throwing punches from all angles at Paula's head and body. Able to
block most of these punches she gave ground but continued to get through
Kate's guard with her own countering hooks and jabs. The round ended with
Paula backed up against the ropes, swapping vicious blows with the heavier
blonde.
Both fighters were glad to hear the bell. Peter had some work to do this time
as Paula had a slight swelling around her left eye. In the other corner, a
rather flushed looking Kate needed quite a lot of attention from her second.
Her face looked red and puffy and her nose was bleeding slightly, testifying
to the accuracy of Paula's left jab. Kate's body hadn't escaped punishment
and was also blotchy and reddened. Both women were breathing heavily when
they stood up ready to resume the battle.
First to attack this time Paula drew more blood from Kate's nose with a
double jab. Driving Kate backwards for the first time, she was able to
exploit the blondes' weak defence and pounded two-fisted on her adversary's
bosom. Desperate to escape Kate lunged forward throwing a wild right swing.
Paula saw the punch too late and was caught on the side of her head as she
tried to duck underneath it. I groaned as her knees buckled and she dropped
sideways to the canvas. Looking surprised at her success Kate was slow
reaching the neutral corner sand Paula was already back on one knee before
the referee had even begun to count. Wisely taking the full eight count
before standing up. Ann-Marie took a long look into Paula's eyes before
allowing her to continue. Keeping her guard up, Paula let Kate come at her
again and retreating round the ring reverted to picking off the blonde with
her jab. Kate kept after her trying to land another bomb but was unable to do
so before the round ended.
Peter was furious with Paula for letting herself be caught and really laid
into her during the break. Kate's second was too busy trying to staunch the
flow of blood from her battered nose, to moan at his fighter for not
finishing off her opponent. Paula looked more determined than ever when she
stood up for the fourth, whatever Peter had said to her was obviously having
the right effect.
Storming out of her corner Kate tried to trap Paula  on the ropes. Slipping
away to the side Paula evaded Kate's attack and left her tangled in the ropes
as she was carried forward by her own momentum. Ann-Marie, showing just what
a good referee, she was, jumped between them to stop Paula taking advantage
of her opponent's predicament. Freed from the ropes an embarrassed and angry
Kate rushed at Paula, all thoughts of defence now banished from her mind.
Wide open, she was stopped in her tracks by a left-right combination to the
head. Momentarily dazed Kate was rocked, back on her heels by another hard
right to the head. Paula's left hook missed as Kate reeled backwards towards
the ropes. In serious danger of being knockdown Kate managed to clinch and
smother Paula's attack. Straining to break free so that she could resume her
assault, Paula wrestled with Kate until Ann-Marie pulled them apart. The big
blonde girl was clearly running out of steam and clinched again when Paula
attacked. The round ended with them intertwined and struggling with each
other against the ropes.
An-Marie followed Kate to her corner, to make sure she was able to carry on
with the fight. Sitting on her stool, sucking in great gulps of air into her
lungs, Kate nodded that she wanted to go on. I wondered if her boyfriend, who
was acting as her second, was going through the same emotions as I did when I
saw Paula taking a beating but refusing to give in. Watching him working
frantically on his bruised and battered girl, perhaps he was too busy to
worry.
Much refreshed by the break it was a more cautious Kate that came out for the
fifth. Paula was obliged to chase her around the ring as she tried to stay
out of range of Paula's punches. Biding her time Paula was content to just
pick Kate off with her jab hoping to sting the blonde into another rash,
headlong attack, that would leave her open to a finishing punch. Finally
trapping Kate in a corner, Paula drove a left, then a right, deep into her
belly. Making a sound like a rapidly deflating tyre, Kate dropped to her
knees. She was back on her feet at eight and I was surprised to see Ann-Marie
allow her to fight on as she was still obviously in some distress. Hurrying
forward to finish the fight Paula was frustrated by the bell.
Both corner men were trying hard to encourage their charges to one last big
effort in the final round. If the fight lasted to the final bell, it would be
up to Ann-Marie to decide the winner.
The bell rang for the final round and Ann-Marie made the two amazons touch
gloves in the middle of the ring before stepping aside to let them resume
their battle. Determined to make a grandstand finish the two women clashed in
the middle of the ring, any thoughts of defence gone. They stood with their
heads on each other's shoulders swapping ferocious body blows. Slowly Paula
pressed the blonde back towards her own corner, now mixing uppercuts to her
battered face with punches to the blondes now completely  numb breasts and
belly. The whole crowd were on their feet as they sensed that Paula could
finish the fight now. Kate throwing less and less leather of her own was
trapped in her own corner and clinched desperately, trying o stop Paula's
merciless onslaught. Pulling herself free of Kate's clinging arms, Paula
dropped the blonde to her knees with a short right to the side of her jaw.
Shooing Paula away and glancing at her watch the referee picked up the count.
Blood from Kate's nose was dribbling down her chin before splashing onto her
heaving breasts. Drawing on what must have been her last reserve of strength,
she pulled herself to her feet using the ropes for support. Bringing up her
gloves as Ann-Marie counted to eight she signalled that she wanted to carry
on. Caught in two minds as to wether to stop the fight or not, Ann-Marie
decided to let Kate continue. Paula dashed in to finish off the fight, but
was trapped in a smothering clinch again. Ann-Marie began to pull them apart
as the bell rang to end the fight.
The two battlers fell into a mutual hug and the small crowd gave them a
standing ovation. Led to the middle of the ring Ann-Marie stood between the
two bruised and very tired women, holding each of them by a gloved hand.
Pausing slightly she made the crowd wait fro her decision and then raised
Paula's hand above her head. Paula jumped for joy and Kate looked dejectedly
down at the canvas to hide her tears of defeat from the crowd. Joanna and I
leapt into the ring to congratulate Paula. John also climbed into the ring
and read out Ann-Maries scores for the fight, Paula had won every round
except one.
"Told you I'd be okay," Paula said, gleefully clutching the small trophy that
she had been awarded. She then disappeared into the shower.
"Thanks Peter. I don't think she could have done it without you," I said.
"No problem mate, anytime she needs a second, give me a call."
"Oh we will, don't worry," I replied, before shouting to Paula. "Hurry up and
get changed there isn't much time before the last fight and I know you don't
want to miss it."
Paula was dried and dressed quickly, donning a pair of dark glasses to hide
her black eyes, we rejoined Joanna and Peter who had already returned to the
ringside. We only had a short wait before John climbed up to announce the
main event.
"Ladies and gentleman, the main event of the evening, eight rounds of boxing
for the J.C. Sports championship. Introducing the challenger, fighting out of
the blue corner, weighing in at 160lbs, wearing the white shorts with black
trim Melissa." John had been watching American fights on TV and loved the way
the fights were introduced. "And now fighting out of the red corner, weighing
in at an even 152lbs, wearing the stars and stripes shorts, from Miami
Florida, the reigning unbeaten champion Jan!"
The referee called them to the middle of the ring to receive their final
briefing. Melissa immaculately turned out, looked supremely confident as she
stared at the champion. The eighteen-year-old red head had easily won her
last two fights and saw no reason why thirty- year-old Jan should give her
any problems. Jan's brown eyes returned the youngster's gaze unblinkingly,
her wavy blonde hair catching the light as she moved. Touching gloves, they
walked back to their corners to wait for the bell.
The tanned American scored first, her left jab sent stinging into the middle
of Melissa's face. Trying to come in low under Jan's jab, Melissa was caught
with a solid uppercut which landed high on her forehead. Undeterred she
pressed on, taking another uppercut, before scoring with her own right to the
American's breast. Dodging out of range, Jan avoided Mel's next attack and
countered with a sharp left-right to the head. Just over half way through the
first round and the young redfeds face was already beginning to look marked
up by Jan's punches. Melissa, coming in low, once more walked into a flurry
of left and rights from the champion, who danced away from her clumsy attack.
The champion slipping another hook from Mel brought the crowd to its feet
with a two-fisted assault to the teenagers forty-two inch chest before the
bell ended the round.
Jan went quickly back to her corner, looking immensely satisfied with the way
the first round had gone. Across the ring however Cathy had her work cut out
to refresh her teenage daughter. Referee, Ann-Marie, was also in Melissa's
corner making sure she was okay to continue. Despite an already closing right
eye Melissa indicated that she was more than willing to carry on.
Round two, Jan came forward from the bel this time. Straight away trapping
Mel in the corner and launching another fierce two-fisted assault. Crossing
her arms in front of her Mel pushed Jan off to make room to throw some
leather of her own but the champion just slipped away to the middle of the
ring. Bleeding now from a cut on her right eyebrow, Mel came gamely forward.
Dropping her hands to her sides and offering Melissa her chin, Jan goaded the
youngster into another headlong charge, before snapping two quick lefts into
her face and dancing out of range. Ann-Marie, hovering close to Mel, looked
ready to stop the one-sided slaughter. Cockily dropping her hands again, Jan
taunted Mel, who whipped her right into the side of the champion's unguarded
head. Jan seemed to stiffen and a glancing left sent her crashing face first
to the canvas. Stunned Mel had to be pushed to the neutral corner. The
champion rolled onto her back and stared, glassy eyed up at Ann-Marie as she
began to count. At three she had managed to get up on one knee and at seven
had regained her feet. Despite nodding to the referee that she was okay, her
legs were still like jelly and she stumbled against the ropes. Deciding to
let the champion continue, Ann-Marie reached eight and then waved Melissa
forward. The American, gloves held high, leaned back against the ropes. Mel
stormed in and hammered home a series of hooks to her belly. Sagging at her
knees, Jan's hands dropped and Mel hit her with two more hooks to her
unprotected head which sent her tumbling to the floor as the referee moved in
to stop the fight.
Melissa was elated, mum, Cathy was in the ring trying to hoist her much
heavier offspring into the air and dad John couldn't wait to announce the
official result. Jan had been helped back to her corner still looking shocked
and dazed, her husband Cliff took the championship belt from the corner and
then, placed it round Melissa's waist. John began his last announcement.
"Ladies and gentlemen, the winner by knockout in one minute forty-five
seconds of round two. The winner and new champion MELISSA!"