Posted by 9/26/2003, 4:59 pm.

Before: Keira’s been in with some terrific bantams in her young career, but pundits looking at Richards as a pivotal fight for the Brit. “Knightley’s been rounds with Jolie--fighters of that caliber, but she wasn’t expected to win,” notes one wizened scribe, “and she didn’t. Against Denise, Keira’s got to win and evenhanded Richards at points to be considered more than a flash in the pan. it’s OK to test yourself against the best as a prospect--but you make your money putting girls in their places beneath you: Keira’s got to produce.” Richards stewing over the stepping stone label for this fight--she’s still got the punch and chin make things interesting against a smaller girl. Jaunty nautical navy two piece Kiera--boy cut bottoms and sports top, both with pale blue lacing up the front, white shoes. Denise in baby blue bikini top, grey draw string short, white shoes.

During 1,2,3: Back to back shutouts Knightley--establishing from the outset who the quicker girl is. Keira on the outside: weight on the front foot, skittish as she darts back out of range at the slightest gesture from Denise--pokey straight right hands, scraping jabs, Knightley jabbing her way in close to smite the midsection--snatching at Denise’s waist with a rubbery-armed hook, doing good business under Richards’ elbow. Telling moment end of the first--Richards covers up as Knightley jabs, steps-to: Keira lashing her hook to the liver--Denise stepping out with a troubled expression, dropping her hands to take a deep breath.

R3: Richards slower, not as flashy, but she’s got a wealth of veteran experience to dra in, uses it this round. D jabbing with the Brit, disrupting Keira’s bubbly rhythm. Richards placing heavy solo right hands: flat on the gut, clubbing to the shoulder or chest, backing Knightley up. Denise clinching, getting her weight in the slighter Knightley, walking her around--good brunette round as she problematizes what had looked an easy go for Keira early.

R4: Knightley not a devastating puncher, but she’s hurt girls with quick, surprising shots and gets to Denise midway through the fourth. Girls trading--Knightley slipping shots as she retreats, walks Richards into a sneaky, snaking left on the chops-Richards baby-stepping, covedrs p wobbly butt as Knightley takes advantage. Keira smiling, jabbing to fix position, then rolling rights and lefts against Denise’s taut gut, stepping of to the right with a pesky, flicking jab to cover.

R5: Richards walking her girl down--thumping jab giving Keira problems even when it doesn’t land. Knightley’s back on the ropes for the first time--she’s forced to cover, turning her shoulder to accept Richards’ thumping salvoes. Denise doing a nice job stepping-with, preventing Knightley from spinning off the ropes, jabbing the girl between the jugs to position her, then banging away at flanks with shivering rights and lefts, Good meaty beat-down Richards to Knightley--veteran finding ways to keep this thing close as Keira back to her corner with a concerned expression.

R6,7.8: Knightley starting to separate herself. Keira dictating pace and distance--cute with the lead rights off her front foot, leaning onto her back foot to scrape the check hook--she’s patiently busting Richards’ pretty face up. In the seventh, Keira hurts Denise in the body again--timing her step in and getting good lanky whip on dig-dig right/lefts on the stomach--D Doesn’t like it, stepping out winded to regroup. Richards competitive each round, but she’s waiting her turn, getting out hustled and her heavy single right hands aren’t balancing Keira’s lathering output.

R9: Richards with power. Denise jabbing--always a good thing for the brunette--she steps back, gets Keira lunging a bit and TAGS her a stunning short right on the chin. Knightley stamping canvas to get her legs back--Richards aggressively forward as Keira deals with hurt for the first time,. D thick to the body, really heaving I rights and lefts, bludgeoning her girl to the ropes, then shoving u rudely to jostle, Firm push and punch from Denise--hammering rising blows up into Keira’s lungs, then trying to pound past that guard to mess up the face, Knightley’s legs give way in the middle minute, but she digs in, riding out the last minute with a torso roll, torso lean back into the ropes and clinching.

R10: Knightley told to box, run the clock--she does so to perfection. Richards snarling, stalking forward, but every few seconds she takes a pesky tapping jab on her forehead from the elusive Knightley, Keira skirting the ring, loping in either direction, picking her spots to shear off the jab and tear up gut in Denise as the bigger girl stoops forward behind a high guard to receive. Richards can’t get position, just following the classy Brit around the ring for a shutout. Comes back UD10 Keira Knightley.

After: Knightley basking in the glow--comfy win over durable, but fading Richards--Brit waving to her fans, smiling, white towel around her neck as she glows in triumph, Richards smoldering, face all touched up, growing sullen as Keira struts and prances: hard pill for the former ingénue to swallow as youngsters start passing her by. Knightley about to address camera when SHE’S DECKED BY A CHEAP LEFT! An enraged Richards loads up and lands a taped-fist sucker punch clean on Knightley’s little jaw, dropping the blonde in a ragged heap and startling on-lookers. Keira twitching, burbling nonsensically through bloodied lips--Richards bundled back by officials--it’s pandemonium as Denise is eventually subdued. Hey, you can only push a proud former champ so far: Richards drawing the line in the canvas with her heinous act.

Reposted by Archer 7/24/10.