Posted by Simguy on 8/25/2007, 8:34 am.

Before: “I’m not jealous,” a defensive Natalie insists in preflight. “I just think you guys are overdoing the coverage on Emmanuelle and missing the story of the fight. Yes, she’s attractive--can we move on? Has anyone thought to ask her about her camp, or sparring, or anything?” Chriqui doing a nice job of sensing Natalie’s discomfort and playing upon it: Emmanuelle flirty with the pres, batting innocent eyelashes at Natalie and being an unbearable little minx in general. “If Natalie feels inadequate now,” Chriqui smiles at one point, just wait until we’re finished!” Nonplussed Portman in navy bandeau top/low rise hipster bottoms;’ small black workout gloves; slick beach bun. Chriqui in retro zebra-print--twist tie halter-style top, twist tie slides; small workout gloves.

During R1: Natalie classy--using little shifts and pivots to turn Emmanuelle, keep her off balance. Chriqui looking to get big, stomping forward: Nat drops a pesky pre-emptive jab onto beautiful brunette face, pivots left around it, leaving Emmanuelle startled. Portman controlling Chriqui on the outside with stick, but doing most of her scoring with tidy, short chopping strokes at close range. Nat slipping the ambitious Chriqui right hand, answers a tightly clipped little left uppercut to the chin--all back and legs on perfectly placed counter. Manny not shut out: she’s strapping away wide as Natalie’s boring in close: Portman riding this stuff out, rolling with it, then answering jagged little body shots--just taking Chriqui in her midsection or gouging in palm-up shots beneath the breast line. Portman’s output, hand speed, combination punching and class all clearly evident as she takes the first.

R2: Same again, only Natalie more insistent when she’s inside--really settling down on shots, twisting her mitts into Chriqui’s flesh. Emmanuelle grimacing, giving ground--she’s hating the body work, backing straight up from it: Natalie’s capitalizing with straight right hands and hopped-in hooks. Portman neatly derailing any Chriqui reprisal with deft drop-jab and pivot routine--picking Emmanuelle up and defusing her with casual ease. Portman tidying up to the body when she’s close, but also countering beautifully with her left uppercut--waiting on Chriqui’s right hand to slip it, then just clipping the point of her chin in answer. Chriqui strong-legged, but stumbling around, eyes wide, lips parted--Portman going at her girl with authority.

R3: Portman in charge--jabbing Chriqui’s face, pivoting left, slipping and countering to get inside, then simply outworking Emmanuelle, Chriqui cranky--getting touched a lot, looking confused and disheveled--but she’s sturdy enough--frequently falling back, regrouping and trying to compete. Midway through, Emmanuelle throws the right hand-0-missing over the top as Nat slips it--but this time Chriqui finishes with the hook, catching Portman as Nat’s jerking the left uppercut. PORTMAN GOES DOWN! Quick, head snapping jolt momentarily shuts off the power to Natalie’s legs--she scoots to her backside, more astonished than truly hurt. Portman bouncing right back up--pushing anxiously against the ref to continue--he pushes her to ropes, gives her a safety 8 just to make sure she’s ok. Resume: Chiriquí buoyed by the knockdown, pounces with strong right roundhouses to Natalie’s flank, banging Portman to ropes. Natalie covering up--slipping and rolling-just looking to get out of the round as Emmanuelle’s on the board.

R4: Natalie’s eyes narrowed--very serious as she spits jabs to gain control mid ring. QUICK one-two stamps against Chriqui’s cheek--startling her--Natalie spits three more jabs as she pivots left, each one spanking sweet to face. Sharp right cross takes Chriqui on the mouth: vicious left hook swipes across her breasts. Portman dips down as Emmanuelle’s tossing an angry right: jerking left uppercut bingo onna chin unhinges Chriqui’s knees, Natalie turning Chriqui’s right flank--jabbing her cruelly, countering her brilliantly, then edging in to tear at her body. Portman chopping in palms-up against the midriff and breast line--short, muscular gouges taking Emmanuelle’s breath away, Chriqui breaking down, whimpering, stumbling--she’s becoming disorganized, looking confused as Natalie continues to execute crisp in-and-out. Down the stretch--short overhand right crack against Chriqui’s cheek, draping her against ropes--Natalie bending in with the punch, weaving her torso cobra-like in front of stricken brunette. Pair of tucking hooks takes Chriqui in her waist--small mitts sounding out PIK! PIK! As Nat bobs with the delivery. Little knuckle shove to brace--Nat pivots to her right, hooks Emmanuelle’s left eye, drops in a nice right hand over Chriqui’s left hand. Knuckle-shove, pivot left: Natalie buries a swinging right roundhouse to Emmanuelle’s sternum, wrenching a pivot left: Natalie buries a swinging right roundhouse to Emmanuelle’s sternum, wrenching a pitiful sob from beautiful brunette; Chriqui helpless, sitting into ropes, crosses arms against her body. Nat squares away, lets her hands go--glorious flyweight lather pelts at defenseless Emmanuelle, bringing the ref in. TKO4 Natalie Portman leaves Chriqui bleating in pain.

After: “She’s stronger than she looks,” admits victorious Nattie P in post fight, “That punch she dropped she dropped me with--she didn’t even really catch me flush--she just sort of muscled me to the canvas. Basically I was too quick for her. I figured that out early and took her apart on that basis. I don’t think I’d stand there slugging with her--she’s very solid, Just a little green is all.”

Reposted by Archer 8/24/11.