PHOTOS COURTESY OF BI PHOTO LAB

Posted by Simguy on 8/15/2003, 5:44 am.

Before: Marquee match up indeed--Dushku stepping in against the meteoric Blalock--fight drawing a tremendous amount of speculation from fans, fighters and pundits alike. “Eliza’s got a great chin,” says Dani Fishel in The Celebrity Ring. “but Jolene’s hook to the body is what’s going to get to Dushku. I see Eliza so preoccupied with Jolene’s right that those licks to the pudding are going to break her down.” “Jolene hasn’t proven she can handle a great boxer,” says Dushku nemesis Kelly Hu in CBN, “I think Eliza takes her apart and stops her late.” Teri Hatcher, a common opponent, chimes in--”Dushku doesn’t handle range well, If I had to pick on one thing, that would be it, and Jolene uses her height better than any other bantam except for maybe Angelina, As for power, forget it--Jolene’s right hand is the biggest weapon in this fight--Dushku’s a nibbler compared to Blalock.” Both women confident, cordial during preflight--gunfighters only in this one., Jolene in purple zipper top, black bottoms, Eliza in red leather bikini.

During R1: Jolene playing it safe midring, popping the jab off her hip, stretching back on her right foot to change distance, rocking onto her left heel to make Eliza come up short, counter her with cuffing, lanky hooks. Blalock content to wheel and deal stick, using the ring, loping to spots--Dushku having problems getting into position gives up a shutout while cautiously coming forward.

R2: Eliza got a good long look last round--she takes advantage of her econ this round. Blalock extending on a right, slow to pull back--Dushku rolls underneath and comes back a slobber knocking hook to clobber Jolene’s head hard to port. Blalock’s legs accordion up slightly--she staggers back, rights herself, sets up wonky and starts jabbing for dear life. Pretty effective phalanx of stick--Eliza bobbing, weaving, palms up as she tries to parry her way in close, but she can’t put anything more on the lithe blonder as Blalock gets out of the jam.

R3: Eliza applying consistent pressure for the first time--jabbing up out of her crouch, then lancing in with straight rights to the ribcage, mopping up hooks as Blalock stumbles back,. Dushku able to step with, poke out brisk contact punches, then snap-hook the body with vicious intentions--Jolene doesn’t like it. Blalock reeling around the ring, anxious to create space--Dushku very deliberate about working the ribs and waist of her foe. Down  the stretch, Jolene failing back in good order, strides into a wide stance, jabs with and NAILS Eliza a crushing right hand as brunette ducks in. Driving blow in the ear scatters Dushku to her right--she stands her ground, steps and delayed action nearly sends her to her knees. Jolene loping in to finish--Dushku cagily able to reach in around the girl’s waist and hug her to the bell.

R4: Jolene extending a menacing left, slowly rotating it from the shoulder, measuring Dushku, stepping her down--Eliza stepping back, still woozy from the earlier short--she stoops to jab body and Blalock drops in the right! Crashing blow on the jaw unhinges Dushku’s knees--she sways, tries to fall in to clinch--Blalock rocks back onto her right leg and gets a gorgeous clipping right uppercut! Eliza covering up earmuff, legs totally gone--Jolene pretty as she extends mitts to touch up at distance, then steps into hook the waist,  with heartless lanky leverage. Dushku stooping forward as Blalock takes 2 downstairs, then pushes up with the extended arms on the shoulders, turning Eliza, moving her around. Blalock bending into another wicked right hand--Dushku reading it in time, slipping under it, swiveling to the left--Dushku badly hurt, but starting to get it together, Jolene stalking, trying one jab and leaning into go-home rights, but it’s too predictable--Dushku able to slip low, hook the ribcage and pivot left--not much on Eliza’s shots, but she’s scoring, keeping Jolene off balance,  and getting out of the round as Blalock fails to capitalize.

R5: Jolene tries to be the bully for another 60 seconds, gets her ribcage and flanks tanned by biting, compact hooks and rights off the counter from Dushku. Second minute a complete role-reversal--Jolene n her toes, dancing lanky outside, feathering a condor-jab at the pursuing former champ. Dushku scooting forward, hands up, moving her head, parrying and trying to thread her way through the forest--she’s getting some stern straight right hands to Jolene’s chest and sternum.

R6: Tactical battle emerging--Eliza coming forward, working in and out of her crouch, trying to key off Jolene’s body with stabbing rights and put the hook on top. Jolene jabbing, pivoting around her left heel, leaning in and out--she’s having as much luck cuffing Eliza with the fallaway hook as she is with right hands--Dushku seeing the right very well thus far. All even till late--Jolene turns on a sudden right uppercut that just misses, swings in a licking hook and BETS ELIZA CLEAN TO THE PUNCH! Dushku soaking up a sickening blast on her jaw--once again stooping forward all numb--Jolene drops her right foot back and gets that lean body behind a cranking long hook underneath. Blalock knuckling up to push for range, turning Eliza slightly to her right--Jolene leans into a slashing right that catches Dushku juuuust rolling enough to take the edge off. Eliza staggering away, caught hard if not flush--she’s badly stunned as she hit’s the ropes. Blalock bounding in at the bell--once again running out of time as Dushku lolls hurt on the strands.

R7: Jolene stalking, jabbing to Eliza’s tummy then trying to hook her mouth, THEN striding in with the overhand right. Dushku slipping side to side in retreat, batting punches to re-direct them past either ear--she’s got Blalock reaching. Midway through--Eliza times a wide right roundhouse under Jolene’s jab, splattering against long blonde ribcage and JOLENE IS SHOOK! Blalock crying out, left elbow retracting sharply to her side--Eliza hopping right, hooks from outside Jolene’s left arm to get her backpedaling. Blalock’s legs ramshackle, but once again--she jabs desperately for distance, keeps her back off the ropes, starts to wheel around the ring--Dushku can’t box her in. Cat and mouse through 7, both girls can taste it, but can’t really feast.

R8: Jolene goes to work on Eliza’s left eye--punishing, vindictive jab work from a ,long, cruel blonde. Dushku backing off in pain on occasion, but she has to keep the pressure on--she’s forced to make the fight as Blalock hangs back and bangs away. Jolene straightening out the right hand and not loading up--she’s landing it flush on the eye and mouth of her girl, hard enough to  keep Dushku back. Final minute, Jolene’s getting a slashing hook off the right hand, really leaning in pretty on that front leg and striping Dushku across the gut. Lean, mean shutout, Blalock.

R9: Crowd roars as Jolene hooks Eliza’s body underneath--gorgeous  arch-back shots from a wide stance--crippling leverage has Eliza gasping, covering up,. Dushku trying to paw her way in as Blalock steps out of range--Jolene able to set and drive in a withering right cross and ELIZA’S HURT! Dushku caught a scything blow across her left jaw--she’s stepping in fence post holes, trying to get to the ropes as Blalock goes on the attack. Jolene finally getting E with time on the clock--pushing Eliza in the shoulders to measure, hooking her ribs, hooking her belly, bending into murderous right hands. Dushku battered up against the ropes, rolling to her right to absorb the crosses, turning her torso to the left, left hand at her cheek to block hooks, but those whip-crack body shots are hammering home underneath. Dushku sliding along the ropes--Blalock stepping with, blonde just keeping a steady, lethal lather on the brunette as Eliza twists and turns. Bell sounds, Eliza cut in the mouth, left eye closing--Blalock favours her a withering stare as the girls share a moment.

R10: Eliza going with a quick-mitt offense, gambling to get to Jolene’s mouth with skip-and-chop lead right hands, hooking the tits while pivoting to the left, jab-jab-jabbing while rotating further left--she’s got the blonde’s feet confused. Jolene unable to mix it up. Has to step out--she; getting outmaneuvered, out touched, though not hurt as Dushku doesn’t set down much. Girls take turns stalking each other--fading back from each other--pretty tactical 10th shows both thinking the cards are in their favour. Comes back a narrow 6-4 in rounds duke…Jolene Blalock!

After: Dushku blanching at the announcement--storming from the ring--usually stoic brunette stung and hurt by a decision she just can’t accept, doesn’t stick around for in-ring interviews, Blalock a mixture of relief and joy--titanic won catapults her to the top of the contenders list as only Connelly has been any hotter of late. “Looks like there’s a NEW, new sheriff in town,” Blalock brays in post fight, feeling her oats, “I’ve cleaned this division--I want Jennifer Connelly. I DEMAND Jennifer Connelly. There’s only one true mandatory in this division and you are looking at her!”

Reposted by Archer 4/11/11.