Posted by simguy on 3/21/2003, 6:06 am.

(Thanks to FightFan for this repost)

Before: Beautiful Brit crosses the pond to deal with the always dangerous Shannon Elizabeth, while the big E looking to vault into the top 10 or at least garner some consideration with a win over a classy name. Big swinging brawler vs crafty southpaw counterpuncher - pundits agree Hurley's the better stylist, but Shannon's made a career out of demolishing cuties. Shannon in her navy with white stars, bra style bikini top, red bottoms, Shannon in neon blue bra style bikini top, yellow with white border bottoms.

During R1,2: Classy Hurley shutouts - Shannon made to look inept in spots. Liz with the right shoulder pointed at Elizabeth, rolling low under Shannon's sweeping blockbusters, carving back underneath to lick hard at the ribs and tummy. Hurley flat footed, moving economically - she stays close to Shannon at all times, but will turn around that southpaw hook, catching E in the ear while pivoting counterclockwise. Body and head, supple upperbody movement, just-in-time lateral shifts - it's brilliant British ring generalship at its best.

R3: Elizabeth huffing, puffing - can't even find the door as Hurley continues to roll, slip and counter hard. Swinging right hand to the pit of the stomach locks Shannon up - she never sees the clouting right hook behind the ear that drubs her to all fours. Shannon up and dazed - she takes 8 and recklessly charges forward. Liz giving ground with serene composure, slipping low as she steps back, walking Elizabeth into gorgeous whallops to the body. Hurley so pretty as she crouch, eases the swiping left hand lick against the body or straightens into sneaky right uppercuts, turning or smothering up on her girl to frustrate the receipts. Liz' third straight shutout putting serious mileage on her younger foe.

R4: Liz swatting, cuffing, slipping, turning - Shannon rarely getting off and when she does, its ugly, awkward stuff that misses over the top. Elizabeth rocked onto her heels by a short right uppercut as Liz steps inside a Shannon right - another shutout with power Hurley as she builds the big lead.

R5: Elizabeth getting ROCKED, repeatedly on her heels, foggy and busted up as Hurley slings clouting lefts and rights out of timely crouches. Shannon's face tagged and swatted side to side so much in the first minute - she covers up hurt at the ropes, not answering back at all. Hurley getting big, chin out over Shannon's shoulder, hands at her thighs, just lifting heavy licks up into the American's trembling breadbasket, beating her down along the perimeter.

R6: Shannon finally on the board as she alters her swing trajectory, going to semi-uppercuts with both hands that clip Liz as she tries to duck and lay over on the left side. Hurley still the boss though, jabbing as she rotates right, showing Shannon the left shoulder then slinging in the clanging right hook. Liz adept at ducking and moving her head as she punches, often carrying into Shannon and crowding the brunette on follow through.

R7: Liz Hurley puts it to Shannon Elizabeth all round long. E missing early, getting her face spanked as Liz dips side to side, pulling in clapping haymakers, then walking her girl down as Shannon wilts to the ropes. Shannon blubbering behind her mitts, long torso there to be hammered - Liz laying in close, hands low - she lifts in slick lathering punishment to Elizabeth's trembling waist. E sliding along the ropes - Liz stepping with, keeping it on her girl - lashing abuse almost sickening to watch as Shannon sobs aloud, cringing forward in pain. Thudding accumulation to the ribs altogether too much - Shannon takes a shaky knee just to ease the pressure at the bell.

R8: More Hurley beat down. She's crowding E along the ropes, licking punches with hands low, then suddenly turning into chin music, bending to either side on follow through and laying in tight to Elizabeth's body. Steady, methodical work - Elizabeth smeared all along the ropes when suddenly - Shannon twists into a skidding right. Hurley ducks it, but she never sees the follow up lanky hook - tragic head snap Hurley and BRIT GOES DOWN! Liz reclining on her back all but out - Shannon staggering away with hopeful eyes - Liz just barely beats the count. Elizabeth hollering taunts as the ref pushes her back - Hurley swaying en route to her corner - she's damaged goods!

R9: Oh, the brawling! Hurley still rocky, but she stands her ground, staying in the pocket, rolling Elizabeth's sweeping rights and lefts, answering back with slashing rips to American mouth and ribcage. E getting rung up, staggered, but she starts to curl her right hand up into Liz's breadbasket, turning over the hook up top and LIZ starts to stagger - girls stumbling around each other as the hits piles up! Crash-bang lanky trade finally migrates to the ropes - Liz bodying up and pushing her girl into the strands, practically smothering E with her body while pulling in hateful rights and lefts, clinching immediately after scoring.

R10: Hurley purely defensive first minute, content to make E miss, move away while the long American's off balance. Both girls have moments later in the round - Shannon with that thumping right uppercut to the body, setting up clouting hooks - Liz with her hammer-drop jab, right hooks up top, swinging lefts to the tits and chin of her foe. Girls staggery, slugging away after the bell - ref enforces the break and it comes back UD10 wide, Liz Hurley.

After: Hurley with an unbelievable 5 shutouts in a row, 6 overall, hit Shannon with beatifully timed, picturesque counters head and body that leave many wondering what was holding the American up. Shannon badly outclassed overall, but she proves deadly in the few moments she had, nearly knocking Liz cold late in the match. 9th a round of the year candidate as both girls lacquered each other senseless - simply amazing that no one got stopped in this one.