Posted by Simguy on Monday, 10-May-1999 07:54:24

Before: Rachel’s debut on U.S. spoil sees her meet established veteran Elisabeth Shue. Shue has struggled of late, but enters this fight the clear favourite based on reputation and demonstrably harder punching. Weisz a non-stop, but feather-fisted puncher recorded a rare knockout over Geri Halliwell, but isn’t expected to hurt the much more solid Shue, Both girls were old-style push up bikinis with white lace trim—black for Elisabeth, red for Rachel.

During R1: Rachel displays her skills early, tucking her chin in behind her shoulder, looking up through her eyelashes at Liz, and throwing punches in whirling little circles. Liz starts to take leather and brazens in out, pushing forward, but finds the compact brunette just as good going backward as forward. Shue walks into a clipping double and triple left hooks, thrown very short, little more than shoulder turns by Rachel, who has a knack of sliding back and catching Shue coming forward. Shutout for Weisz as she out-quicks the blonde this round.

R2: Rachel starts fast again, pelting Shue with a dizzying array of lefts and rights, bending at the waist to slip Elisabeth’s receipts, and popping up to land short uppercuts that are all leg. Weisz is the most expressive fighter in a long time, pursing her lips and cooing when she lights Liz up with the uppercut, or smiling as she digs a solid left in behind Shue’s elbow, Quite a contrast as Shue remains pouty from bell to bell. Liz gets it going in the final minute with some vicious sounding left hooks to the belly, and Rachel is just as picturesque in pain—groaning and looking bitchily disappointed as Elizabeth hurts her at the bell. Weisz’ legs momentarily shot—she will not recover during the break.

R3: Hammer and tongs round as the girls stand and trade in a series of exchanges. Shue continues to bring the heavier punches, but Rachel banks the round on sheer output as she does a good job once again of fighting backwards and forwards.

R4: Shue comes out looking to end it this round, Coming in low, she lunges with a wild right hand, then comes back with everything behind a stern left hook to the jaw and Rachel rolls up on the deck. Weisz absolutely shellshocked, beating the count with her wide, anime eyes pleading. Shue moves in, pushing Rachel to the ropes and pounds at the solid belly with both hands, and Weisz can’t take it. She folds to one knee after a sustained barrage, and Shue has managed to even the fight with a 10-7 round, all Elisabeth the rest of the way as she fights off Rachel’s chest to the bell.

R5: Rachel’s legs are shot and she is firced to sit on the ropes, slugging back but taking a beating this round as Liz shuts her out. Shue doing a good job if using her strength to smother the brunette.

R6,7: Elisabeth Shue bullies Rachel around the ring, showing the Brit who’s the boss in the middle rounds. Fighting shoulder to shoulder, Weisz is forced to retreat around the ring, and her body absorbed a terrific bombardment as Liz squares up on her. Shue using her shoulder to get effect, constantly shoving Rachel off balance and nailing her short hooks.

R8: The plucky Brit digs down and finds some heart, cranking up the tempo once gain to respond to Shue’s challenge. Nailing Shue coming in with those tight left hooks, Rachel goes on the offensive with a left to the ear, left to the liver combination. Biting at Shue’s ribs throughout the round, Rachel finally buckles the blonde’s legs and hammers away on Liz as she sags on the ropes to the bell, Rachel throws her arms in the air and struts prematurely as Shue shows her contempt.

R9: Rachel continues to pour it on. Shue reduced to covering up, taking 6 and 7 little shots to the head and body before coming back with thumping blow of her own. She can’t seem to shake Rachel, who insistently bats away at her wherever Liz goes.

R10: Rachel’s digging left hooks to the flank have Shue I trouble early, and the solid blonde looks desperate as Rachel continues to overwhelm her with flurries. Shue stands and trades, but the steam has left her punches, and Rachel dominates with shoeshining combinations to the bell. Scored a draw, Elisabeth Shue is visibly disappointed with the decision.

After: Gutsy gamble by Universal pays off as Rachel stays with one of the toughest junior featherweights out there. lack of punching power is a concern, but tenacity and crowd pleasing look in the ring should sell a lot of tickets before someone exposes her.

Reposted by Archer 9/3/09