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Before: "If Heigl's a dinosaur, she's still a dangerous one," notes special commentator Erica Durance at ringside. "She comes from a time when lightweights wanted to be the tall girl in the ring, the strong girl...but times have changed. Post Jenny O'Dell, the best lightweights are smaller, sportier fighters, who are super-well conditioned and very strong for their size. I'm telling you - Ali Larter is bull-strong through her shoulders: if she gets to Katherine's chest, Heigl's beef won't be enough, because when Kathy tires, she'll be effectively weaker than Ali inside. No, I think the key for Katherine is range: use that jab, keep Ali outside. Larter's quick, but she's not Kaley Cuoco or Jessica Biel quick: Heigl SHOULD be able to box with her. We know from the Brook fight that Katherine can be patient when she wants to be: that patience will serve her well in this fight. I like Larter by a smidge - if she performs at the level she did against me, she'll win - but if Katherine fights the right fight, she can extend the age of the dinosaurs for at least one more night!"
Larter in black bikini, white gloves. Heigl in baby blue lace push up; beige crochet bottoms; white gloves.
DURING R1: Larter showing the ol' Zeta Jones slip-the-jab, hook-the-tits routine early, working her way inside. Bumping body blows by Larter - head down, arms pumping: she's pounding paunch, then working up-torso to clobber jugs, jaw. Heigl punished through the first minute, pushed back by shorter woman, but eventually it's RIGHT UPPERCUT, KATHY! Heigl smuggling a short-shrugged punch onto Larter's chin: Ali spasming, all loosened up - she sputters forward, groaning as Heigl fetches her a fat left hand in the gut. Strong shoulder bump, Kathy - Heigl pushing for room, then stepping in a sidearm right hand, pulling wallop onto Larter's meagre chest. Ali ashen-faced, backing straight up: Kathy steps in stiff jab, short right hand and SENDS LARTER DOWN! Ali punched to her buns near the ropes: she's achy/grimacy getting up, teeth bared. Brave 8 Ali: Heigl marches in...and LARTER WON'T HAVE IT! Blistering rights and lefts as Ali proves a badger at the apron - pounding away tits and chin, TITS AND CHIN - backing Heigl up! Kathy in shock, arms crossed, stumbling backward: Larter with a smashing walking barrage punches Heigl length of the ring. Ropes: Kathy groaning, leaning forward, trying to pull Larter's head down; Ali digging at paunch, arms a-pumpin', shoulders a bumpin'. Kathy's thighs trembling - she's just laying in, suffering and HEIGL'S DOWN! Big Kat on all fours, panting in astonishment: Larter bellowing down, pushed back by ref at bell. Blazing stuff: Larter surges all the way back to take it 10-9.
R2: Larter weaving Katherine's jab: Larter being aggressive, working her way to Heigl's chest, then setting a torrid pace. Heigl in there grimacing - pushing against Larter's chest, trying to bump her off. Larter staying snug - alternating her head on either Heigl shoulder, working gut. Ali a cutey-pie in tight - she'll chug away paunch; clap up-torso to jug, then; ease herself onto right foot, pulling a tidy hook across Kathy's chin. Heigl slugging back - doing a good job tightening up stroke, just shrugging, swiping and stuffing her shots, beating at Ali's shoulders, chest and ribs. Larter's work-rate higher - plus she's coming forward. Heigl spends much of the final minute back-on-ropes, snarling and struggling to push Ali off.
R3: Battle lines are drawn: round looks/feels similar to the second. Ali worming her way inside - she wants to be touching and bumping, constantly fighting off Heigl's chest. Katherine grimacing with effort - she's pushing on Ali, hooking the offending tummy, bashing at Larter head-and-shoulders. Ali bobbing on the spot, moving her head well while crowding: meanwhile her busy hands are outworking Katherine 2 to 1. Fight drifts to ropes - Larter topside: Katherine digging in, trying to pull Larter's head down and tie her up. Down the stretch, Ali with that pull-away hook off the right foot gets astounding leverage: pounding blast turns Katherine's head, drapes her momentarily in stupor against ropes. Larter able to lean in, fetch Heigl the smashing right hand to jaw: Katherine upright, swaying at the bell, staring in confusion as ref pushes Larter back. Ali's trainer beaming: "Baby, I'm lovin' everything you're doing. Stay on her body - tire that big bytch out - keep tappin' her chin in spots. I saw a little quit in her eyes that round - did you see it? I saw it for sure."
R4: Easy, breezy Larter: once she's past Katherine's jab, Ali's punishing Heigl in the exchanges. Kathy VERY competitive - working to stuff right hands into Ali's flat tummy; smashing cave-woman blows to Ali's shoulders/biceps...it's the pace Larter's setting - the volume. Ali huddling in close when Heigl's getting off - bobbing and rolling the thump, then she's back at Kathy with chugging tummy work and sneaky chin-checks with either hand, off either foot. Larter repeatedly warned for throwing short forearms into Heigl's breasts: at one point, ref roughly separates the girls, pulling Ali aside and actually tapping his own forearm, then waggling his finger 'No' in Ali's face. Early Heigl resistance is punished, then beaten down: by the final moments, she's suffering butt-in-ropes, showing earmuff and cringing as Larter hooks gut thick.
R5: Larter pouring it to Kathy: entire round fought on a patch of canvas near Krusher-Korner - Kathy's back to ropes. Heigl sullen, grimacing: she's reaching for Ali's arms or head, pulling her in, trying to slow her down. Heigl grouchy, frowning - often startled when struck upside her head, covering up late. Larter pushing into Kathy's beef, digging at her thickness with those non-stop chugging combos, then tidying up jug or jaw: Ali very cute leaning onto right foot to swipe left hands, or left foot to get rights. Katherine spellbound, absorbing punishment: her work rate's non-existent as one blonde just climbs atop the other and gets work done. Through 5: Heigl looking downcast - complaining on her stool - lumping up and looking sluggish on her feet: Ali alert, nodding pertly during instructions, always anxious to resume.
R6: Katherine gets the jab on Ali: everything gets easier. Tenor of the fight changes: geometry is midring, as opposed to ropebound. There's distance between the fighters as Katherine jabs Ali on her way in, gets her to cover up, then calmly palms Larter's shoulders to shove her back outside. Heigl patient - letting Ali storm the gates early...then slowly coming forward after softening Larter up. Ali frowning, circling: she drops her first points in a while as Heigl stabilizes her front.
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R7: Right hand squirts through for Heigl - jamming in over Larter's left shoulder, buckling Ali's knees early. That loosens Ali up: Katherine able to get well-and-truly big for the first time - aggressively pushing Larter back after punishing her. Heigl walking Larter down - pounding jabs against upperchest and prepared defences...then stepping in with wide, roundhouse rights against Larter's flank/left bicep. Smashing blows very discouraging to Ali: she's shying away, not looking to engage: final minute sees her being openly stalked along the ropes. Katherine bashing away late - rich, thumping, tight-arm lefts and rights simply smashing at Ali's head/shoulders/chest as Larter tries to cover up. Stunning wallop not always landing flush, but Larter's badly shook regardless. Bell: Ali swooning, lips parted, curvy legs holding her up. Heigl regains swagger, brightening en route to her corner.
R8: Better round for Larter, but Heigl still dominant, working behind the jab and stepping Ali around. Larter penetrating in spots, but getting tied up: Heigl glomming on for ref's breaks, leaning on Larter until official intervenes. Outside, Katherine applying steady jab-pressure - patiently breaking Larter down. Ali's pretty face starting to bust up under Heigl's insistent touch. Ali doing a better job ducking under Katherine's short right hands as Katherine's looking chin off the jab: that's the silver lining for Larter in another Heigl round.
R9: Larter senses fatigue - pushes the pace...and pays the price. Minute mark, Heigl jabbing chest, stalls Ali at medium range: Katherine leans in, finds the clean up right hand to chin to put Larter wobbly butt. Ali badly hurt - swooning away all how-could-you eyes: she hits ropes in disarray, covering up earmuff. Cue beatdown: Heigl squares away, going at the Larter midsection and flanks with big, booming George Foreman right and left roundhouses. Crowd groaning as Ali shudders upon receipt: she's just sitting on ropes, trusting those world class legs to keep her upright. Heigl's tongue pink between her lips as she sloshes it on: thick, stroking, big-woman shellack being applied, smashing away at brawny Ali. Larter absorbing too much - she should be clinching, but she's just covering up, digging in. Heigl works up quite a sweat beating the bejesus out of Larter. Can't get Ali off her feet, but it's a 10-8 regardless as the ropes keep Larter up.
R10: Heigl a little punched-out: Ali's able to slip inside, keep hands free, work the gut. Katherine grunting, grimacing - arms loose around Larter's head as Kathy tries to stabilize the situation without success. Ali snug in the embrace - able to work: she stays busy to tummy, stuffing in short, jolting lefts or rights, shrugging her shoulders and shifting her hips into the shots. Kathy chin-conscious here, not wanting to give up the homerun: she controls Ali's head, forcing Larter to stay downstairs. Larter continually proving her upperbody strength: she's not afraid to wrestle with Kat - writhing her arms against Heigls, rubbing her shoulders against Heigl's, grinding away with Kathy inside. Goes to the bell - Ali tucking in a little extra insurance as ref yanks 'em apart. Comes back even: they'll fight an 11th for the belts.
R11: Larter feints like she's coming in low, loops a tight right hand over the top instead: smashing clout upside Katherine's head buckles her knees. NOW Larter surges inside, backing Heigl up with bodyshots: Kathy groaning, tieing up behind Larter's elbows as Ali takes her to ropes. Larter squirming! Head bumping under Kathy's chin, arms wriggling out of Heigl's grasp: Larter just pushing the pace, POURING it to Katherine's big body. Heigl greatly diminished: big blonde gasping big mouth-breaths, sitting shabby in ropes - all she can do is hang on, try to get ref's break. Larter will have none of it: she's in there working, pushing/bumping for room, then tucking leather home. Heigl's belly constantly beaten - Larter just shoving in lefts and rights, then plowing jug with either forearm in tight confines. Bell to bell Ali: she wants it more, she takes it. UD11 Ali Larter.
AFTER: Heigl in tears, all used up: she took it from Kelly Brook over 11, now she gives it away. Larter weeping tears of joy, waving her right hand at her face, hugging her peeps: Ali proving up her elite credentials by going Durance/Heigl to collect 2 shards of the unified lightweight title. "I knew she'd tire," a banged up, but jubilant Larter crows in postfight. "She's strong at a certain range, but I knew if I kept the pressure on, she'd wilt and weaken. Tummy was key: Heigl's gut is firm, but it's a quitter's gut - you know she doesn't train her middle the way some of us do. Could I have knocked her out? I don't know - not tonight. She was taking a very good shot: I hit her some beauts, and she was definitely hurt, but she wasn't giving in to them. That first round was key: that was the hardest she hit me all night - she put me down, and I knew I had to answer or I'd probably lose. I put her down, and she knew I was the boss: after that, it was just a matter of gettin' her done!"
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