Posted by simguy on 2/20/2009, 7:11 am,

Before: "I think we were all really impressed by Ashley's performance against Lancaster," a candid Blake admits in prefight. "For a young fighter, she's got great poise, tremendous power if you're going to stand right in front of her - a lot of promise. I did think she was a little starstruck when she met me for the first time though, and that tells me she's got confidence issues. I've got a good plan for this girl - a lot of different looks and schemes she didn't see from Sarah. I'll touch her up, and don't be surprised to see me hurt her, because I think the openings are there for a sharpshooter to take advantage of." Ashley agitated in rebuttal, ignoring all the compliments and taking in only the 'starstruck' bit. "Meeting Blake isn't exactly like shaking hands with Charlize Theron," Newbrough says at podium. "I wasn't so much starstruck as I was; 'hmmm - skinnier and cheaper than I thought she'd be'. I'm glad Blake's got a good blueprint: she's gonna need it. I just need one good hit to put her on her back: wonder what the whole plan will be for that?" Blake in green bikini with gold ring connections; white gloves; hair tangly, long and loose. Ashley in burgundy monokini (thin hourglass strip connecting top with bottom in the front, leaving plenty of bare tummy and rib exposed) black gloves; hair straight, long, glossy-black.

During R1: Lively stepping gangly to her right - awkward locomotion in a wide stance. Right hand from Lively slings over Ashley's left mitt, punching brunette face with surprising clout. Newbrough turning, seething - she's all flashing eyes and bared teeth: counterclockwise rotation not Ashley's strong suit - she's unable to draw a bead on Blake. Lively loping, hopping - hair bouncing: she's all over the map, but she's maintaining angle of attack, slapping and poking effectively. Newbrough throwing bombs, but usually out of position: she's not getting good weight of shot onto slender blonde. Bell: it's Lively's round - she makes demure eye contact with her furious foe en route to her corner.

R2: Ashley much more effective, stepping-to Blake with a pounding jab - pounding away at blonde upperchest. Lively punched off her stance, thrown into scampering retreat: too much leg, not enough punching from Blake as she runs for her life. Newbrough still following rather than cutting off the ring, but there's no denying she's the clear aggressor in the second.

R3: Blake with that awkward movement to her right - pawing the jab, or lifting it up off her hip to bat at Ashley's chest-high guard. Slinging right hands from Lively - give her credit: she's leaning in, catching Ashley as Newbrough's turning, smiting strong brunette jawline. Accumulation of first-minute right hands does the unthinkable: Newbrough's knees buckle, forcing to stutter-step on the spot... she's hurt! Newbrough covering up earmuff, turning and grimacing: Lively straightening out that jab, getting a little mustard on it - she's pounding at Ashley's face! Newbrough following, facing into blows: Lively energetic, offering gangly one-twos before scampering to the side. Not a lot of clean blonde connects - but she bloodies Ashley's nose and has Newbrough doe-eyed with confusion through 3.

R4: No adjustments from Newbrough: she's just following, allowing herself to be turned counter-clockwise. Lively picking spots to pour in long, limber right hands over Ashley's low left: blonde shaking her foe with clean, exuberant connects as Newbrough gobbles 'em flush. Minute mark - Ashley struggling forward, getting punched and turned... SHE STUMBLES TO ALL FOURS! Lively squealing with delight - hopping to neutral corner and loving life right now. Newbrough fighting back tears: she's wobbly butt upon rising, grimly getting herself together as ref issues 8. Newbrough dug in at ropes, gloves at her cheeks, elbows in: she's a big, stationary punching bag, there for the taking. Lively hops-to - paws that rubbery left jab; pours in a long right hand palm-down to belly - then leaps back, foiling Ashley's late receipt. That's the gist of it - Blake tormenting Ashley as Newbrough makes no attempt to get out of there, move her head, or change up her guard: brunette sturdy, blocking the odd shot on her arms - taking others in her left flank, waist or forehead. Lively careful not to linger in front of Ashley: blonde pouring in, leaning out at angles, then circling back in cautiously for more. Bell: Lively squealing all the way back to her corner - impromptu celebration as she hugs her trainer and does some happy-jumps on the spot before settling down for instruction.

R5: Ashley shows her power's for real: she runs Blake onto a straight left jab, knocking blonde knees together and almost sitting Lively down. Blake scampering away, eyes fearful - hair all over the place: Lively running shamelessly whenever Ashley has the least bit of success. Awkward pursuit as Newbrough breaks into a kind of halting jog to catch Lively: easy for Blake to change directions and sidestep big brunette. Lively also clinching whenever possible, hanging on tight for ref's breaks: Newbrough infuriated, but unable to bring full weight of shot onto her tormentress again.

R6: Blake straightening out the jab, trying to score rather than paw with it: when she does, it's a promising poke. Ashley preempted by Blake's jab: Newbrough waiting her turn, following Lively - plenty of bad habits being exposed tonight. Blake stepping right - touching the jab, feinting a little bit, then leaning in to sling home those rangy right hands. Newbrough clapped time and again to jaw - reacting late, covering up earmuff AFTER she's been struck. Blake scoring cleanly, but still cautious: she's electing to circle after landing, rather than following up to maybe get Ashley hurt.

R7: Same again: Lively with that awkward, gamboling gait constantly turning Ashley's left flank, exposing Newbrough's inexpert footwork and low left hand. Blake the busier, touching her girl from distance: slapping hooks, pawing jabs, stinging jabs, and a surprisingly heavy, sloshing right cross to lump up Ashley's face. Newbrough proving durable - she's been well-clouted tonight and seems to be taking it better and better... but she's losing the fight on all cards to lissome Lively.

R8: Blake caught on the end of Ashley's jab a minute in: Newbrough pounding Lively's breasts, then her mouth, knocking the blonde off-stance. Newbrough steps in, brings her feet with her: she moves MUCH better coming forward than she does circling or retreating. Follow up jab smashes at Lively's chest; crisp right hand off the shoulder finds her mouth and BLONDE GIRL DOWN! Blake spun a quarter turn to her right, then dropped gangly to all fours: she's a stunned, sputtering beauty, suddenly all tingly. Newbrough scowling, stalking to neutral corner: she's impatient for more Lively, now that's gotten good leather onto her. Blake up at 8, weak-kneed: Lively gloving hair off her face, blinking, trying to rally. Ashley moves in - gloves at her mouth: she sees Blake reaching to clinch, wisely jabs blonde to chest, punching her back into ropes. Heavy, thumping poke shaking Blake: Ashley with the right at her cheek, just slams away left jabs straight and severe to Lively's upperchest. Swinging right, Ashley: Newbrough's right foot skipping up off canvas as she takes Blake heavily to left armpit. Lively distressed, deflated by the body shot: she's breaking down. Blake ashen-faced, turns herself to the right, pointing left shoulder at Ashley, trying to take those heavy jabs on the shoulder/flank. Four jabs bash flat against presented side - knocking Blake into ropes; ASHLEY TURNS OVER THE RIGHT HAND! Short, brutal stroke - Newbrough leaning in, plowing the blast over Lively's left shoulder to clip her chin. Instant effect: Blake's lovely legs stiffen up - she pitches face-first to canvas, hands stacked right atop left at her belly when she lands. It's over - Lively's out parallel to ropes: seething Newbrough pushed back as she's bellowing down at unconscious rival. KO8 in dramatic come-from-behind fashion, Ashley Newbrough.

AFTER: Newbrough exposed somewhat, but also showing glimpses of raw material that could be dynamite. Young network star showing Katherine Heigl type power and curves, and she's only going to get better with work. "I knew I'd catch her eventually," says a lumped up, jubilant Ashley in postfight. "She was very awkward - I couldn't find her with all the jumping around she was doing. She's not strong at all - I'm SO embarrassed she dropped me - but that will happen in the FCBA if you don't keep your hands up. I made a TON of mistakes tonight - I know that, and I'm going to hear about it from my guys - but I also know that I can always bail myself out with the big eraser at any time!" Lively smashed out cold perhaps, but showing MUCH better than expected; young blonde DID have a good plan, showed true ring generalship, and with seasoning and polish just might amount to something after all.