Posted by Simguy on 11/30/2001, 7:00 am

Before: Danes reveling in her role as “big woman” in this fight—svelte little Kreuk does have an accumulation KO over Shiri Appleby, but Claire obviously the stronger puncher. Kreuk somewhat of a marked woman at junior flyweight—something about her makes other women just want to pile on the hurt, and Claire’s no different: “Obviously, it’s going to be a long night for Kris. The game plan is to mark Kreuk up, slug her, work her over—she’s going to try to finesse me, but she just doesn’t have enough. I almost feel sorry for her in a way.” Danes in black lace bandeau camisole top and pantiers, Kristin in pink bra and panties.

During R1: Danes stepping in with a confident jab, then dipping a shoulder to lick hooks off Kreuk’s face—blonde skids a mitt across brunette’s eyebrow in the first minute to put Kris wobbly butt. Claire following up with wide monster swings, but Kreuk nifty defense on show—Spadafora type bending at the waist, sidestepping pivots get Kreuk out of trouble, and down the stretch, she’s catching Danes rushing in, getting underneath Claire’s power shots and depositing little touches in blonde belly, or striking her upside the head with pesky right hands. Round to Danes—she’s beaming, lifting her mitt in celebration at the rarely rocking of Kreuk with the hook.

R2: Kreuk using supple underbody movement, keep anticipation to make Danes miss, get low on the blonde and work her body with slappy lefts and rights before sidestepping away. Claire squaring up and lobbying haymakers at her opponent, grunting like a tennis player from the baseline, but Kreuk’s reading well, responding like prime Gellar or Packard—nickle and diming Danes underneath, Claire avoids the shutout by renewing her jab late, but can’t land solidly on the willowy brunette this round.

R3: Claire with fists at her chest, sets her hips and rips gobsmacking roundhouses over the top—Kreuk easily able to slip in and down, then smack-smack at the pale belly and ribs of her foe as Danes is often out of position. Danes does a better when she shortens up, leads with the jab, but Kreuk doing a nice job of turning a shoulder or rolling with the incoming, isn’t getting clipped clean. Down the stretch, Kris punching with Danes, beating her to the connects, and a routine paintbrush stroke along the jaw leaves Danes staring. Kreuk suddenly jumping out of her shorts to lick lefts and rights to either side of Claire’s head—Danes backing up in shock, hits the ropes and can’t believe Kreuk is punishing her. Bell sounds—Claire soaks up the damage, but she’s trembling at the insult—Kreuk lathering away for points this round.

R4: Claire getting a stern talking-to in her corner, comes out more disciplined, realizing she’s in a boxing match with tricky customer at this point. Tactical forth, Danes flat footed, measuring her foe, doubling up on the jab and bringing her hands back high. Kreuk getting touched at long range, can’t get off much, but still doing a nice job of taking as much off Danes’ punches as possible,. Round to Claire.

R5: Claire hooking off her jab, stepping Kris down, cutting if the ring like a pro—midway through, blonde digs a harsh left to the pit of brunette’s belly, doubles up as Kreuk groans and covers up midring. Claire landing her best leather of the night as she wails away on wounded prey—swabbing lefts and rights across the shiny back or sticking thick into the brunette’s sides—Kris beaten the length of the ring as Claire takes command. All Danes to the bell, getting big on Kreuk, finally using her size to press up on the brunette, then clout away with both hands to the face—Kris taking face punches clean comes away shaky at the bell.

R6: Claire over-exuberant with success, goes back to the slobberknocking assault, attempting to sweep Kristin out of the ring with outrageous roundhouses. Kreuk calm under siege, standing in the pocket, dips in, pats the tummy, pivots to either side. Walks Claire into a whippy right hand upside the head—it’s exquisite counter punching. Claire reckless, taking too many shots, and by the midway point, she’s starting to break down—Kreuk nibbling to the body, but really getting her weight behind lashing blows upside the head—she’s hurting Claire with the repetitive, clapping contact. Down the stretch, Danes groggy, pushing her punches, leaving herself wide open—Kreuk continues to surgically dismantle the blonde from mangles, often pushing Claire on either elbow to sidestep neatly, then bang-bang with licking combinations from the side. Danes shiny, staggering slightly as she turns to go to her corner—another harsh lecture from a trainer that wants her to “smarten up!”

R7: Claire out tentatively, pushing out her jab, immediately getting punched on the eye as Kreuk’s right hand counters continue to victimize the blonde. Kris taking over the fight with her positioning, slipping down and in, then getting off with perfect placement to the body and head—timing and precision making up for the lack of power as Danes starts to shred. Midway point, Danes isn’t punching, hands low—she’s just staring as Kreuk lathers away. Kris loading up, swinging from her hips, slender arms shivering as she strokes punches to either side of Danes head, sending the blonde into stunned, weary retreat. Claire backing to the ropes, face getting buffeted side to side as Kreuk opens up—Kristin has Claire stupefied, but can’t punch hard enough to get her down—always entertaining to see the small woman slugging as hard as their little bodies will allow, while opponents soak it up on their feet. AND THE REF JUMPS IN! Danes allowing Kreuk to hammer away with many, many unanswered punches—cobwebs clear and Danes is outraged as Kristin walks away with  a startling TKO7!

After: Fearful symmetry as Dushku gets to gloat at a Danes miscue—Claire having to be restrained in the ring as the ref is escorted to safety. Anatomy of an upset—overconfident Danes, slugging uncharacteristically, convinced that Kreuk would fold under the first sign of blonde thunder—Kristin staying calm, fighting her fight, did what most thought she couldn’t do—box Claire Danes to standstill. Pundits recognize the loss as a Danes let down more than anything else, but Kreuk’s tocks rises with the win—she’s sneaky, can put punches together to give people problems, and she’s got typical WB ring savvy.

Reposted by Archer 12/5/09.