Originally posted by Simguy on Saturday, 27-Feb-99 10:40:35

Before: Crossover bout, pits two women with almost identical physiques, facial structures, right down to the overbites. Boginskaya not as muscular as most gymnasts, is nevertheless the faster, stronger, fitter athlete in the contest. Fights a similar style to Doherty with rangy jabs setting up power shots, but most think the Russian simply does it all better. Shannen has KO power at this weight in her right hand—she may need it.

Jockey 2 piece bout, red for Shannen, Blue for Bogi.

During R1: While neither woman fights inside much, both are terrific body punchers from mid range and they start out circling, crushing each other to the waistline with numbing hooks. Svetlana has the early advantage, but the trading seems to hurt her after minute, and Doherty takes charge midway through the round. Shannen gets a good angle on Svetlana, stepping to the right and driving in with that Hearns right hand, landing to the high cheekbones of her opponent. Svetlana hurting to the body already, isn’t prepared and starts to wobble, A series of licking rights pulverizes the Russian to the canvas and Doherty struts confidently as the Russian takes a shaky 8. Boginskaya recovers nicely, using her legs to keep away from Shannen’s right, but it’s a big 10-8 round for the actress.

R2: Boginskaya shows her Olympic form, wide shoulders lunched, circling to her left as she pops sliding jabs to Doherty’s vulnerable cheek bones. Shutout for the gymnast as Doherty can’t compete with Bogi’s legs.

R 3,4,5: Boginskaya puts on a clinic, breaking Shannen down with textbook boxing. Circling. Bouncing back from the right hand, and countering hard with either a wide left hook or a chopping right to the cheeks. Svetlana has Doherty puffy-eyed and uncertain of herself by the 5tgh Boginskaya calculating, precise as she picks Shannen apart bit by bit.

R6: Svetlana has Shannen beat up and flat footed, and she sets up in front of the actress to hurt her this round. Withering left hooks to the trunkline have Shannen doubled over, and Boginskaya goes to work with lashing one-twos to the face. Shannen breaks, stumbling back with no form in retreat and Boginskaya steps forward, clipping Doherty twice with a nice run and gun left hook to put the brunette on her backside. Doherty up at 6, is shaky, but stands a foot off the ropes and trades to the belt as both girls look to land right hands.

R7: Shannen plods forward, b ut she has nothing left. Svetlana still moving, leans in to draw the right hand, pulls back with it, then counters hard with her own right to Shannen’s mouth. Doherty glassy-eyed, getting dismantled, doesn’t know what to do. Midway through the round, Svetlana finishes toying with Doherty, taking her out with a pretty 3 punch combinations—2 left hooks and a searing right hand. Shannen crashes to her backside and clearly want no more of this. KO Svetlana as Doherty, puddles in the 7^th.

Reposted by Archer 4/27/09.