Posted by Simguy on 03/25/2005

Before: Long awaited showdown at 110 - Packard thought to be the final obstacle before a serious Longoria title challenge. Eva sweeping away the old guard at 110, but she's cognizant of Kelly's legacy, careful to show the proper respect in prefight.

"Kelly's been the gold standard at flyweight for a long time," Longoria acknowledges, "but I have a very hungry heart where she's concerned. She's got a lot left - I've probably sparred more rounds in preparation for this fight than any other I've had. Vanessa and I have broken Kelly down from all angles and I'm just excited to get in there and go to work."

Packard rejuvenated after subjugating the vaunted Sheriff at bantam - she's bringing renewed confidence and a restocked right hand to the dance. "All I know is, I was able to hurt Eliza Dushku," says Kelly with meaningful emphasis on the hallowed name. "No way Longoria takes my punch. I do see this as a punching opportunity - I think I'm the big dog in the fight and I'm gonna act like it."

Longoria in tan western motif bikini, tan soft-soled slugging boots by UGG, slick low ponytail - Kelly in black bikini, slick low ponytail, tan UGG slugging boots. Both girls trying out the new sheepskin UGG boxing glove - small, said to transmit more of the shock of the punch without cutting the opponent.

During R1: Kelly: hooking Longoria amidships, dropping the backfoot back smartly to pull hook across chops, leading a hook as she rocks forward and drills home a tasty right cross on chin in early action. Longoria jarred, bends supple at the waist, comes out the crouch hooking - sheepskin glove making dull thudding noises against Kelly's ribcage. Girls lean in noggin-on-noggin, pull away hooking - smooth, slicing boxing, neither girl backing off. Ominous signs at the midway point - Kelly's getting that right hand pretty consistently, bending through the punching motion, sheepskin glove skidding off Eva's shocked face - Longoria's slim legs give a shimmy as she sponges, starts to unravel. Licking, lashing two way continues, but Packard getting the better of it - she's stepping right, forcing pace on Longoria, hooking her sternum to stiffen her, finding ways to place right hands. 10 seconds to bell and EVA WOBBLES TO ONE KNEE! Longoria dazed - dull 'Fump' of sheepshin face shining her up nicely. Kelly glaring down, chest heaving with pride at the sight - she struts past all flyweight cocky as Longoria takes 8.

R2: Kelly wades into Eva - Packard with the right hand high, left low - she's just cranking hooks to breadbasket, chopping down right hands to back Longoria to ropes. Eva taking a right on her cheek or chin every few seconds - she just can't seem to get away from it and those punches are buzzing her legs. Longoria responding with animal ferocity - she cuts her way off the ropes shivering lefts and rights to Kelly's pale flanks, backing blonde up and momentarily doubling her over as girls resume midring. Both putting the front foot in a bucket and pivoting 'round it: dukes at cheeks, elbows in, supple bending and straightening at the waist as both stand in the pocket and slug. Rip-roaring flyweight entertainment - both girls bouncing sheepskin off ribcage with shattering force, writhing upperbodies pulling slender arms onto the target - it's a pure firefight at the half way mark. Final minute - Eva with some oily upperbody moves slips Kelly's right, turns away from the left, Longoria back a stroking hook to jaw and KELLY'S HURT! Delayed reaction as suddenly woozy Packard walks away forlorn, knees finally giving way and spilling her stupid to ropes. ON COMES LONGORIA! Eva in lanky - pawing the right hand to load up CRANKING hooks - shatter-blasts pounding off Kelly's scalp, ear and shoulder - she covers up shellshocked, drooping forward to put top of her head at Eva's belly button. Longoria greedily bats away lefts and rights behind the elbows, then smart - she hunkers down, bodies Kelly sideways to the ropes - Packard's left side exposed as Longoria looms over top, LUGGING in the sheepskin! PUMPING lefts and rights fit into Kelly's ribs, hip and buttock - Longoria bearing her teeth and just lapping at the goodness and KELLY WILTS TO CANVAS! Packard hugging her battered torso, crouching on her haunches, tilting her forehead to canvas as she shudders with great wracking sobs. It's OVER! KO2 in heartpounding fashion, Eva Longoria!

After: Eva goes ballistic, jumping into the arms of her trainer as wild celebration unleashes. Poor Kelly sobbing, huddled on her haunches - she started the slugging, Eva finished it in a barnburner. Marcil taunting a devastated Packard as Kelly gets salts on her stool - meanwhile, Eva's on camera: "She drew the wrong lessons from her bantam experience," says Longoria in postfight once she settles down. "I marvelled at the way she boxed Eliza - but Kelly only saw the punching, the right hands she was landing and thought she could just come back down and annihilate me. I'll punch with any girl at 110, Kelly included. She made it an easy fight for me." If that was 'easy', can't wait for the TOUGH fight!