Before: Hard feelings at least from Watts to Knightley/Tech - Naomi drummed out of camp for poor performance, Keira brought in and immediately described as being an upgrade from Watts - did a lot of damage to Naomi's rep Stateside. "It's a load of rubbish," says one BLONDE! AUSTRALIA staffer. "Watts got off to a slow start with Tech, Keira got off to a good one, but you look at them now and it's Naomi far and away the better prospect. Because of Technetium's bad mouthing, Watts has the reputation of being a homer - but the girls she's starched on Australian beaches would have been just as knocked out on American soil."

Knightley for her part electing to remain above the mudslinging, ignoring the hot glares from Watts' side of the podium. "I'm just here to fight, I'm still learning my craft and I know Naomi won't be an easy night," Keira says, practically reading off the cue cards.

Knightley in jaunty navy nautical sport top, pale blue lacing up the front, navy boy cut trunks also laced up the front, Naomi in candy cane string bikini - good friend Nicole Kidman working the Watts corner.

During R1: Naomi's been getting to girls thus: hopping in close, setting up shop on the front foot and propelling straight arm lefts and rights in rising licks hard against the body. Knightley's seen the tapes, defends the move over and over with good slide-out footwork, then pivoting around Watts, never letting Naomi set her feet and churn. Down the stretch, Naomi rushing in hands down - Keira walks her into a slinging right on the mouth, bends right to slap a hook across chops, bends left to slice a wide right across face - Watts on her heels, staring into blows gets put wobbly butt at the bell.

R2,3: Watts stubbornly trying to make it work - Knightley expertly taking her apart. Keira's feet in charge - she's fading Watts aggression, sliding her front foot back, walking Watts into the up-jab, the check-hook, bending into right hands and clinching around the waist to smother receipts. Naomi completely befuddled - the stampede-slugging she's been getting away isn't working. Watts shutout, bamboozled, steered around the ring and made to look amateurish as Keira slips and evades punches with supple agility.

R4: Watts comes out boxing - turns the tide. Naomi's best punch always has been the jab - she introduces Keira to it with face-spanking results, gets Knightley off her game slightly. End of minute one, sharp stick sets up a clean right hand on the chin - Knightley backing off suddenly rubbery legged, shiny eyed. Watts too aggressive on follow through - walking in again and getting minced - Keira showing the same stubborness when hurt she did against Jolie and Hatcher, slugging bravely to get her back off the ropes. Naomi calms down late to circle methodically left, spot the jab between the breasts and eyes, nicely manufacturing points this round.

R5: Naomi continuing to solve Keira's smooth with a zesty, springloaded jab, punching back Knightley's pretty face, then immediately stabbing at her flat gut, moving her around the ring. Both girls choosy with the power shots - Watts trying to get right hands off the stick - Keira looking to time them, roll them and come back with straight right counters up the middle. Cat and mouse goes to Watts - she's coming forward, clearly the aggressor.

R6: Naomi starting to punish Keira with the jab, backing her up, driving her to the perimeter. Knightley's form degraded for the first time as she awkwardly skips to her right - Watts able to loop a wide hook to gather her girl in, double it up, and drive home a hard right to jaw that undoes Keira at the knees! Knightley swooning at the ropes, leaning back on rubbery hips, extending her hands - crowd groans as Watts caves in the left side of the girl's jaw with a gorgeous slender-limbed right. Head snap Keira - she lolls hurt against the ropes, hands at her stomach, staring, then slowly folds forward behind her gloves as Naomi releases the hounds. Vicious, sustained lather, one blonde on another - Keira desperately hurt, just surviving on guts, conditioning and wiry legs - Watts feverish to finish, crouched over Keira's exposed back to reef rights and lefts up underneath, or scouring her foe's vulnerable kidneys. Heartless scrub-up goes bell to bell, leaves Knightley tremble-bodied, teary-eyed - Watts arms numb at her sides, chest heaving with the effort of applying the lash this round.

R7: Naomi's punched herself out - Keira's turn! Knightley stalking with a vengeful glare - jabs at Watts forehead, slides in low to bounce right/left off the taut gut, jabs face to slide back out in good order - Watts didn't like it. Keira at her girl with ruthless efficiency, jabbing to get in, biting at the midriff or ribs, then pivoting away behind the jab, staying out of range when she's not punching. End of minute one - Watts labouring - she doesn't like Keira's body work, Aussie trying to get her jab unpacked, but she's got no snap. Keira just working in and out, jabbing Watts' face, belting her body - good bell to bell pay back puts NAOMI wobbly butt by the end, open mouthed, cringing as Knightley forces eye contact at the break.

R8: Keira stays on her girl. Nice limber look, nothing wasted as Knightley slide-steps in behind her jab, slashes and digs at the body, slide-steps out behind the jab - Watts just can't get off. Keira not a big puncher, but flashy whip-delivery mesmerizing for crowd and judges alike, and what power she has IS hurting Naomi downstairs. Watts grimacing, cramping up as punches accumulate in her breadbasket - she's trying to punch back, but can't get off, can't get position or timing.

R9: Keira goes for it. Whittling away at Naomi, jabs upstairs, slinging right/lefts downstairs - she works Watts to the ropes, then settles in. Knightley on springy legs, lets her hands go, now lashing wide at the flanks, now bending into right crosses, hopping out to get the slinging hook. Watts in a fog, facing into blows, arms crossed against her body at times, up around her temples at others - she's a confused beauty. Crowd roaring down the stretch, Watts swaying in the wind, taking punches, legs shivering - she's ready to go! Knightley baring her teeth, slashing away at what's left - she whips Naomi heartlessly to the wire, simply unable to put her out. 10-8 without a knockdown - blubbering in her corner from the beating.

R10: KNIGHTLEY'S PUNCHED HERSELF OUT! Keira slide-stepping away from Watts, concern in her eyes as she knows she's over extended. Watts grim-eyed as she stalks, stepping into spearing jabs to guide Knightley to the corners, then lining her up. Sharpshooting aggression from Naomi - she doesn't want to get used up again - just placing right hands, bodying up with a bony shoulder/elbow in Keira's chest, pressing up before stepping out for range. Keira spinning out of trouble, doing a nice job of minimizing Watts' opportunities - Brit able to dance and slip her way to the bell, forfeiting the round. Comes back UD10 Keira Knightley.

After: Watts hands on hips, staring at the canvas, obviously bitterly disappointed at the outcome of the see-saw contest - Kidman offering consoling words. Knightley getting hugs - she's a relieved little fighter as both girls took turns terrorizing each other. Neither girl could finish the other, but both put pleasing

Reposted  by Archer 6/9/09.