Posted by Simguy on Friday, 14-May-1999 20:15:38

Before: Anderson a good test for Weisz possessing the kind of no-nonsense, pressure punching style to threaten the light hitting machine. Critics contend that Rachel is a typical import, with a record bloated by mismatches against Cannes wannabees and British pop stars. A win over Gillian would go a long way to proving Rachel belongs. Conservative, retro bikini look with tied tops for both girls, red for Rachel, baby blue for Gillian.

During 1-2: Gillian is introduced to Rachel’s brand of non-stop flurrying as the redhead is under constant pressure from the bell in both rounds. Weisz never really sets down on her punches, and never hurts Gillian, but she is in perpetual motion, swatting and poking with punches, working the tummy and head, sing shoulders and elbows in close quarters, and dominating territorially with superior footwork. Gillian lands the harder blows, but they are sporadic, and Rachel is adept at rolling with a punch, taking it on the shoulder, and slipping.

R3: Gillian still can’t shake the constant pressure, but she responds with some very hard body shots this round to visibly slow the brunette. as `always, Rachel’s expressive face shows what she’s feeling, and she grimaces as Gillian has her way midway through the round. Weisz recovers nicely however, fighting well going backwards, walking Gillian into a series of clipping left hooks to take the round.

R4: Anderson plows forward, but can’t solve the puzzle. Rachel is right there, but Weisz is getting off first, and putting 6 punches together for every bomb Anderson can throw. Rachel s particularly tricky going backwards, using Gillian’s momentum against her, and turning her shoulder into quick left hooks that pre-empt the redhead’s attacks

R5: Anderson finally takes a round, fighting off Rachel’s chest as the brunette rests her legs. Toe to toe, Weisz just not as strong as Anderson, and Gillian lands some popping left hooks to the midsection as Rachel covers up on the ropes.

R6: Rachel’s legs look shot as Gillian is able to engage her in a series of nasty exchanges, finally driving Weisz to the ropes. Anderson rotating her torso as she pins Rachel to the perimeter of the ring, comes up out of her crouch to land telling blows in the final minute. Rachel winces and covers up, letting Gillian do a number with beefy left hooks to the abs to the bell. Weisz shaky going back to her corner.

R7: Gillian clearly looking for the knockout, but the plucky Brit maintains her composure, and manages to steal another round on the cards. Gillian getting good leverage on the occasional shot, but Rachel makes the redhead turn and move her feet more than Anderson would like.

R8: All Rachel early as Gillian’s face is beginning to show the effects of the constant pounding, but in the final minute, Anderson uses a cross arm guard to bob inside and she EXPLODES a huge left hook to the square little chin of Rachel. Weisz goes limp, out on her feet and Gillian shoves her to the ropes for a savage beating. Rachel soaks it up to the bell, refusing to go down, but Gillian almost undoes her bikini knot with sheer ferocity this round.

R9: Anderson pours it on, chasing her hurting brunette around the ring, hammering her fists into the soft flanks of the Brit, and looking the stronger fighter late. In the final minute, Rachel rallies, fighting off the ropes, and she counters well to get out of the round.

R1o: Gillian a little over anxious walks into Rachel’s right hands early to make Weisz look like a puncher this round. Anderson wobbled by flush crosses to her chin, spends the rest of the round covering up, taking non-stop blows to her waist as Rachel puts her chin on Anderson’s s head and pounds away downstairs. Gillian just gives away the round, and it costs her as Rachel is awarded a close, unanimous decision.

After: Anderson completely outraged at the decision, stating for the cameras: “She never hurt mel. I was hurting her constantly to the body, and she was almost out in the 8^th. She hits like a child. This s total politics! I’m never fighting in Las Vegas again!” There’s some justice to these comments, but the fact remains that Rachel’s ring generalship and work rate carried the majority of rounds, and Gillian didn’t do enough to take this fight.

Reposted by Archer 9/3/09.