USA VS THE COMMONWEALTH TOURNAMENT

MATCH EIGHT

Originally posted by Simguy on Sunday, 04-Jul 1999 11:11:19

Before: In this pair’s only other meeting, Theron was a surprisingly one-sided victor, easily handling the woman most recognize as the best fighter in  the super model ranks today, Banks has the offensive arsenal, especially the lanky right hand to hurt Theron, but has never demonstrated much in the way of chin or defensive acumen. Theron in white cotton aerobics wear, white gloves and sneakers. Banks in yellow and blue cotton aerobics wear, white gloves and sneakers, ponytail.

During R1: Ol’ Blood and Guts is back. Banks gives Theron a lanky look early, hands low, knees bent, leaning in and out, and the brunette catches the blonde looking with a sweeping overhand right to begin the festivities. Theron almost out of her feet, is stunned by the first punch of the fight, staggering and trying to defend as Banks leaps in. Tyra lashes Charlize with whipping lefts and rights as the blonde stands her ground, gloves at her lips, helpless before the onslaught. Theron is cut, staggery, and ultimately battered this round as Tyra simply airs it out, swinging freely, and nearly punching herself out as Theron finishes standing up. Banks thrusts her fists in the air and smiles bitchily at the audience as Charlize stumbles to her corner.

R2: NASCAR action in Theron’s corner as her teams revives and restores the blonde to decent condition. Charlize comes out surprisingly effective, using a straight jab to disrupt Tyra’s wide punching, and hooking off the jab to the model’s bony ribs, Banks beaten flat footed this round, wears a bitchy look of discomfort from Charlize body work, and Theron appears to have things well under control, when Tyra drops another bug right hand late in the round. Anxious moments in the Theron corner as once again, her legs lock and she covers up, hoping just to make it to the bell as Banks whups up on her.

R3: Tyra gets the jab going this round, lifting it off the hip, an swopping it wide into Charlize’s swollen face, Banks does a nice job of stick and move this round, piling up the points and putting more mileage on the blonde’s face in the process.

R4: Charlize with heavy lefts and rights o the midsection, slows Tyra this round, and once again, the model has hurt written all over her. Tyra clutching and grabbing this round, doesn’t like the body shots, and isn’t doing much about them this round.

R5: The girls steps around one another, measuring with jabs, potshotting with safety first right hands. It’s even over 2/3 of the way, but once again, Banks scores with that dependable, looping right hand, and Theron goes wobbly butt. Charlize backs away, and the crowd goes wild as Tyra tries yet again to stop the solid blonde. Theron’s head snaps back and forth as Banks slugs her to the corner. Tyra’s lips curl back as she puts her lanky body in behind every blow, trying to destroy Charlize, not just beat her. Theron saved by the bell once again, seems barely aware of her surroundings this time.

R6: Tyra Banks come out to end matters this round. Both girls get flat footed—Banks pushes her left forward to try to open up Charlize’s guard, drops in some B right hands as Theron wobbles to her left. But Charlize still has plenty left, although apparently shot, she still rips the odd painful body shot to Tyra’s ribs, forcing the model to clinch. Agonizing round as Charlize looks loike she could go any time, yet does enough to stay in it.

R7: Banks staying outside: spearing that super model jab to the face of Theron and stepping into lunging right hands to the body. Theron standing straight up, legs a-quiver, does a fair job of countering with hooks whenever Banks’ head comes into range. Tyra letting Charlize recover, still banks the round.

R8: Charlize has her best round in a while, walking through Banks’ lanky jab and pounding to the model’s hips and sides. Banks holding on, doesn’t hold Charlize close enough, and Theron is able to rip uppercuts to the pouting mouth of Tyra in between merciless bodyshots. Theron walking a fatigued Tyra around the ring, keeps up the pressure, pounding the model’s long arms and rounded shoulders.

R9: More exhausted slugging from both warrior as the two girls go toe to toe all three minutes. Theron concentrates on Banks’ chest chopping down with both hands to the model’s breasts, and causing Tyra to wince in pain. In the final minute, Tyra leans back from a wild left hand miss from Charlize, and steps into a perfect right to the jaw, sending Theron sprawling to the ropes. It’s as close to going down as Charlize has come to in the fight, and she hurt for the umpteenth time. Again, Banks mounts an exhausted charge, pushing Theron into the ropes, setting her feet, and swinging her fists in wide arcs. Theron battered unrecognizable, but simply refusing to go down, survived to hear the bell once again.

R10: Somehow, through slits for eyes, Charlize finds the will to box this round. Stepping to the left, pounding the jab into Tyra’s pouting mouth, and scoring with heavy right hands to the jaw. Charlize posts a shutout to save the fight. The decision comes back a draw, and earns a shower of boos from the crowd, who only remember Tyra’s gaudy power punches.

After: Banks whines about the decision, with some justification as she clearly landed the harder punches throughout the fight. Charlize is escorted to the MASH unit once again, but her champion’s heart shined through under terrible adversity. Hurt from the opening moments on, Theron gutted it out and preserved what turned out to be a solid dominance by the world team over the U.S.

Reposted by Archer 7/14/09