Jane Couch vs. Michelle
Strauss
March 9, 2000 at
York Hall, Bethnal Green, London, U.K.
fight report by James Clifford
originally published on the Women's Boxing Page
March 13, 2000
In a fast paced action packed non-title fight Jane
Couch showed her experience and power in finishing
Michelle Strauss in the third round and wrecking her
unbeaten record.
Couch was outweighed by at least eight pounds at the
previous day's weigh-in and Strauss looked to use this
to her advantage by pressing Couch and forcing Jane to
box her way round the ring in the opening round.
The bout was scheduled for six two minute rounds and
both boxers looked to stamp their authority on the
fight by launching some very heavy punches. Strauss
landed a hard overhand right to stun Couch towards the
end of the round. Couch had worked behind her jab and
had timed some good counters but with Strauss' hard
single shots both fighters shared the opener.
Round Two was all Jane Couch - having now got the
measure of Strauss and using good head movement to
avoid Strauss super powered right cross - Jane started
to unload. Strauss was battered by jabs, left hooks,
right crosses and crosses to the body.
Flagging under the pressure Strauss attempted to hold
to get a respite but was wobbled by a well timed Couch
uppercut. Now under serious pressure Strauss was raked
by Couch's accurate jabs and body shots as she
attempted to move away, but Jane's punches and the
effects of Strauss fast start had taken her legs away.
Strauss returned to her corner with a resigned look on
her face and bravely got off her stool to face the
inevitable from Couch. In between rounds Tex Woodward,
Couch's long time trainer and manager, told her to
step up the pressure and use five punch combinations
to bring about the fights conclusion.
Strauss bravely tried to fight Couch off, but by
midway through the round was looking at her corner and
the referee and after a few more punches the referee
did the right thing and stepped in to lead Strauss
back to her corner.
In retrospective and watching the video several times
I believe the fight was over as soon as Strauss hurt
Couch in the first round - this awakened the doomsday
warrior in Couch and after that Jane was moving her
head and landing all sorts of punches to get Strauss
out of there.
Michelle Strauss and her trainer Josh are a class act:
they visited the Jane Couch dressing room after the
fight to congratulate her and offer some sweets.
Michelle remarked that she found it very difficult to
cope with the amount of punches Jane throws and Jane
remarked of how hard Michelle hits.
Testimony to this is the fact that although Sharon
Anyos pushed Jane through ten rounds in October Jane
was left unmarked and feeling fresh, where as after
two and a bit rounds with Strauss Jane was reddened
and marked up - a testimony to Strauss' raw power.
For Michelle, it is back to the drawing board to add
more skills to her natural power and with her
excellent attitude to the sport she could develop in
time to be a world class operator. At this stage of
her career she needs more learning fights before
thinking of taking on the likes of Jane Couch. Her
trainer Josh is looking forward to a time when South
Africa accepts women boxing because at present
Michelle is licenced via Croatia!
Jane will be happy to oblige them.
Jane is back in training camp in April and will be
looking to fight again in the summer. |
