by Simguy on 02/26/2005

Before: Fox animated at the dais, refusing to call Dani anything other than 'runt', 'punk', 'porker' or 'chump' - Vivica scowling, angry and belligerent throughout prefight. Dani deliberately snubbing the so-called Dani-busting brigade to take a fight with a taller, stronger, faster boxer/puncher - basically moving from physical supremacy to underdog for this fight.

"Vivica's fought at lightweight - she wouldn't look out of place against Cat, so I know I have my work cut out for me," says an eager Fishel. "I've been walking girls like Vivica down my whole career, so even though I know it won't be easy, I know I can chop her down. You want to make me the underdog going in, that's your prerogative. I plan to be the favourite when Vivica's used up."

Fox in leopard print bikini, ring connections, slick low ponytail, leopard print short boxing shoes - Dani bandeau bikini, navy with large baby blue polkadots, white shoes and socks.

During R1: Dani out ballistic, hands tight to her skull and jaw as she bobs and weaves rapidly, spitting stubby jabs to Vivica's chest - she forces Fox upright to ropes and claps her jaw some looping rights and lefts out of the crouch in hectic first minute action. Fox slugging for room then spinning back to midring - at first rushed, jogging a little to get space, spreading Dani out the long, strong jab. Round progresses - Fox' legs settle down, she's establishing range with a firm, scolding stick - keeping bobbing Dani out at end of poke.

R2: Vivica starts quicker with the jab, getting it in Dani's face, steering her, keeping the action midring. Fox' feet much calmer - she's stepping right, dukes up, pinging away the odd lead right, shooting long stick. Nice sequence midway Fox - Viv extending on a long right hand, comes back a rangy left uppercut to pick up Dani's chin between the mitts - Fishel staggered back on her heels as Fox lands hefty. Late surge by Dani sees her score with wide blows to lats, ears as Fox scoots right along the ropes.

R3: Dani's head movement setting up her offense - she's crowding Vivica low, punching abruptly out of the crouch, landing with shivering force either side of Fox' jaw. Vivica upright at the ropes, palming at Dani's shoulders and getting clocked - Fox getting hit more than expected as Fishel bores in. Dani fighting off Vivica's chest much of the round, keeping Fox back to the ropes: this is where Dani wants to be all night long.

R4: Vivica features more uppercuts - getting left uppies off the jab, right uppies as she leans onto her back foot, easing Dani's chin onto the punch. Fox sliding off to the side, nice n' nimble - picking Fishel up, turning her. Fox jab long, heavy - nothing fancy, just keeping it out there, spanking away head and shoulders on Dani to keep her covered up. Fox showing a committment to Dani's body this round: she'll get Fishel bending over defensively, then lean in over top, hauling big swinging lefts and rights in underneath. Fishel stiffening, slowing: good body shellack has little juggernaut looking sluggish through 4.

R5: Dani doing a nice job taking away range from Vivica tonight - taller girl can't consistently impose her will on the fight as Fishel storms the gates and gets in to chest. Dani muscling Viv with leverage underneath, shoving and jostling along the ropes, burrowing in with her forehead and slopping away right/left to the waist line - Fox palming up in protest, gritting teeth as she tries to shove Dani off. Dani warned for pounding Vivica's hip flexors and thighs - partially unintentional as Fox pushing down on Dani's head invites the miscues.

R6: Vivica's turn to be boss - girls flip flopping positions, negotiating terms in alternating stanzas. Fox with that calm, loping step right, shooting straight rights, long jabs, just pinging away at Dani up top. Fox occasionally leaning in with the long right cross, dramatic left uppercut mop-up punch - dangerous as she's overextended, but effective as Fishel gobbles uppie and backs up respectful. Vivica looming over Dani at times, swinging at shorter woman's ribcage with lugging lefts and rights - Fishel biting down and riding it out as Fox pounds out minutes like she's beating Dani with a truncheon.

R7: Dani's turn. Vivica too upright at times - getting caught leaning away from Dani's looping shots, especially along the ropes. Fishel's stubby jab influencing Fox to the perimeter where Fishel can jump in and grind her to ropes - Fox pushing down on Dani's shoulders or tieing up around her head, giving away glistening abs, jugs and ribs to Fishel's tender mercies underneath. Dani warned again for pounding Vivica's hips and thighs - borderline stuff but effective - really robbing Fox of her mobility advantage through 7.

R8: Dani rough with her noggin, billy-goating Vivica square in the tits while chugging away downstairs - Fox grimacing, faltering into ropes. Fishel unleashed, squared up, bobbing side to side, slugging out of the crossed-arm - she's ripping hooks to body, catching Fox on the chin with looping powershots - it's all too much. Fox going suddenly groggy, eyes cloudy - she stumbles to one side, clattering to her knees as Fishel's face lights up: winblown 8 Viv in the first minute. Relentless Dani follow up - Fishel pressing in with her head to Vivica's bulging chest, palming at Viv's biceps to clear the torso, getting in there with rugged, non-stop chug. Fox taking it in her body, growing dim, and getting caught over and over on her chin as she's standing straight up, pushing at Dani's shoulders. Midway through, right hand drapes Fox limp over the rope, head lolling - she drifts to canvas as Fishel narrowly misses a series of homerun lefts and rights. Final minute - Fox exhausted, staring - just pushing on Dani and getting pancaked against ropes: Fishel pouring herself at Fox' ramshackle ribs, hips and tummy, helping herself with muscular pounding repeat lefts, then shifting to get rights as Fox soaks to the bell.

R9: Vivica: open mouthed, eyes vacant, up off her stool with a shambling, crippled gait, right at her chest, left dangling. Fishel all grins - knows a used-up beauty when she sees one - she's on Vivica in a blur of dipping bobs and weaves, stampeding Fox to ropes. Viv bullied, punished as Fishel climbs into her trunks and works - just a steady, rhythmic pounding of a proud vixen's ribs, lats, biceps, chest and tummy. Chin is there, but Dani's not taking it - Fishel making sure of Vivica by hammering what's left of her body.

R10: Dani's done the hard work of breaking Vivica down - she rushes Viv to ropes and swings away lusty to chin, no longer fearing repraisal. Fox getting slobberknocked - head torquing this way and that, but curvy legs holding her up. Vivica dazed, fighting on autopilot, but fighting nevertheless - she's getting left and right uppercuts on Dani, nothing on the punches, but scoring enough to keep the ref from jumping in. Fishel happily eating the odd shot to maintain position on Fox - shorter girl working taller girl over like an Irish Washerwoman scrubbing out the laundry to the bell. Dani lifting her mitts, nodding and grinning - she pounds out a satisfying UD10 over a dangerous Vivica Fox.

After: Left side of Dani's face busted up - Viv got through plenty over the first half, but relentless pressure and iron will saw Dani romp down the stretch. Girls swapping rounds trying to get and hold the upperhand - when did Dani think she'd turned the tide? "Probably the seventh round," Fishel says, looking way up at the interviewer holding the mic. "She was still fresh, but I definitely felt her punching was losing some steam and I was getting in easier, cleaner. I took her jab away with my head movement and she wasn't making me miss at all - I was tagging her chin way more than I expected to be able to. It's a great win for me - lots of people think I can't handle classy boxer/punchers like Vivica, but check her out: sure looks handled to me!"