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6 February 2003 Elisha Cuthbert vs Naomi Watts

Page history last edited by Archer844 12 years, 7 months ago

 

BOXING AFTER DARK

 

Posted by simguy on 2/6/2003, 6:50 pm

 

Before: Cuthbert entering a big favourite on the strength of grueling victory over Jessica Simpson, greater pro experience overall and Elisha's showing her confidence.

 

When asked about her training camp, Cuthbert's downright cheeky: "We worked on so many things for this fight. My post KO strut - very important. How to locate the neutral corner when I hammer Naomi to the canvas. Lots of outdoor work - gotta tan-up for my fans. Getting sparring for this fight was tough - I've never faced anybody as feeble as Watts so she's difficult to simulate in the ring."

 

On and on - Elisha's enjoying herself. Watts crimson red on her side of the dais. "I realize I showed poorly in my debut," admits Naomi, "but I don't see why Cuthbert should be so favoured over me. I have quality that Elisha has never shown and she will be badly used in this fight, mark my words."

 

Elisha in gold bikini top, cream bikini bottoms, Naomi in navy bra and boy cut panties.

 

During R1: Cuthbert roaring off her stool, going at Naomi without a trace of respect. Elisha nice and compact, moving her upperbody into and out of crouches as she slugs, bringing her fists sharp and clubbing around Watts' guard to jaw, wide to the flanks. Bodying up, Elisha revelling in her ability to walk Watts to the ropes - Cuthbert able to bully Naomi whenever they lock up. Nothing back from Naomi as she runs for her life, occasionally grabbing onto the back of Elisha's head and spinning her to relieve the pressure. Raucous shutout Cuthbert - she's puppy-like as she sits rapt on her stool, nodding eagerly at Janet Jones' instructions.

 

R2: Cuthbert charging in, but the head movement's gone - WAtts gets some things done. Naomi stepping back smartly, peppering Elisha with jabs, ramming the straight right hand home, slapping the hook and pivoting off to the left as Cuthbert blunders into it. When Elisha pressures Naomi close to ropes - Aussie stands firm, rubs Cuthbert's face with scrubbing lefts and rights, then sidesteps out of trouble. Cuthbert marching forward, unhurt - but when she's beaten to punches, she's waiting her turn - Watts able to work and get out, puts a glossy, shutout shine on Elisha's pretty face this round.

 

R3: Cuthbert getting low, moving her head, punching out of the crouch - she's got Watts raring back from swings, looking shaky in retreat. Naomi missing over the top as she works her spindly jab, right cross routine - Elisha showing nice timing as she comes up and lands counter hooks to jaw. On the ropes it's no contest - Cuthbert palming up on Naomi's shoulders, draping her on the strands, muscling her and clubbing her with raunchy wide slugs. Naomi gritty under pressure, but suffering - she can't bull her way out of there.

 

R4; All Elisha early as she hounds Naomi to ropes and works her over. Cuthbert head down, arms crossed - she's just robotically bludgeoning away underneath, clubbing that slender waist and brittle ribcage. WAtts turns it around with a nice little spin, putting Elisha face first in the ropes and stepping away - Cuthbert coming forward falls into the pattern of taking punches and waiting her turn at arms length from Naomi. WAtts fails to close out the round strong as she goes purely defensive, legging away from Elisha - Cuthbert tentative after missing badly, settles for the draw.

 

R5: Much more constructive Cuthbert. She gets to Watts' chest, wrestles her to the ropes, punishes that waistline with a consisent grinding assault. Naomi sitting hurt in the strands, elbows in, hands at her face - she's turning with the incoming, shaking upon impact as Elisha gives it to her hard. Bell to bell Cuthbert - she's nice and compact, arms crossed against her body, snapping home the hurt, using her shoulders and elbows to keep Watts pinned to the ropes.

 

R6: Cuthbert all smiles, bouncing to the attack - Watts grim, but focused, gets the chiselling jab out there, worrying Elisha about the nose and eyes while stepping back out of range. Cuthbert bobbing arms crossed, but she's getting her face tracked and she's not punching back. Watts able to keep her distance as Elisha comes forward, walking Cuthbert into straight right hands and hooks off the jab. Midway through, brushing lefts and rights have Elisha blinking in confusion - Watts steps back, walks Cuthbert into a ramrod right hand on the mouth and ELISHA IS HURT! Cuthbert on her heels for the first time in the fight and Naomi starts coming forward. More pesky jabs, firm right hands up the middle, Elisha covering up and bending forward in response. Watts' weight on her front foot - she reaches down Elisha's flank to dig hooks behind the elbow, steps back behind that tapping jab, bloodies Cuthbert's nose with a popping right down the pike. Cuthbert struggling forward, taking punches, not answering back - WAtts able to get off with her raindrop combinations, touch up the body and get power whenever Cuthbert cooperates with her face. Elisha on the verge of tears, composure badly cracked and the waterworks start in earnest as she takes a scolding from the formerly supportive Janet J.

 

R7: Harsh words seem to resuscitate Cuthbert - she's wild and ineffective early as Watts legs aronnd the ring in the first minute, staying out of range, but Elish doesn't get discouraged. Pressure finally forces Naomi to corner - Cuthbert gets her head on her girl's chest, starts working the midsection and flanks with cudgelling force. Naomi essentialy helpless in these moments, clasping behind Cuthbert's head, pulling her down and hoping for referee's breaks.

 

R8: Elisha can't sustain it. She comes out wild again, but this time Watts tames her with good lateral movement, timely tapping jabs and surprising right hands on the face. Cuthbert not hurt, but she's waiting around for offense instead of creating it - taken out of her rhythm by Naomi's light but accurate blows. Watts circling, putting 'em together, even playful by the end - spinning Elisha midring, cuffing her flush off classy pivots, stamping the right hand and posing as Cuthbert covers up late.

 

R9: Best two way action of the fight as ingenues both have their moments. Cuthbert has her way in close - she's too strong, too energetic with her punching - Watts can only hang on or look to spin Elisha as Cuthbert gets her weight too far forward. Whenever Naomi gets distance, she's pretty on her toes, touching 2 and 3 jabs as she retreats, spotting the hard right hand on Elisha's puffy face. Cuthbert marching through it, hammers out a close 9th.

 

R10: More two way action, Cuthbert coming forward, Naomi fighting well in retreat - but this time Watts gets the better of it. Naomi keeping her back off the ropes for the most part and when she can't, she's reversing position with that little shoulder-push sidestep as Cuthbert leans too far forward - putting 'Lishy face first in the strands. Watts beating Elisha to punches, scrubbing her face with that awkwardly effective one-two action and leaning in on front foot to hook golden brown midriff around the elbow. At the bell - Watts hooting, raising her arms - Cuthbert turning on her heel on the verge of tears: she wasn't expecting a decision. Comes back a draw.

 

After: Good as a win for underdog Naomi - not much pop, but timing, accuracy plus Cuthbert's cooperation turned Watts into a puncher at times. Elisha downcast - showcase goes horribly awry as she gets valuable rounds, but never really lands with leverage or gets Naomi into serious trouble. Jones livid in postfight, berating her young charge with embarassing vitriol - pundits question whether the whip is the right tool with tender talent like Cuthbert.

 

(Note to Tech: You might consider a Penelope Cruz bout with Watts. I'll make it even skill wise, and I think Watts has demonstrated more heart and durability than the fragile Spaniard. I originally thought Naomi was a hopeless case, but this fight was an upside surprise - Cuthbert should have stopped her.)

 

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