UNIFIED BANTAMWEIGHT TITLE

Part 1:

Posted by Simguy on 8/4/2006

Before: "It;s a rookie mistake," Dani says of Scarlett's invitation for a title defence, "not that I'm complaining! Scarlett posted the upset of the year over Eva, but she hasn't taken time to digest her gains--she's too eager now to dominate and it's going to cost her. That stuff that vexed Eva won't work on me--I'm just going to barrel into Scarlett and maul her--that's my game." Johansson supremely confident at the dais--every inch Hollywood royalty AND FCBA champion--living up to her rep for precocious poise. "Dani's the one who hasn't learned a lesson from that Mendes fight: I EXPOSED Eva--I didn't just beat her--and I'll expose Dani, too. I know Fishel is pressure-squared, but I've got Dani-busted moves she's never dreamed of--nobody has ever turned Dani inside out like I plan to. It'll be a great fight--a fight I'm proud to make: it's not odten the fans get to see the Number 1 and Number 2 in a division battle it out for all the marbles. I just hope Fishel lives up to her ranking." Dani in navy bandeau bikini, large baby blue polka-dots and bra-strap support, white aerobics shoes/socks, high puncher's ponytail with bangs, white mitts. Scarlett in midnight blue bikini, silver/grey lace trim, white boxing book to midcalf, high puncher's ponytail with bangs, white mitts.

During R1: Dani: grinning, coming forward with a jerky bob-and-weave--arms crossing/uncrossing as she steps. Scarlett; right shoulder pointed at Dani, right hand at waist, left cocked under her chin. Dani looking for hooks out of the crouch--but Scarlett's natural southpaw stance makes it a tough sell: Johansson diping forward at the waist, rolling the punches off her right shoulder, maintaining her closed stance. Midway through, Johansson jots a screened straight left stamp-flat to Dani's face--whole Fishel's blinking, mouth open--Scarlett twists torso-left, bites that tight right hook around, clouts Dani's left temple and executes a cutey-pie right, neatly turning Dani's left flank. That's going to be Johansson's move tonight--Dani better get used to it.

R2: Scarlett loose, relaxed, boxing like a true champion early on. Counterclockwise rotation, pivoting 'round that planted right (front) foot, using the right shoulder an hinge and just rolling Dani to give Fishel angles. Dani absorbing Johansson's sneaky lead left hand on the face--Fishel unhurt, but it's a tangy, startling blow, and the right hook follow-up has bite. All Scarlett to final minute, when Fishel mixes things up--jabbing stubby to Johansson's mouth, scooting 'round Scarlett's left flank to hook from an oblique angle. Awkward connect has Johansson backpedalling crazily--Dani hopping-with and hooking mouth from off Johansson's left side--SCARLETT SCOOTS TO HER BUTT ZAT BTHE ROPES! Johansson up quickloy, bouncing on the spot, shaking her head "No: you didn't hurt me"--but Dani's got the smug grin on her face bopping back to neutral corner.

R3: Fishel's lumping up. Scarlett can't miss with the lead left to Dani's face--timing Fishel's bob exquisitely, turning into the shot without warning to startle Dani every time. Fishel's head jerking straight back--arms crossed at her body--then Johansson's right hook caroms off temple as Scarlett swivel-pivots right. Scarlett not just potshotting--she shows sauce by stepping in and shoe-shining Dani's breasts at the halfway mark--scrubbing a shocked Fishel onto her heels and collecting a bushel of connects before Dani can answer back. Good head movement, good anticipation, good footwork from Scarlett--she's offsetting Dani's muscle through 3, keeping the little juggernaut off balance.

R4: Fishel slowly turns the tide, making two adjustments en route. 1.) stubby jabbing more often--not landing against Scarlett's southpaw front, but it's keeping Johansson from getting oiff first with her sneaky lead left. 2.) Dani's leaning into hard, straight right hands off the shoulder--pounding up the middle to part Johansson's breasts or test her chin/ Scarlett taking poke, backing up--Dani able to come forward consistently and midway through--she's finally got Scarlett's back to the ropes. Job of work for Fishel then: squirming in close, sticky legs pushing and stamping at canvas to keep Scarlett pinned down. Johansson grimacing--left arm draped around Dani's shoulders, right hand pulling at Dani's left wrist, trying to keep Fishel all bundled up. Right side of Fishel's face smudging into the left side of Scarlett's--Dani writhing, pushing--stuffing crude rights and lefts into Johansson's waist, ribs, back and hips, bell: dani breaks into a big grin, jogs happily back to her corner, ponytail tossing.

R5: Scarlett frowning, trying to hurt Dani with the lead left up the middle, but getting poked just as many lead rights in return--fight scrambles to ropes by the minute mark. Dani on top and wriggling. Heads tucked in tight together, both girls gasping with the effort of managing one another's bodies. Scarlett riding the left arm around Dani's shoulders, holding her close--Scarlett's right hand either pulling down on Dani's left or jamming in short to Fishel's cheek. Dani muscular in the clinch, stuffing he rhands into Scarlett's pale tummy and ribs, then wriggling to pull at Johansson's restraining arms, trying to square the blonde up at the ropes and push hetr into them. Squirmy stuff--neither girl getting great leverage or doing much damage--but fishel with position, staying on Scarlett's chest, grinding out points the Dani way through 5.

Fishel/Johansson title bout conc.

Posted by Simguy on 8/4/2006, 7:10 am.

R6: Fishel on Johansson, in the Johansson corner, bell to bell. Scarlett sluggish, shabby for the first time tonight--right hand often grabbing her left shoulder, left hand at her right hip as she slouches forward, roills back--eyes blinking, mouth pursed., dani bumping and pushig aggressively--giving herself a little toom to really lug those hooks into Scarlett. Fishel's right hand a stubby little prod--occasionallt meant to bust Scarlett in the chops or chest, but often just shoving her left shoulder to prop. Dani methodical, bashing away at arms, flanks, chest and tummy--content to bang the drum on Scarlett, loosening Johansson's guard up for chin-checks to follow. Bell: Dani bouncing back to her corner all smiles, waving to the crowd; Scarlett grimacing, sullen on her stool for the break.

R7: More Fishel pressure--Scarlett having trouble getting her back off the ropes as Dani just keeps squirming and slugging. Johansson finally nipping little left or right uppercuts to Dani's chin--just little dip-n'-clip shots from her tight guard, picking Fishel up--uppervut long considered the cornerstone-punch for any Dani-busting strategy. Dani unperturbed--still reaching her arms in under Scarlett's, still pushing an bullying, still slamming away with gusto. Dani really reducing Scarlett's rack this round--pounding away with healthy, clapping lefts and rights--trying to break Johansson's will in the seventh.

R8: Scarlett still pushed up against the ropes--she's tucked in behind her guard, elbows in, hands up--nipping little counter-uppercuts, but suffering badly under the constant press of Dani. Fishel so kinetic and jiggly--dipping low to either side to push her shoulder into Scarlett, then surprise her with looping shots out of the crouch; tousle-scrubbing Scarlett as Dani shifts her head side to side; short stems stamping at canvas, constantly propelling Fishel into Johansson. Down the stretch, it's all too much--thudding attrition of Dani's clubbing punches finally sends Scarlett woozy to all fours, Fishel beaming down at Johansson's shiny white back--ref has to push dani away as she's too busy enjoying her handiwork to go to neutral corner on her own.

R9: Johansson's lips curl back from her teeth: she catches a second wind, comes out jabbing/stepping with authority. Fishel stalled at midring, crossing her arms, bobbing and weaving as Johansson doubles up stiff right-handed poke, rotating counter-clockwise. Scarlett able to lean in, extend on the straight left hand, then clip dani a super-short right uppercut off the front (right) foot. Dani picked up hard, surprised at Scarlett's pop in combination--Fishelo put wobbly butt at points as champ puts her foot down. Marvelous stuff--when Scarlett's able to show southpaw angles, mix left hands/right uppercuts off the jab--she can get things done on dani. Bell: Johansson with a spirited cuffing of Dani's backside to banish the challenger back to her corner--ref has to intercede as Fishel doesn't like the attitude.

R10: Fishel restores order, beating down the uprising, jabbing Scarlett to ropes, getting on top and treating her to more abuse. Johansson just hunched forward grimacing, dukes at her cheeks--all she can do is try to lean into Dani, then back and nip an uppercut while there's room enough to get off. Fishel smashing at the hips, ribs and jug, then squirming in to burden Johansson with weight--smothering Scarlett, smearing her against the ropes, Johansson so battered and frustrated at one point, she just lays back on the ropes, arms out wide to either side, screeching to the ref to "DO SOMETHING!" as Dani's wrapped up tight around the waist, her chin tucked in snug over Scarlett's left shoulder, Fishel's little grin of happiness at Johansson's distress says it all. Bell--Dani pushes up off Johansson's bruised frame to strut the ring hands high, even before the decision comes back UD10 winner and NEW bantamweight champion: Danielle Fishel!

After: Although tempers flared throughout the match, both girls rise above it to shae a hug and some words of acknowledgement in postfight. "I just told her she's really tough and she's only going to get better," says a magnanimous Fishel in postfight--sturdy body weighed down with gold championship belts over her shoulders and about her waist. "She stung me--I had to be really diligent about keeping this thing on the ropes because right away I saw how dangerous she would be in space. You know, I just fought my fight against a girl who hasn;t seen a lot of serious pressure and I made the most of my opportunity. I can't tell you what a thrill it is to be a champion again--especially in this so-called "New Era" of taller, hard-bodied bantams. Johansson surprisingly upbeat in defeat--chatty with press, friendly with TE aides and fighters in the ring. "I got taught a lesson tonight," Johansson tells BLONDE! magazine, "and it's a lesson I'll take to heart for the future. We fought this fight on Dani's terms, but I already know that things can be different in the future--that I can definitely beat this girl and other top girls in the division. There were times tonight--certain situations--when Dani couldn't compete at all against me. I just have to make sure that next time, those situations are more frequent--I'll deny Dani her terms, force her to accept mine, and i know the verdict will be very different."

Reposted by Archer 6/1/10.