Photos courtesy  BI PHOTO LAB

Posted by Simguy on 8/2/2003, 5:58 am.

Before: Dani stung by talk she’s going to be nothing more than the sequel to Blalock/Campbell--a KO’d little pressure fighter courtesy robo-Jolene rangy power. “Neve and I are SIMILAR, but hardly the same,” snaps Dani. “Yeah, we pressure girls, but the difference  is: I don’t quit when I get tapped a few. If Neve wants to come forward, she’s got to realize she’s going to get tagged--I mean, that’s part of what discourages the opponent--taking the shots. don’t fight pressure if you can’t take the heat.” Blalock in tight tank and baseball cap, disinterested throughout preflight--she’s brief in her comments. “I’ve got a Brazilian wax around 8:00 fight night so I’ll be wrapping Dani up by the third round.” There it is then. Dani in teal sports bra, gray boy cut stretch cotton trunks, white shoes, Jolene purple sports top, bikini bottoms, white shoes.

During 1,2: Dani coming forward, attacking wide to Jolene’s flanks as she sets the groundwork for later, but shorter woman’s having a tough time negotiating range on Jolene. Fishel approaching behind a sound bob and weave, using her stubby set-up jab well--Blalock boxing, using her legs, not cooperating and not slugging as expected. Jolene wants distance? Slides her back foot out, rocks onto her front heel and makes Dani come up short, Blalock pivoting on the left foot heel while swatting hooks to the ear--then snap-jabbing off her hip to Dani’s face. Right hand loose at the chest--Jolene occasionally swinging it sidearm to the ear and stepping to the right-good cuffing wallop but not the shearing force she used to debilitate Neve. 2 virtual shutouts on the cards for Blalock as she frustrates and times Dani Fishel just trying to stay on tempo, get her distance and rhythm.

R3: Jolene snapping that jab off he hip--Dani stung, kept outside--right hands starts dropping with slinging crack and Fishel’s starting to give ground. Blalock limbering up, lashing hooks underneath, crouching to get low and shouldering Dani back--Fishel on her heels, bending to slip punches but she can’t get out of this posture. End of the first minute--Blalock with a screening jab between the eyes gets a long right uppercut to the point of Dani’s chin--Fishel stepping away wobbly butt, now on tippy toes, hippity-hopping with her weight swinging forward--she crashes to haunches and hands with ba stunned hurt-puppy look. Face says it all: Dani in shock with time on the clock. Swooning 8--Jolene marching in from the neutral corner--she strides into a swinging right over the top, missing, but comes back with a snap-lick hook off the jaw that draws moans from the crowd as Dani goes limp. Jolene pushing the left against Dani’s head to prop, and DROPPING a cleaving right across the chin--Fishel turning to her right, cramping up then hopping to all fours as Jolene misses a wide left over top. Minute left--Dani climbs the ropes, thighs trembling, sliding woozy to her right--Jolene stalking, hopping forward gangly and putting the finishing lather on target. Jab sets up the slinging, sidearm right on the ear, little backfist right tapper sets up the rangy hook on the temple, little extended elbow tiop, sets up a curling right uppercut--Dani fielding horrific punishment at the bell as Jolene carves away.

R4: Who comes out punching? Dani Fishel! Dani all busted up and out on her feet in the third, gambles with Jolene midring, beats an overhand right off the taller woman’s chest, hops into a clocking hook and has Blalock’s feet messed up for the first time. Jolene to the ropes for support, setting up tall, hands up--Dani crouching forward, gabbing a yo-yo jab against the sternum and TURNING on Tyson short right across the ribs beneath the breast line. Hook in the waist, left uppercut! Dani putting quality leather in Jolene as Blalock bends back into the ropes to absorb the shock. Blalock showing an Alba-esque ability to be lanky and effective on the inside--she bends to get her shoulder on Dani and push a little, she’s good leaning into and off the ropes to change distance--but this is Fishel’s fight. Dani getting work done, beating her girl’s ribcage and winning a round--she lets Blalock hear all about it at the bell with flashing defiance.

R5: Dani bold across the ring, jabbing up out of her crouch, shaving Jolene’s chin a stubby right hand--Blalock reeling backwards to the ropes early as Fishel tears forward.
Dani with her head on Jolene’s chest, hunkers down and chugs to the breadbasket, pumping straight away to that flat ab wall both hands. Second minute--Jolene re-establishing herself midring behind a stinging jab off the hip--she’s got Dani at arms length again and picking her apart with long right crosses, right uppercuts left hooks--Fishel bobbing and weaving but unable to come forward. Swinging wide right on the ear moves Dani, shakes her up--Jolene steps and gets the right uppercut on target, puts a lashing hook on top and DANI SCOOTS TO HER BUTT! Groan from pro-Fishel contingent--Dani has been doing well, but she’s rocked, fails to rise in her first attempt and looks shabby at the ropes, Final minute mop up for Jolene--stooping to shoulder into Dani, then working inside with dip and rip uppercuts, picking Fishel’s face up woozy, dropping the back foot to lean away and pull hooks across the jaw--masterful lanky combinations punching to leave Dani dazed at the bell.

R6,7: Steam leaving Jolene’s punching? Blalock classy, in command midring, wheeling around her front heel pivot, getting around Dani by cuffing either ear with sidearm slings, still stinging that jab off the hip--But Fishel’s not moving when right hands grease chin. Dani getting touched up, face swelling badly at this point, cut in the moth--but she’s having moments when she gets to Blalock’s chest, turns on those vicious, short licks across the ribs and seems to discourage Jolene to the body. Blalock takes both rounds, but Dani;s looking more comfortable than at any other time in the fight.

R8: Dani trading hands as Syren pulls wide-eyed at her hair corner side, but Fishel’s short, straight to the body and crouching under as Jolene misses long. Blalock lazy recovering her position, hands low and DANI HOOKS THAT CHIN! Fishel right foot forward when she starts, leaves her feet, twists her hips to land with the left foot forward and gets EVERYTHING into Jolene’s jaw--Blalock on crazy kegs as SHE funky foots around, feet crossing over each other as she craters into the ropes. JOLENE’S HURRRRT! Blalock open-mouthed, hands at her temples--mute with punishment as Dani charges in, teeth bared, Fishel shoulder-cycling the jab in between the mitts then POUNDING the right hand off Jolene’s ribcage, sinking the blonde into the ropes, Dani knuckling up, getting that bobbing, touching rhythm, then REEFING her hooks, testing Blalock’s sleek physique, shaking it badly. Fishel extending the left elbow to measure, prop with, snapping off hooks, turning on right hands, then arching her back to get uppercuts thick to the ledge of Jolene’s breasts or clean off the chin. BLALOCK GOES LIMP! Jolene tilting badly to her left, eyes vacant--Dani lets her hands go, rampaging past the guard, belting away on blonde face and BLALOCK GOES DOWN! Dani stumbling to stand in Jolene’s lap, looming over the cudgeled blonde--bell sounds--ref pulling Fishel off--what a round!

R9: Jolene: eyes dazed, uncertain, legs still stork-stepping a little--she’s going to miss that Brazil wax appointment. Blalock tentative, boxing around the perimeter, ,living off the jab as she keeps her distance and Dani doesn’t respect it. Fishel throwing hard right hands over Blalock’s stick and turning blonde head--Dani able to leap in, get to chest, bull her girl to the ropes and work for long stretches as this fight completely changes in her favour. Fishel using her head rough against Jolene’s upper chest, bumping and ribbing. Fishel palming Blalock’s rocky biceps, shouldering and elbowing her back, jostling her. Fishel on that slender waist, beating on it, slashing at it, doubling up hooks into it--anything to chop the tall girl in two. Dani snuggling in close, then twisting into her chin-checks--tight uppercuts, wicked hooks--veteran unashamed to follow through with her elbow as Blalock’s eyes go hollow with punishment, Bell to bell shutout Dani--she pushes up off Blalock with brawler’s contempt, stomps back to her corner pump0ing her fist.

R10: Jolene shows class, resilience--she doesn’t want to finish up lame against Dani, but she doesn’t want to get knocked out either. Not the robo-Blalock on the fight posters--Jolene sing her long legs, spicy jab, peppering and running as Fishel stomps and snorts after her. Crowd booing Jolene for the first time in her life, but it’s the smart play--Fishel can’t land a glove in a coasting tenth. Comes back UD10 Jolene Blalock.

After: Fishel climbs the ring ropes, thumping her chest and bellowing at an appreciative audience--loser of the fight provided most of the drama and she’s feeling the love. And the hate--Jolene scowling, hands on hips--camera picks up her lips saying “I won the ####ing fight. Yeah but I won…” Fishel showing the kind of will it takes to overcome physical disadvantage, but Jolene more than just a straight ahead slugger, did a good job wracking up the points and dominating the quieter moments of the fight. “hey, people forget, I own Jaime Pressly and Teri Hatcher,” says a banged up but effervescent Fishel in post-fight, “I knew I could compete with Jolene and  know I can beat her.” Dani also backing away from her Neve bashing--slightly. “Yeah, I have to apologize for what I said about Neve quitting. Jolene’s the hardest hitter in this division--it’s like fighting a bantam Jeri Ryan. No way Neve could have taken those shots and continued.” SLAP!

Reposted by Archer 4/10/11.