Posted by Simguy on 2/4/2005, 7:06 am

Before: Nat pitting my skills and speed agaist phyiscally imposing Burton--TE blonde one of the biggest, rangiest of the 110 set, while Nat's a true fly. "She's an intimidating presence," Portman admits, "but unlike a Jaime Pressly, Hilarie's not bringing much in the way of skill or natural pop to the dance. She can crack a little at 110, but it's not like she's hitting like a bantam or lightweight at our weight, so I can manage her." Burton upbeat--others are pussy-footing around the topic of a Portman slump, but Hilarie doesn't beat around the bush. "Natalie's struggling," says matter-of-fact blonde, "and I plan to take advantage. She's one of the best out there, but this game is 90% confidence--when you don't have it, special girls get ordinary awful quick." Portman in navy bandeau bikini, slick battle bun hair--Hilarie in black push up, red and black plaid trunks.

During R1: Portman in with a slicing stomp-and-jab to the beoly, darting back outside, darting inside again while bending low under a pushy Burton one-two, coming out of the crouch with a CLANGING hook on the chops. Hilly blinking, rattled back in her heels--eyes wide, she starts pushing out the jab, right hand low, while rotating to her left. Portman pressing, crouching forward, stalking--she weaves the jab, steos into a southpaw stance while closing on Burton and hauos a sweeping left clean to the jaw--HILARIE GOES DOWN! Whistling thunder-clap blast on the chin puts Burton on her back--absolute astonishment on blonde face as she goes numb and tingly all over. Portman glaring down, storming to the neutral corner--Hilarie barely pulls herself together to beat the count. ON COMES PORTMAN! Natalie POURING herself at Hilarie--leaning in close and tearing at blonde vitals with a series of ripping, sidearm right hands; standing up in the stirrups to brush Burton back the left uppercut; pounding away up top wide left hooks and short right hands and THE REF STEPS IN! Burton blubbery--shellshocked--trembling--she's cradled to safety as Nat Portman stomps away the KO1 winner in a stunning fashion.

After: Most violent punching performance of Nat Portman's career, totally throwing out her standard playbook to turn slashing power puncher from the get-go--she's almost awestruck as she watches the slo-replays of herself dropping Burton with thyat crushing left cross. "It was no accident or fluke," Natalie insists in postfight, "Hilarie was well scouted for this fight, I've seen things I could get her in tape and that's more or loess the way we chalked it up. I couldn't predict a stoppage, but I knew I could land hard to her chin and I'm just thankful she couldn't take it. She'll get better--she'll tighten up those holes--but right now--Hilarie Burton doesn't really belong in the same ring as a Natalie Portman and i think she knows that now." Ouch.

Reposted by Archer 7/18/11.