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Posted by simguy on 12/14/2002, 8:18 am

(Thanks to FightFan for this repost)

Before: Circus atmosphere, varied reactions. Caution from Britney who still winces at the mere mention of Claire's name: "I'm worried about Fishel's attitude coming in. Claire doesn't beat you so much as she causes you to lose and that throws girls. She's not a boxer - she's a hypnotist and you can't fall under her spell in the ring. I think Dani would agree I've got better overall talent and ability than she does so finesse isn't the answer here. I know I'd beat Claire simply by being busier next time and I think that's what Dani's got to focus on." Amusement from Eliza, "It's so Claire isn't it? Can't win a title, can't really compete at the highest levels, but she's just gotta have a little attention. She's such a car-wreck - you just can't take your eyes off her." Anger from Mish, "I can't believe this fight got sanctioned and I'm a little pissed that Dani took the offer. It's all about Danes getting one up on me and Eliza, thinking that if she beats Dani, somehow that means she can count something on us. It doesn't work that way - this thing is MEANINGLESS!"

Girls are relaxed, cordial in prefight. Dani addresses pundits who wonder if this is a winnable situation for her, "Hey, I want to see how she's going to pull this off! Seriously, I've never faced anybody like Claire before and that intrigues me. Am I going to tear her head off? Am I not going to be able to find her? I mean, I love the fact that I have no idea what's going to happen and that's all the reason I need to take a fight."

Claire sunny, confident, addresses HER critics, "Can I hurt Dani? Well, not with one punch, but ask any of my opponents after I've worked their bodies for 10 rounds - I'll get to her. People forget, when I beat Britney, I didn't fight small - I bytch-slapped the tramp, gave her a little curveball. I don't think that power is the key to hurting Dani anyway - it's placement. I've got a little something for Fishel and I wouldn't be surprised to see me turn bully late in this fight." Two tone black and white bikini Claire, teal bikini top, grey boy cut trunks Dani. Fishel grinning ear to ear during instruction, hammering gloves and bubbling to go.

During R1: Slap and slip from Claire early, working to her left, turning in tight pivots around that left shoulder. Fishel coming forward, reaching her left towards Claire's belly, just trying to measure, then hook/right hand - quick mitt stuff. Midway through, Dani changes up the pattern, stalking, probing the left, but feinting hook and bringing a straight, pinging right hand down the middle and CLAIRE SCOOTS TO HER BUTT! Danes spanked right on the face, shocked to have been caught so sharp, but it's not a devastating shot - Claire up, alert, taking a routine 8. Dani rampaging in, looking to mop up, curling, clubbing lefts and rights, pawing jabs trying to locate, hurtling right hands - Danes flipping, flopping, turning her torso, sidestepping, bending low. Fishel gets only glancing touches as Claire writhes away from meaningful contact, sacrificing points for survival in a wild first.

R2: Claire getting on board with the jab - pesky slaps, sudden backhands, leaving it out there to chisel while she steps to the right - Fishel bothered by the stick, swatting at it as she snorts forward. Danes circling counterclockwise, using a beautiful feint-in, hesitation right hand to bounce her fist off Fishel's face - Dani just freezing and posing for the shot every time, grinning, then marching forward again. Bell sounds - Dani shakes her head - she knows she got caught following and watching the Claire Danes show that round.

R3: Dani adjusts, forgets about perfection, she's just coming forward, moving her hands, trusting her chin and legs to take anything she might walk into. Direct pressure forces Claire out of the pocket - she's using the ring, standing up out of her crouch and bouncing a little to get distance. Fishel making the fight, trying to cut off the ring, but Claire's crossed the line from boxing to running and judges know it.

R4: Claire settles her feet down - she wants to be right in front of Dani, making her miss, picking her up with lathering hooks under the right elbow, stamping hesitation rights to the face. Keen judgement from Danes - she's on the razor's edge as she'll beat Dani to a punch, or just slip an inch underneath one, countering almost immediately to Fishel's paunch and eyes. Final minute, Danes with a beautiful matador move, sidesteps Dani, gives her a little riding hand in the back and sends Fishel floundering face first into the ropes. Dani flushed, but nodding wryly after the bell as Claire struts it up.

R5: Dani ups the tempo, roughens the trade. Fishel missing but bulling into Claire, stampeding her girl to the ropes, getting her hands dirty on the blonde. Danes struggling against Dani's strength and it's a problem - she's being pinned and jostled, smothered and mauled - Fishel getting her weight right on her foe. Second minute, punches start to flow - Dani able to bludgeon away while keeping her head or shoulders on Claire, maintaining contact - bashing connects shake Danes in the shoulders, chest, waist, flanks. Claire rolling well with punches, doesn't get caught flush, but her body pays the price this round - Danes sent to her corner wincing at the bell. Syren to Dani: "Perfect."

R6: Danes with a loose rangy stick, just laying it out there, roaming right, then DRILLING a straight right hand to the nose, bringing Dani up short. LATHERING hooks to the rightside ribs - Dani caught by surprise, crumpling slightly to protect and DANES IS BACKING HER UP! Claire wading into Dani, pulling out all stops as she twists her lithe body into every haymaker. Fishel on her heels, arms crossed, leaning back - she's tasting blood, feeling the ropes at her back, but starts to shake it off even as Claire's capping the flurry. Fishel punching back, nailing Claire with a rising right under the breast, trading hooks - Danes rocked back, baring her teeth, still trying to keep the initiative. Blonde fury stalls - Dani's got her weight forward again, working out of her crouch, short, hammering blows starting to land on Danes' slender shoulders, staggering the blonde sideways. Final minute, Dani on Danes with pulsing punishment - Claire hammered to the ropes, bending at the waist to evade hooks, then leaning back sharp to escape the uppercut. Dani squared away and working - she's catching Claire with hits off misses, leaving blonde drained at the bell. Dani wiping her nose, looks her opponent over: Claire ashen faced, shipped a lot of leather she shouldn't have that round.

R7: Dani comes out of the firefight the stronger girl - Danes in full retreat. Fishel more methodical, busy, but disciplined, actually wasting punches to get Danes committed, then digging in hard to the waistline and hips. Claire's legs shaky, reactions slowing - she's not catching anything on the chin, but Fishel's not distracted by that pretty bauble anyway. Midway through, Danes slipping and rolling along the ropes simply takes a knee to relieve pressure, leaning on her right thigh as she catches her breath - Dani strutting away, shaking out her arms. More pursuit from Fishel - she's using a stubby jab to help her quarter the ring, then move Claire to ropes, then work Claire to body and it's breaking Danes down. Banging right/left on the waist draws a cry from Claire and she's down in trouble for the first time in the fight --barely beating the count and struggling for breath at the bell.

R8: Dani loses focus, thinks she's got it - Claire gets back into her rhythm to steal a round. Danes luring, crouching, wheeling left, laying her licks in and escaping - Dani abandoning the jab and abrupt combinations, trying to fit Claire for short, straight pokes and it's not working. Danes able to work on Dani's eyes this round, jabs and right hands - swelling introducing the concern of a possible cut as Claire seeks victory by any means.

R9: Fishel rockets off her stool, tackles Danes into her corner, resets and tackles her again and it's a whole different fight. Brutal shoving and jostling gives way to Dani standing up into horrific body blows - left/right/left/right - Danes mouthpiece flopping off her teeth as she gets jackhammered and CLAIRE GOES DOWN! Danes' butt back, drops to all fours, trembling from the vigorous romp to her body - she takes a queasy 8. Dani back on - Claire sliding hurt along the ropes, Fishel stepping with and stamping Danes' chest with measuring jabs, banging away with short right hands, crisp, compact delivery. When Claire hits corners, Dani squares up again, goes to the ribcage and body, punching furiously through Claire's guard. Mish Williams screaming "PUNCH HER IN THE BACK!" at ringside - Dani clearly seeking knockout as she tries to find the chin with hooks, right hands at the bell.

R10: Danes slipping under a whistling lead right from Dani, but Fishel swings back underneath with a gutting hook behind the elbow that has Claire staggering away in pain. Fishel bodying up and smearing Claire to ropes - nothing fancy now - it's Dani going for the stoppage, Claire wanting to see the finish line. Vintage Dani Fishel, pressing up on Danes to keep her butt planted, propping her with shoulders and forearms, swinging away with clubbing blows on the arms, chest and body. Danes open mouthed, ragdolled, but aware - she's still rolling with the headshots, turning to take the snap off Dani's lethal hook - Fishel just can't find the off switch. Marauding shutout Dani Fishel, but weary Claire hears the final bell. UD10 Dani Fishel.

After: Claire hurt, badly beaten to the body and now perplexed as Dani hugs her, then lifts her off the canvas, slapping her on the back with congratulations. Danes responds, not jovial, but appreciative - nothing fake about Fishel's frank amazement at Claire's survive-ability. At one point, Claire mimes a post-fight cheapshot on Dani's jaw, getting a laugh and mock finger waggle from Fishel. "I'm disappointed, sure," croaks Claire in postfight. "I couldn't believe when I went down right off the bat - it was like, God, she barely TOUCHED me and I'm on my butt. I've never faced that kind of shocking power before. You know, I thought I could do some things with her that she took away from me. Dani Fishel isn't as simple as people like to make out - she jabbed me well, very well - she didn't take bait - she executed about as well as anyone ever has against me." Fishel beaming, surprisingly busted up from Claire's raindrop punching to the face, "Forget about the boxing, this girl is TOUGH! She sucked it up. I hit her with shots that I know have convinced Eliza to quit in the past - this girl kept going. Hate on Claire if you must, but give her credit: it was gutsy to take me on, it was gutsy to take what I was dishing - the girl's got heart."

Sim Guy

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