Posted by simguy on 10/28/2005, 7:10 am.,

(Thanks for FightFan for this rerpost)

Before: Danes condescending in prefight - multi time champ and top 3 slickest boxers in the sport pretty confident against rangy TE ingenue. "Look, I'd love to sell this fight, I really would," Claire shrugs, "but let's face it: I'm going to carve this chick up. Suspense? What suspense? The only suspense is going to be how much the kid wants to take - even I don't know that!" Burton upbeat, TE handlers equally confident - Hilarie barely showing respect let alone any intimidation coming in. "Claire's a cutey, and she's shown power against the smallest girls," Hilarie says, "but I feel I match up better against Danes than almost anyone. No, seriously - hear me out: I'm going to be very competitive with Claire - this isn't going to be a Katie Holmes smear-job for her. I'm going to make Danes WORK for her paycheque." Claire in plaid bikini, shoulder strap support - Hills in black lace bra, white bikini bottoms with black vine print. Small gloves, both vixens.

During R1: Danes caught on the end of Hilarie's long, stiff jab - Burton shocking the former champ a sharp right cross on the temple that has Danes momentarily flabbergasted. Claire shamelessly running the second minute - getting her legs back, then settling down, planting that front foot in a bucket and swivel pivoting around it. No offence for Danes though: Burton tall, rigid, but keeping a pesky jab on Claire at all times keeps Danes on the defensive for a "Here I am - deal with me" shutout.

R2: Danes lands the big early shot this time, feinting Hilarie out of position, drilling her the hesitation right hand and mopping up a whip-snap hook off the sternum that has Burton wincing in pain. Claire working her slip-n'-slap - pivoting left around her left foot, crouching low, lick-lathering at Hilarie's waist, jabbing her mouth and dropping hesitation rights off feints. Burton touched up, but answering back down the stretch - she's hanging back, using her jab to pester and frustrate the Shopgirl.

R3: Easy, breezy round of Claire Danes boxing. Danes pivoting left, alternating lead right pokes with her jab off the front foot, constantly moving her upperbody, tucking her chin behind the left shoulder and giving Burton angles. Hilarie opening up, punching harder, and it's a mistake - Burton missing badly over top and paying the price to her ribs and midsection as Claire plays snik-snak with TE tummy. Claire smiling prettily en route to her corner: Burton beet red with shame en route to hers. Danes doesn't just beat girls - she makes them look bad.

R4: Syren calmly refocusing Hilarie - going through the fightplan - kid regroups this round. Burton hanging back, operating behind her jab - left arm almost fully extended, she's just chipping, chiselling, dabbing the stick over the range of a few inches. Danes weaving it, slipping it, but unable to penetrate past it - minutes pass without a clean Claire Danes connect as Burton pumps poke off her front foot. Hilarie patient - she draws a caressing hook across Claire's jaw line once or twice, but basically, Burton content to tap away for points.

R5: Frustration growing on Claire's face - Hilarie peppering her, picking at her, keeping up a constant tapping with that long, rigid jab. Danes weaving most of it, but one in three making pleasing, bright contact with her face - Burton banking touches, frowning with concentration as she circles. Claire trying to weave down low and work to Hilly's ribcage, but lanky Burton legging back nicely, changing range on Danes and maintaining distance. Awkward stuff, not all that entertaining, but Claire unable to get much done against this look.

R6: Claire gets the points, but works hard for every one. Burton committed to her distance and jab - she won't be baited or coaxed into slugging. Danes potting body with her own jab, fluttering it up into Hilarie's face for brushing connects, then pivoting left - she's got Burton dangling right hands with the sharp angle. Not much in the way of meaningful contact - Claire licking at Burton's ribcage - Burton chipping away pesky poke, happy to scuff Claire up rather than attempt to hurt her.

R7: Hilarie with a nice check-hook off that extended pinging jab - she fades back and strokes Claire's jaw exquisitely in the first minute. Danes squinting with concentration, feinting, walking to her right as she thumbs her nose, eyeing her foe - Claire Danes is a little confused! Hilarie steppin' and a-pokin', ranging backwards as necessary, using her legs - she's deliberately stinking out the fight. Midway through - Danes impatient, throws a hard right hand to Hilarie's body, pulls back late and catches a shattering counter-hook on her temple and CLAIRE'S HURT! Wonky whipsaw traverses Claire's lithe frame - eyes wide in shock - hands disorganized - she wanders away in a fog as BURTON COMES A-CALLING! CRASHING right hand drives through Claire's chin as she tries to turn away too late - Burton cleans up a licking hook on the left eye, then a wider, gathering hook brushing Claire's lips as Danes spills woozily to ropes. Hilarie lunging in a long right hand up top (partially blocked), hooking Claire cruelly in her sternum then catching 100% chin the right uppercut! Head snap Claire - face goes all slack and she PITCHES SIDEWAYS TO CANVAS! Good lord it's OVER! KO7 in stunning upset fashion - HILARIE BURTON!

After: Concerned officials tending to Claire as she lays out still, parallel to ropes - eyelashes fluttering, lips parted - it's an incomprehensible sight. Burton hopping up and down and crying in her corner - hugged and petted by her stablemates - easily the biggest win of Hilarie's career. "Our secret weapon was my height," an excited Burton blurts in postfight. "When was the last time you saw Claire fight a girl taller than herself? It never happens - she's always banking that advantage if she can get it. We worked so hard breaking down tape on Claire, reading her moves, her tendencies - she's not strong so I knew if I just stayed in my envelope, kept her on the defensive, I could win minutes, but when I caught her backing straight out I just thought 'Holy Cow - she's really hurt!' Danes brought gingerly around and she just can't believe it on her stool: stopped by Hilarie Burton. No!



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