Unified Bantamweight Title

Posted by Simguy on 4/14/2007, 9:24 am.

Before: :Jennifer proved she’s still dangerous by taking out Rachel McAdams,” Evangeline tells a packed press center in prefight, “Everyone’s been waiting for Jen to run out of steam, but I don’t see that happening anytime soon. I’m not waiting for Jen to erode--I’m going to MAKE her lose that step, Its time to start going after Jennifer Connelly full bore and make her feel her age.” Connelly’s nostrils flaring in response to Lilly’s firm declaration of intent--plenty of respect between these two, but Jen recognizes a legit threat when she sees it. “Evangeline is the one young fighter I;[ve seen who lives up to the hype,” Connelly admits, :”at least partially. She’s not perfect--you look at her record and you see plenty of names getting by her that are a bit of a surprise. That tells me her game isn’t completely together yet--the truth is she’s still probably a year or two away from being all she can be. Plenty of time for me to retake my belts!” Jen in white crushed velvet bikini, white gloves. Lilly in pink/mauve/white floral print surfing bikini.

During R1: Midring--Jennifer dukes up, wide stance--stiff, straight punching off the shoulder rebuking champ at the open. Minute mark: Connelly chop-drops the right cross, startling Lilly to chin; follow up hook a vicious lick, taking Lilly in her brow, staggering her to her left. Connelly with loose-limbed lather chases Lilly to ropes, proceeds to beat the champion without mercy. Crowd in a frenzy: stocky Lilly covering up in shock, bending low, riding out the beating of her young life. Connelly majestic: teeth bared, eyes blazing, body rigid as she TORQUES into savage lefts and rights, pelting away at shivering Lilly. Bell: Connelly STORMING back to her corner all fire; Lilly looking carjacked, cringing to her stool down 10-8 at the open.

R2: Lilly shows characteristic ruggedness--shipping a ferocious, gambling Connelly beat down and coming back sturdy. Lilly not fancy--crouching behind her guard, stepping in a stubby jab--she’s diligently working her way onto Jens chest, taking the fight to Connelly inside. Jen a little winded from the whirlwind first, can’t disengage--she accommodates ‘Vangie mouth on shoulder, Crowd pleasing workrate established--girls muscling each other around taking turns lighting up offending ribcages, Lilly genetically constructed for this kind of fighting, clearly outworking her challenger: Connelly just staying  compact, elbows in to protect her body while she looks to time Evangeline for swat n’ swipe counters.

R3: Lilly pressing home her attack--stubby little jab and hurtling rushes sweep her past Jen’s vigilant jab. Connelly can’t hold canvas, muscled out of her stance and bundled to topes: much of the round fought with jen up against the cables. Steady, snap-snatching work, both vixens: Connelly looking to dip-n’-rip hooks out of a tight guard, hoping to wick a little of her foe’s vigor away with body blows. Lilly much more constant--fighting off Jen’s chest Juan Diaz-style. Lilly moving her head up and down, jabbing to stabilize Jen, then ringing her up body and head--Evangeline’s gloves bouncing off Connelly’s classy chassis with steady rhythm through 3.

R4: Lilly’s third straight round sees her take Jen to ropes and systematically shovel home the hurt. Connelly composed, comfy and competent off the ropes--elbows in, chin tucked, face-in-gloves as she sustains Lilly’s pounding about flanks, shoulders and skull. Evangeline a tireless little worker--getting off in robust 3s, then squirming close with her left shoulder or head--constantly bumping and jostling Jen when not hammering at her. Connelly’s offense virtually non-existent--she misses a few choosy uppercuts, preferring to stay covered up and taking rather than risking decisive exchanges.

R5: ‘Vangie enjoys another minute of target practice as Jon lolls on the ropes--but Connellys had enough, Minute mark--Jen timing the rhythm of her foe’s pulsing attack, fit’s a GORGEOUS counter hook into Lilly’s chin from that tight guard. Evangeline stamping on the spot, momentarily starstruck: Connelly bumps her the shoulder, gets Lilly baby-stepping backward, chases her down with long, lashing rights and lefts. LILLY’S GETTING PASTED AND LILLY GOES DOWN! Crowd roars as Jen hounds Evangeline to her back--Connelly all chest heaving, eyes glaring as she bats her mitts, stalks to neutral corner. Lilly winching, getting gingerly to her feet-shaking her head, Shaky 8, ‘Vangie: ON COMES CONNELLY! Jennifer unleashing hell--tearing at her foe with the same unrestrained ferocity she showed in the first: all Lilly can do is turtle up, sit in the ropes and soak! Jen putting crop to haunch to the finish line, giving a helpless Lilly a terrible thrashing. Bell: seething Connelly lost in her little world of retribution--ref has to tackle her off, Lilly blinking back tears, steadying herself with a hand in the ropes: starting to dawn on the champ how very badly Connelly wants to win in spectacular fashion tonight.

Lilly/Connelly title bout conc.

Posted by Simguy on 4/14/2007, 9:25 am

R6: Sheer physical resilience of Lilly awe-inspiring: she shakes off Connelly’s fury, comes out pressing the attack on a disgruntled JC. Connelly trying to take a step back and walk Lilly onto the check-uppercut, but Evangeline wise to it, weaving her head side to side, jabbing on the approach to foil Jen’s plans. Evangeline able to hound Connelly to ropes again: job of work from there to keep Jen pinned down and shipping punishment, Connelly useful in the pocket--relaxed against the ropes, blocking a loot of shots--but drumming, constant thumping of Lilly’s snappy attack having a numbing effect. Jen stiffening, looking sluggish--offering back he off hook or uppercut, but shy about trading on Lilly’s head; holding and hitting in spots. Bell: Lilly hopping away upbeat, anxious t continue; Jen mouth breathing, disheveled, starting to look besieged.

R7: Extended battle along the apron--Jen’s back to ropes. Connelly more active this round--rope-a-dope strategy clearly not working  against Lilly--Jen looking to engage and swap with ‘Vangie. Girls crouching towards each other--heads and gloves bumping as each takes turns ripping at her foe. Connelly working muscular, short left uppercuts to chin, longer left hooks to flank; Lilly pummeling away with both fists, bludgeoning Jen about her temples, arms, flanks and tummy. Lilly with a particularly nasty fish-hook left uppercut in close, just gutting Connelly stubby to solar plexus: Jennifer fighting hard but clearly getting the worst of a grinding 7th.

R8: Crowd tense as Jen sponges a vicious uppercut to her body and loosens visibly: Connelly starts the round hurt. Jen shakes, but competing--she answers back punching rather than folding up, forcing Lilly to work. Evangeline. Evangeline won’t be backed off--Jen’s punching lacks steam here--Lilly bats back  and 5 to every one that Connelly’s offering. Connelly’s earlier defensive form was very good--almost air-tight: not now. Lilly’s picking Jen’s head up with short, shrugging blasts--Connelly’s lips parted, eyelashes fluttering as she ships it. Lilly’s been on Connelly’s body in force all night--now she’s really digging in loud--hooks and sidearm rights spanking off bruised flanks, trembling tummy meaty. Connelly tieing up, but unable to get breaks: Lilly squirming free, keeping her mitts clear, sustains her attack nearly bell to bell.

R9: Grim. Connelly ragged off her stool, eyes forlorn, legs shabby--she sets up on the apron, knowing  she’ll end up there anyway and not wishing to waste the energy contesting canvas with Lilly Evangeline hungry for combat--aggressive as a pit bull looking for throat--she just pushes in and scours--muscular back and shoulders hard at work subjugating Jen. Gut check for Jen Connelly--she takes several brutal body blows on her ribs beneath he jug-line--Lilly just popping her hips, arching her back and whaling away in there to put Jen wobbly butt. SO much time on the clock--Connelly  gritting her teeth, drowsily tilted forward behind her mitts--just pride and conditioning holding the former champ up as brawny lass showers Jen with leather. Tough to watch--Lilly beating and beating at Jen, then pushing and propping her upright to reset--’Vangie just pinning her ears back and helping herself to an FCBA legend here. Concerned Connelly fans shouting for her to take a knee--but Connelly stubborn: she makes it to the bell on her feet, nearly going down as she staggering ragged to her corner.

R10: CONNELLY BANGS BACK! Evangeline finally showing signs of fatigue, doesn’t close and attack with quite the same intensity--Connelly’s able to hold ‘Vangie off with the jab midring. Jen on shaky stems, but rallying herself--straight right hands, rapid-poke lefts ping away at Evangeline’s noggin and shoulders from outside. Connelly stepping to her left--shabby perhaps, but just enough keep Lilly turning--Evangeline crossing her arms, bobbing and weaving, but not penetrating. Connelly bangs out the points in a defiant 10th--Lilly retains belts via UD10.

After: Gracious Connelly well worn, but unbowed tonight--she shakes hands and gives Lilly a perfunctory hug on congratulations after decision is announced. “I tried my hardest to get her out of there,” Lilly grins, tugging at her sweaty nose, standing all brawny with hands on her hips, “but Jennifer Connelly wasn’t having it. She knew how badly I wanted to knock her out,  but it really surprised me how bad she wanted ME to go! It was touch and go in the first half--she really spent up her money trying to finish me, and I was lucky to survive it. That probably hurt her down the stretch--she really didn’t have the energy she needed to box me and I was able to get on top of her and work her over. She’s hurtin’ for certain--Jen Connelly took as much raw punishment tonight as I’ve ever seen her take,. I’ll admit it--she’s more durable than I thought she was coming in.

Reposted by Archer 5/13/2011.