Posted by Simguy on 6/13/2003, 7:07 am.

Before: Unlikely KO artist JLH brings her 3 ring circus into a fight against a real chin, real pressure in Shakira. “I’m the total package,” Hewitt bubbles to the press, “I can box, I can back you up, I can take you out. I’m SO ready for shopworn Shakira—it’s time to scrub her up and move past her on my way to the top. Make no mistake: Shakira is a stepping stone. There—I said it!” Feisty Colombian boiling beet-red at the commentary, has to be restrained, but she’s going to have to stand up and start earning the fear again as girls like Hewitt get brave. White string bikini Hewitt, Hair up, Shakira in tan leather bikini top with Western fringe, dark brown leather bottoms.

During R1: Hewitt basically controlling the action. Nothing fancy—a spicy jab, rapid rotation clockwise with occasional shifts in direction to wrong foot Shak. Jen using her legs, brushing or potshotting her punches, not really getting after Shak. Blonde coming forward, moving her head well, but not clearing her holster much this round, just finding her distance.

R2: Roe reversal—Shak cutting off the ring better, negotiating jen to the ropes, having at her with snapping hooks, right hands to the flanks and breadbasket. Hewitt left across her body, right at her chin, doing a nice job moving her upperbody, slipping punches, staying safe at the ropes, despite Shak’s persistent offence. Colombian round—both girls taking the measure of the other through 2.

R3: Hewitt back to using her legs, opening up the ring—she’s got Shak impatient, rushing to close distance. Midway through, Jen stepping back in good order, suddenly steps in a slapping hook, steps out behind a backhand jab and walks Shak into a cracking right hand on the chin—SHAKIRA GOES DOWN! Colombian to all fours briefly, hops right back up with a big grin—but Hewitt’s nodding, pumping her right mitt like it’s Thor’s Hammer. After 8, Shak still grinning, but she’s got her butt in the ropes, rooted to the spot—she waves Jen on in and Hewitt obliges. Shak gloves at eyebrows, stooped forward—Hewitt busy, strong stance, dig-digging up underneath at the ribcage, palming down on her girl’s head to the right, pick her up in the face with pesky left uppercuts, hook her tits. Busy stuff from Hewitt, good blocking D from Shak as brunette works to the bell.

R4: Shak shakes off the knockdown, has her best round, She’s getting to Jen’s chest, brawling and wrestling on the brunette, working her arms, then feasting on Hewitt’s straining ribcage,. Ample jugs and trembling belly—punches with plenty of shoulder or forearm carry-through as Shak plays ruff. Jen bullied and harassed to the corners—she’s grimacing, palming up on Shak, riding her hands around blonde’s ears to control her head as Latina keeps the pressure on to the bell.

R5: Shak keeps coming forward but Jen keeps her composure—both girls getting it done this round. Jen retreating, scoring with her jab, occasionally turning into a hesitation right hand, bouncing the mitt off Shak’s face, Shak bobbing and weaving till she gets brunette butt in ropes, then opening up—wide clubbing blows shake Hewitt in the flanks and arms as blonde’s heavy hands take a toll. Hewitt covering up well under pressure, gets out of trouble with a clever counter uppercut, blocking and tagging chin with split-second timing in tight. Down the stretch, Shakira bringing blonde donnybrook—Jen slinking to the ropes, hands up at her temples, pawing the defensive jab, sliding to her right, Shak reaching with a wide hook to corral her girl and Jen chops a vicious counter right off her eyebrow—SHAK GOES DOWN! Shak caught behind the ear, bludgeoned to her knees—arms on the middle rope, groggy face staring out into the audience as Hewitt skips away. Shak up but not shaking this one off—she got caught reaching and paid the price.

R6: Shak’s hurt, but Jen’s old instincts come into play—brunette rangy, using her jab, keeping her distance, doesn’t press the action. Shak able to come forward by default,. Not paying a price—she has several good moments with her head on Jen’s chest, just gnawing away at the hips and flanks with churning punches to scour of the round.

R7: Shutout Hewitt—trainer getting through to her with a shouting corner session—Jen responds with a blend of cutes and power. Jen double-dabbing her jab into Shak’s face, getting after the yes, puffing’em up, dropping a chopping right hand, staying in there to get the hook—brisk combinations have Shak’s head on bobble, feet stepping woozy. Jen’s not ignoring the body—she’s not devastating down there, but she’s slapping at the liver, doubling up her hook to the ear, really biting into the meat of Shak’s body as blonde wanders into punishment. At the bell, Jen’s eyes bright as she takes it in: Shak’s nose blooded, left eye getting gruesome, shoulder slumping—brunette’s imposing her will.

R8: Jennifer Love Hewitt pouring it on keeping the pace high, keeping her distance, putting combinations on Shak—blonde allowing herself to get discouraged, starts to fall off the pace, Hewitt measuring Shak, chipping and chiseling the jab then labeling right crosses or right uppercuts to get Shak’s head snapping, Jen steps back, baits the trap—Shak walks in and gets clocked. Hewitt not the blockbuster puncher she builds herself up to be, but she is catching Shak with everything she’s got, and landing rights clean whenever she throws’em.

R9: Jen luring Shak around like she’s got her on a bridle—slidestepping back, feathering her with jabs, popping her right hands upside the head, then neatly getting around Shak’s flank to turn the tired blonde midring. Hewitt boxing greasy, effortless, putting punches together off the jab, dismantling a sluggish Shak. Colombian moving her head too late, mentally ground down—she struggles forward, taking punches, Midway through, Jen retreating along the ropes, lands a slinging wide right to the ear that topples Shak sideways, right shoulder I the ropes, Jen plants, riding her left arm on the ropes to anchor right hands and SHE’S JUST SLAMMING AWAY AT SHAK’S HEAD! Shak standing there, taking blows upside the cranium, slumping sideways and THE REF JUMPS IN! IT’S OVER—TKO9 JLH!

After: Hewitt leaping for joy—Shak breaking down into wracking sobs—JLH has finally arrived after years of heartbreak. Hewitt won’t let it go, bodying up repeatedly on Shak and taunting her, pulling her hands away from her face—it’s mean and it’s unbecoming, but Jen’s excitement has boiled over into glove-striding dominion and she’s letting Shak hear it. Hewitt nibbling at Shak’s confidence with disciplined boxing—Colombian’s certainly been hit harder, but the combination of volume and Hewitt’s maddening defense obviously draining the blonde psychologically by the end. Pundits amazed at Hewitt’s turn around—she’s not just beating flyweights, she’s stopping them in wracking up an impressive streak in her best year as a pro.

Reposted by Archer 10/24/09