Posted by Simguy on 8/23/2008, 9:13 am.

Before: “I’m way too big a banger for Natalie,” Ricci boasts in preflight. “She’s cute and slick and stuff, but pound for pound--I’m tuffer and stronger. I’ll track her down and beat her up: I have no time for any of Natalie’s BS in the ring.” Portman grinning--spirited pixie loves good comp. “Christina’s always been raw,” Portman says in rebuttal, “but she’s always brought strong punching to the ring, which I enjoy facing. Can she hurt me? Absolutely. WILL she? Remains to be seen., I know this: if I fight my best fight, and she fights hers? I’ll win every time. Every time.” Ricci in dirty blonde curls; mauve push up, white cotton trunks (ala “Black Snake Moan”); small black workout gloves. Natalie in navy bandeau fighting bikini (sturdy low-rise hipster bottoms); small white work out gloves; hair back in slick battle bun.

During R1: Boxer vs. Puncher: Natalie the former, Ricci the latter, Chris rushing out in low crouch, nibbling on her dukes, weaving I side to side and hoping to land roundhouses up top. Nat pumping jabs in threes--squirting ‘em up the middle while pivoting left, looking to sidestep-and-tire her foe, then move in with chippy combinations. By the second minute, Natalie getting much of the best of it: Ricci missing, then paying the price as Portman pounces, Nat darting in, tearing away lefts and rights then darting out: Ricci’s head jerking and jolting as Portman’s accurate fists play tic-tac-toe. Final minute: RICCI’S WOBBLY BUTT! Chris stunned, staring--movements slowing as she’s on her heels, starting to take ruinous punishment. Nat stitching in and out, eyes narrowed as she keys in Ricci’s drowsy face, pelting away jabs, hooks and crosses. Final moments, Ricci’s curvy legs holding her up as Natalie pumps in a glorious sequence of smooth, piercing, straight lefts and rights to face--punching Chris into stupor at the bell, Natalie brightens, eyes dancing at the sight of Ricci swaying hurt on the spot: big 10-8 first as Portman answers power with accurate volume.

R2: First minute--Natalie goes for knock out--keying on still-woozy Ricci’s head, Vicious hooks and crosses bounce of Christina’s face--Ricci slugged back into ropes, then nearly going down under a ferocious criss-cross bombardment of straight left/right jammers up the middle. Portman seething, starting to breathe hard: she backs off, sensing Ricci won’t go--brunette draws fight back to midring. Rest if the way, Natalie slows the pace, consolidates behind her jaw: she’s rotating clockwise in a series of graceful pivots, constantly turning Ricci’s right flank. Chris following bleakly, buttocks and thighs trembling with shock: Natalie deploys boxing’s cruelest jab, pounding away at Ricci’s expressive eyes. Systematic punishment beats Chris puffy by the bell. Natalie struts past with a determined expression of extreme focus through 2.

R3: Natalie continues to break Christina down. Portman flat footed now, supple waisted--she’s stooping to fit jabs into Ricci’s tummy, then scooting out of range to circle. Portman’s legs in control--she’s curving in from angles, using her jab to suppress Ricci, then dotting Chris with pinpoint combination strikes. While disengaging, Natalie often pumps a forget-me-not jab into Ricci’s breasts--Chris having trouble landing as Nat’s taking no chances. Ricci doing some work to the ribcage--but Portman actually inviting Chris to swing, looking to trigger counter-combinations against Ricci’s available noggin. Down the stretch--Natalie calmly bobs under a Ricci one-two, then comes back with a vicious counter right uppercut/left hook combo. Ricci spanked onto her heels: Nat knocks jab against brow, tipping Ricci into ropes. Flurry amidships sits Chris on middle strand: carving left uppercuts off the left (front) foot scrape at Ricci’s overhanging face. Right uppercut off the right foot--Nat arching her supple back, keeping the shots short. Left uppercut off the left foot/left hook in behind the elbow--Nat then easing her left forearm/elbow into Ricci’s breasts to stack her up for reset. Right uppercut punches the mouth guard off Ricci’s teeth; short right cross follows, punching Ricci’s head aside. Chrissy’s head lolling dangerously--sturdy legs refusing to give way, but ref’s seen enough clean punching for one fight. Official steps in--Natalie smiles prettily: she’s the TKO3 victrix.

After: Startling dismissal--Ricci known for durability and heavy hands at 110: she’s undressed tonight by a razor sharp Natalie Portman. “That’s the best I’ve felt in a while,” at admits in post fight, “I was just letting my hands go, just trying to bet first--and EVERYTHING was landing/ She just faced into too much leather--ref had to do what he had to do. I was hurting her, and when you’re pasting a girl like that, the officials can’t be too brave.”

Reposted by Archer 5/28/11.