(NOV 8) The semi main event at the
Emerald Queen Casino last night pitting young unbeaten Sarah Pucek
against tough traveling Tammie Johnson was fought as every woman’s
bout should be fought. The action started at the opening bell, and
neither woman backed down through the following five rounds.
The fight plan for Johnson was to attack Pucek’s body. Pucek’s plan
was to stay on the outside and jab, aiming at Johnson’s head when it
came in range. In the first round Pucek’s jab was efficient and her
footwork kept her out of range of Johnson’s power. Johnson tried to
work the body, but it was just out of reach.
In the second round Johnson closed the distance and looked to land
those shots to Pucek’s body, and she found her target. Both woman
stepped up the tempo in the round as they stood toe to toe and threw
punches. That style did not suit Pucek as well as Johnson and at the
end of the round, Pucek had felt the sting of Johnson’s body
punches.
Pucek’s corner made a few adjustments between rounds, the primary
one being to stay on the outside and use her footwork to keep
Johnson from getting close. She did, so Johnson had a tougher time
scoring inside while Pucek fired her jab targeting Johnson’s head.
The fourth round provided each fighter a chance to offer a clinic in
style. Pucek moved about the ring, stepping in to fire a left,
followed by a right to the body. Johnson waited patiently for Pucek
to get close, then countered to the inside. The difference in the
round was Pucek’s quickness.
Johnson went back to the body in earnest in the final round. She
pursued Pucek around the ring, and when she could pin her on the
ropes, she was able to land. However, Pucek again showed her
quickness and agility and slipped out of trouble.
At the end of five rounds one judge scored the bout a shut out for
Pucek at 50-45, the second judge scored the bout 49-46 in favor of
Pucek, and the third scored it 49-46 in favor of Johnson; a majority
decision win for Pucek. Pucek remains unbeaten, pushing her record
to 4-0-1, while Johnson stands at 4-3-2.
This fight establishes a couple of points. First, Sarah Pucek is a
good woman boxer, and legitimately has the right to face tough
opposition. Second, Tammie Johnson, having proven here and against
Rita Figueroa that she is tough, should be getting calls to fight.
