Part 1:

Posted by Simguy on 12/24/2006, 10:14 am.

Before: “I’m still technically the champion,” Dushku brazens at the podium, “Rachel McAdams didn’t beat me--couldn’t beat me. As far as I’m concerned, the bantamweight division is still my sandbox and Kate doesn’t get to play here. To me--Kate’s the British Jessica Alba: looks good on paper; uglies up quick in the ring.”

Beckinsale stung by Alba comparison--she thinks of herself as altogether sterner stuff. “Eliza’s a ghastly little troll,: Beckinsale announces, “Only in America could an appalling tart such as this become a main event fighter. When I sweep through her, I’ll do what she failed to do, convincingly trounce Rachel McAdams, and restore some dignity to a tarnished crown.”

Eliza in red leather bikini; Kate in white bikini (ring connections). Both girls wearing small “Cat paw: brand boxing gloves--new from Reyes.

During R1: Brisk, professional tic-tac-toe--both women roaming upon offending torso with lathering lefts and rights; Becks caps a sequence with a clipping hook to chin, sending Eliza off with a puzzled expression, Dushku stepping to he right, frowning, stepping to her right, frowning, steps in a fence post hole, straightens haphazardly: delayed effect takes Eliza in her knees, Kate immediately to the body PIK! PAK! PEK! Small-glove bite sounding out bright and spanky from Dushku’s ribs and waist. Eliza on the defensive, shying to her right, dukes at temples--Becks grimly walking her girl down with a locating jab, strafing in sharp right hands and raking hooks, Dushku using the ring, avoids the worst of it--breezy Kate Becks first, could have been worse for Eliza.

R2: Hard jabs exchanged--both girls sporting educated left hands. Slow-stepping, clockwise rotation--textbook upright boxing as both seek right crosses, left hooks off stern pokes. Kate with the range of it--Dushku bobbing and weaving, coming up a little short out of her crouches--Beckinsale dabbing nicely at her foe’s face and scoring a particularly rigid left hook off either foot.

R3: Eliza finally in the score sheets, slipping the Beckinsale jab, hooking the Beckinsale jugs and beating Kate to right hands as action heats up, Kate repeatedly caught a right hand as she’s backing up--Dushku very aggressive from the crouch, stepping-with and doing harm, Beckinsale staggered on occasion, feet stamping as she gobbles Eliza’s power--Dushku crisp, clean, short with her headshots, Downstairs, Dushku’s able to put three punch combos together, cramping Becks up behind her mitts: when mate steps away to regroup, Eliza walks her down, Crowd oohing and aahing at the bite Dushku’s able to get on Kate--very clean, clouting blows dramatically moving Beckinsale’s head: Becks taking a good shot, but on her heels, chokes up a shutout to a determined Sheriff.

R4: Kate looking to halt Eliza’s rally and retake momentum: Becks walks into a well-timed short right cross, suffers a doubled-up hook to tummy and mouth that puts her creaky on her heels, wobbly butt, Eliza continuing to step forward flinty-eyed, dipping side to side to slip Kate’s jab and clout her jaw from either hand. Becks discouraged--legs holding her up, but she’s clearly hurt, trying to lope the ring and buy time, Dushku scoot-stepping in pursuit, cutting off the ring, feinting or jabbing her way in, then snapping off brisk combinations: ratatat drubbing of pale British torso has Kate grimacing, Eliza’s delivery very compact--elbows in, hands loose at her chest as she sets her hips--turns her torso into the shots, bouncing mitts off head and shoulders at the bell.

R5: Eliza hurts Kate a short, poking lead right hand early--Beckinsale taking it to the tip of the chin, staggers away forlorn. Dushku cutting off the ring in sections, hounding Beckinsale into her own corner--Eliza narrow-eyed as she mounts a series of in-out attacks, steadily whittling away at her foe’s reserves. Kate set strong, hands up--she’s got a little room to maneuver (back isn’t set tight to turnbuckles) but she can’t open up the canvas. Eliza penetrating behind a stiff, straight-arm jab, snapping off a few short, tidy punches in close, then ducking and sliding back out of range,. Beckinsale grimacing, defending: Kate blocking a lot of leather, but every Dushku sortie scores something, somewhere. Bell: Eliza’s third straight shutout--she takes the lead on the cards for the first time tonight.

Dushku/Beckinsale conc.

Posted by Simguy on 12/24/2006, 10:15 am.

R6: Eliza pre-empted and repulsed at the open: Beckinsale’s re-established her jab midring. Kate on stiff, springy legs, showing plenty of vigor, jab a slight hammer-drop motion off her shoulder as she doubles it up crisp. Sliding back, Beckinsale drags her lead left toes--she’s able to clip Eliza coming in with hooks off the back (right) foot, then transition seamlessly to offence with hard right hands off the shoulder. Midway through--Dushku getting banged up as she can’t negotiate distance--Eliza attempting to slip inside gets CORKED a jotting right between the eyes, Tasty hook mop-up to chin: ELIZA GOES DOWN! Faltering knockdown--Dushku stunned by tic-toc punching, briefly clatters to hands and knees: she’s up quick, shaking her head “No” as ref makes inquiries. Kate’s over to offence--now hounding Eliza along apron as Dushku scoots to her right: British vixen scowling, keeping the right hand at her cheek as she lances out stiff left-jab range-finders. Whenever Kate can catch Eliza as the ropes--Dushku immediately bends deep at the waist while Beckinsale plants on left (lead) leg top lash rising hooks, spced up through 6 as Becks retakes a slender lea on the cards.

R7: Kate jabs: Eliza counters with a swift right hand over the top, Kate leans into her right cross: Eliza slips down and to her left, countering with a hook heavy off the left (lead) plant leg. Beckinsale retreats in confusion: Eliza steps-with--constantly jabbing into Kate’s body and chest to maintain distance, Dushku’s judgment so fine: she knows if she can touch her jab to Beckinsale’s torso, that right hands can land. Becks stepping in a wide counter-clockwise circle, looking befuddled this round: Dushku hounding, but not over-committing, content to outbox her prey, gather touches and consistently be the boss minute by minute, Shutout Eliza--evens up the cards.

R8: Eliza pushes the pace, sensing she has Beckinsale discouraged, spicy two-way tossing as Ivan digs in to hold canvas--fighting bitterly for every square inch of it Dushku pressing forward--expensive advance as Beckinsale’s rigid, ringing punches at close and medium range bounce off skull, dig at chest or rib meat. Eliza slowly banging out the better if it in trade--it’s Kate grudgingly moving back, consistently getting pried out of her stance. Down the stretch, relentless American pressure pays off: Kate’s legs give way slightly; Eliza sees it, pounces at the ropes, Brisk flurry of hooks and crosses has Becks cowering in the ropes, dukes at temples, Sharp, penetrating straight lefts and rights pound past the guard, loosening it--then ELIZA’S CLOBBERING AWAY RIGHTY! Dushku SEETHING--stabilizing Kate with the left in her chest--overhand rights smashing again and again upside the head, Crowd screaming, Kate reeling at the ropes, breaking down terribly--but Becks makes it to the bell! Kate swaying in the wind, all busted up and staring, Eliza’s chest heaving--she flops heavily onto her stool, drained by the all-in effort to close the 8th

R9: PIK! PIK! PIK! Kate counterattacks to the body, knowing that Eliza may have overextended herself last round. Rangy, rigid hooks off the left foot--Becks keeping her right tight to the cheek, just popping her hips, turning her torso-right to lift left hands up into Dushku’s stubborn sternum. Eliza groaning, shying away--she’s hobbled downstairs--trying to rally outside--Kate’s able to lunge and drive a straight right hand through American guard, punching Eliza’s head back. Crowd squealing as fatigued Dushku retreats to ropes--stalked by seething Brit: Kate’s turn to scour her foe as Dushku digs in.

Hooks take Eliza in her breadbasket. She folds forward mute behind her gloves, knees knocking.

Right uppercuts scythe up and across--not always connecting, but serving to brush Dushku upright where Kate’s hook can cash in chin. Dushku ending forward and back at the waist, elbows in, trying to block and roll.

Kate lathering constantly, but I measured fashion--British vixen staying under control, eyes intent as she rakes Eliza, but never gets wild: balance is good, tempo steady. And Dushku goes down.

No one punch does it--Eliza getting, busting up, simply wilts to one knee after sustained British barrage starts to take numbing effect. Beckinsale lifting her mitts, strutting away to neutral corner. Dushku creakily beats the count--but it’s a critical knockdown in the 9th round of a very close fight.

R10:  Kate closes the show. Brit flicking a backhand jab stiff from the elbow, knocking at Eliza’s brows, and guard, backing Dushku to ropes.  Then it’s hard work--Beckinsale on Dushku--Kate just digging in, working at close and medium range with the same miler’s pace. Eliza frowning--right hand open, palm out at left cheek; left hand across her body--she’s dipping and rolling, riding out Beckinsale ordinance, Kate very smart--never smothering herself or over committing--sharp, skidding, bouncing punches continually scuff and spank at her foe. Punishment distributed very evenly--statisticians ringside record almost as many facial connects as firm body touches--Beckinsale systematically abusing her foe to the final bell. Comes back UD10 Kate Beckinsale.

After: Classy, entertaining see-saw bout--both women enjoying periods of dominion over the other, both forced to rally and overhaul the other’s momentum. Becks wins it gritty 8th and 10th rounds--Eliza shopworn and uncommonly frazzled as her gloves are removed--downcast Eliza obviously beating herself up a little for letting Kate pull away late. “Onwards and upwards,” a cheery, if lumped--up Brit chirps in postfight, “That’s Eliza well seen-to; put her in he scrap heap next to Kelly Hu, Jennifer Connelly and all the rest, I’m clearly the class of the field and I’ll expect the rankings to reflect my achievement tonight. Dushku well and truly beaten: it doesn’t get any better than that.”

Reposted by Archer 12/25/10.