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Sarah: Well here we are ladies and gentlemen. After what seems like the longest card in history, we have finally arrived at the main event, the ACB Welterweight title between Elle MacPherson and Erika Heynatz. Erika was crowned the AWUBA Super Lightweight champion just before the AWUBA demise, with a 9th round technical knockout of the former champion, Sonia Kruger. She is lightly fought at this weight but does boast titles in 3 divisions and is certainly a rising star. What can’t we say about her opponent Elle MacPherson. She is approaching her 49th birthday. She is arguably the Greatest AWUBA fighter of all time having won titles in 3 divisions and holds the mantle of the Greatest Lightweight of all time. She recently won and then defended the AWUBA Lightweight Title for the 51st time. This fight is sure to go down in history as the best possible Main Event for the Inaugural ACB PPV.
Elle, it is an honour to be here tonight to watch you and even more of a privilege to interview you before the fight. How much longer can you do this for?
Elle: I set out to try and win another FCBA title before I retire at 50 and that is still my gal. It is looking like a harder journey than I expected but winning this tonight is the first step. The next step is a BBU title. Then hopefully those yanks will let me at them.
Sarah: Well good luck tonight. And Erika, you have fought on this stage many times before but a title fight against the greatest of all time, this is the stuff dreams are made of.
Elle: You know, when I was 10 I had a Sports Illustrated calendar which Elle was in when she was 23. If anyone ever said that I would get to fight against her for a title at 35, and she is 48, I would have laughed. But it is no laughing matter when you get in the ring with her. I’m ready.
Sarah: Here we go people.
Round 1
Elle skipping to the middle, meets Heynatz, they circle, jabbing. Heynatz swaying at the hip, switching the guard, Elle likewise but catches Heynatz on the chin, once, twice. Heynatz leaning away now, then ducking and swiping at Elle’s midsection, missing. Elle jab, jab, more scoring shots. Heynatz stepping away now, good from though, keeping Elle at distance. Elle upping the tempo, jabbing one two and she’s doing a little damage there. Heynatz, quicker to retreat, circling the ring but Elle is on her, jabbing upstairs, swiping the body, all over her younger opponent. Great work from MacPherson, dominating the final minute, just tracking Heynatz around the ring, jabbing at the face, lots of scoring punches and there’s the bell.
Kylie: Good first round there for the champ. I thought she controlled that nicely, definitely scoring a lot more.
Kristy: She looked good. Her jab is on the money early. Erika looks good to though. She is moving well. Maybe just getting caught by the pace of Elle.
Round 2
Much of the same from Elle, straight into that dominant display, really quick hands. She keeps finding Erika’s face, not a lot of power, just speed and quantity. Erika red faced, still working well, ducking weaving, but taking more than those missing. Midway through MacPherson traps her against the ropes, swatting quick hooks to the ribs, lightning fast from Elle, Heynatz popping shots to Elle’s face but she grits her teeth and keeps going, working upstairs now, puts a hard right through the gloves, Heynatz left jab goes astray and THE RIGHT HOOK from MacPherson sends Heynatz sideways, regrouping near the corner but Elle fires in a QUICK LEFT UPPERCUT that gets all her chin and her back smacks into the corner. ON COMES MACPHERSON! The body torment continues, I can’t see Elle’s hands, combinations just smacking into Heynatz’s rock hard abs, LEFT UPPERCUT takes the chin, SOLID RIGHT HOOK to the jaw AND DOWN GOES ERIKA HEYNATZ! Seconds left in the round as Erika sinks to her knees and there’s the bell.
Kristy: So pretty to watch. Elle was just too much for Erika that round. She is so quick. I just cannot believe that this woman at 48 can still have the quickest hands in the AWUBA, ACB, whatever. Amazing.
Kylie: I get to watch her work with the girls every day and you see Em Browning and Emilie De Ravin standing there watching this woman twice their age, jaw’s dropped. It’s truly inspirational.
Kristy: Can Erika answer?
Round 3
ELLE CHARGES ACROSS THE RING! Heynatz quick out of corner, edging to her right, watchful as MacPherson meets her but is slow to duck a left right combo, she took that all in the mouth, she’s backing away. Heynatz watchful, MacPherson’s at a distance still, Heynatz closing, jabbing another one two through the veterans gloves. Elle in full retreat now, more compact and defensive, Heynatz taking territory now, closing Elle to the corner, jab hook the torso, little uppercut that just clips the chin, oh Elle leans right and lands a hard hook to that bounces off the shoulder to temple, Heynatz backing away and shaking it off. Elle back on the front foot, driving forward into the jab, Heynatz taking hard shots again and she’s out of there. MacPherson zeroing in. One two, one two. Heynatz ducking, swiping a hook to the gut, steps in and gives Elle a quick combo of her own, not as quick, Elle clinching, Heynatz hanging on also. Both girls letting go and throwing a short jab each and falling together again as the bell ends the third.
Kylie: Elle wanting to finish it there but perhaps a bit premature. She can do that to weaker opponents like Sophie Howard but not against champions like Heynatz.
Kristy: That’s a great round by Erika to keep herself right in the fight. She took no crap from Elle early and although she took a lot of punches midway through, she might just take that round.
Kylie: Too close to call I’d say.
Round 4
IT’S A SLUGFEST IN THE MIDDLE! Both machines just throwing hard punches at each other. Great form, switching, twitching, leaning, ducking, firing huge punches out of the crouch. Neither girl is budging from the spot. One full minute of total all out punching. Elle the first to break, skipping back for a quick breather, Heynatz waits patiently, Elle circling, OH STEPS INTO THAT ONE, CRUCHING UPPERCUT Erika Heynatz and that’s cut Elle to the eye, stomping backwards to the ropes, SHE’S HURT! ON COMES HEYNATZ! Elle is wearing the gloved helmet, Heynatz low, smacking hard punches into the 48 year old abs, ripping off shot after shot, cracking against the ribs, Elle just soaking it up, still with a high guard, but starting to bend in under the onslaught, RIGHT UPPERCUT HEYNATZ, MacPherson’s head bobbing, eye’s wide, blood from the cut, more torso torment for Elle, oh the power from Heynatz, Elle weak in the knees, RIPPING SHOT TO THE RIBS, lowers the guard and takes a THRASHING HOOK to the cheek right on the bell. Elle spinning and hanging on the top rope at the bell.
Kylie: JE-ZUZ! Hinzy let me ask you whose round was better? Elle’s second or Heynatz fourth?
Kristy: Elle gets it for the knockdown but Heynatz otherwise. That was a future great taking apart the greatest of all time right there. I’m a big fan of Elle but I’m afraid she won’t come back from that. And knowing Erika, this could end very quickly.
Kylie: Big call Hinzy but you might be right. Looking at Elle in the corner, she is a mess. All disheveled, cut under the left eye and swelling and she’s sucking in the big ones. Challenging times for the champ.
Round 5
HEYNATZ RUSHES IN, but meets a determined MacPherson, jabbing at the champ, can’t find an opening, Elle catches her a flush shot on the forehead, Heynatz walking through it, takes another to the mouth and now her corners calls her out. She back, just within reach of the MacPherson jab, ducking and weaving again, often getting under and swiping at the body but missing. Elle is solid, not fazed by the last round, back to her jabbing style, quick fire at the face of Heynatz but she is now just back to clinching with Elle and closing up the contest. Midway through, Elle pushes her away with her forearms, fires a left jab past Erika’s ear and takes a FLASHY RIGHT HOOK to the cut, Elle bunny hopping backwards as Heynatz attacks again, down low at Elle, smacking punches into that midsection, she tries to cover up but takes a PUMPING UPPERCUT on the chin, just staying on those aging legs. Heynatz relentless, punch after punch into Elle’s abs as again she starts bending in. HARD LEFT AND RIGHT HOOK to the head, has Elle blinking mouth agape. Another tidy little hook on the bell and Elle is in all sorts of trouble.
Kylie: The trouble for Elle now is that the power is gone from her punches. Heynatz is coping with the pace of the fight because the power isn’t there. Elle can score from the outside but she can’t hurt her. Also, Elle has been touched up by some powerful punches and those ones to her abdomen are really taking a toll.
Kristy: Couldn’t have summed it up better myself Kylz. Erika is really just taking her down peg by peg. I think this will be the round.
Kylie: I’ve got the first three rounds to Elle and the next two to Erika, 46-43 MacPherson.
Part 2
Posted by Green & Gold Magazine on 1/5/2012, 12:24 am
Round 6
BELL TO BELL DEMOLITION ERIKA HEYNATZ! MacPherson slow of the stool and Heynatz is on top of her in a flash. The tall specimen with the long curly locks, working off solid legs, great footwork, just rocking side to side and firing powerful shots into the openings. SOLID STRAIGHT JAB hammers through the guard and MacPhersons stomps back into her corner. She’s all covered up, offering nothing, ref in close, Heynatz clever, gut punching the old girl, breaking her down, clubbing left and rights into the ribs and when the guard drops, just launching into LEFT AND RIGHT UPPERCUTS off bended knee. Elle’s head bobbing up and down, blood sweat spraying through the air. Heynatz BLASTING HOOKS to the ribs again as Elle just takes the most punishing display of boxing of the night. Elle caught in the ropes, fighting back with a few wayward jabs then takes a BLISTERING RIGHT HOOK to the cheek. How’s she staying up? Heynatz looking frustrated, continues to bash away, shifting her weight right and driving a SOLID LEFT HOOK into the face of MacPherson, Elle swinging wild in return, catches Heynatz with a nice hook to the face but Erika returns with a one two combination that snaps the head side to side. ANOTHER CRUNCHING UPPERCUT to end the round, as MacPherson sits back in the ropes.
Kylie: I never thought I would say this but I would be tempted to end this. I’ve never seen Elle MacPherson take that much punishment in 30 years of boxing. Her left eye is nearly swollen shut, she now has a cut to the chin, bloody mouth, and the bruising around the mid-section….ugly.
Kristy: Erika is just having her way with her really. But Kylz….she can’t knock her down.
Kylie: True. Elle only slightly ahead. She needs to pull something out of somewhere.
Round 7
Heynatz charging in again, Elle just making it halfway to the middle and circling left. Throws the left hand out there and stops Heynatz in tracks. Elle still backing away, throwing the left hand out there. Heynatz looking for the opportunity to pounce, ducking under the jab and swiping at the torso but Elle has her at distance. Throws the left again, Erika ducking under and swiping but Elle throws an unorthodox left hook that catches Erika on nose. Stuns her back, Elle following with a lightning one two to the face and Heynatz is backing off for the first time in three rounds. Comes forward again but catches that left jab again. Elle following the left jab with a low hook each time and Erika can no longer get underneath. Heynatz frustrated backing right away, Elle tracking her with the right jab this time right on the money, taking ground, working Heynatz to the ropes. Those lightning jabs flashing at Erika’s face and the crowd erupts as the veteran explodes. Heynatz copping leather to the face now. MacPherson closing right in for a tight exchange, quick hands, 10-12 jabs into her belly, stepping back and CLOCKING THE RIGHT UPPERCUT into the stunned faced of Heynatz, she’s woozy but she’s fighting back with a left jab to the face and a one two combination to the MacPherson stomach. There’s the bell.
Kylie: A much better round for Elle there. Totally changing tact and leading with the left jab. Well done from the corner to point out that little follow up hook to keep Heynatz from ducking low.
Kristy: The old girl just pulled something out of her bag of tricks but I still don’t think it is enough. You can see Heynatz is walking through those punches.
Round 8
Both girls meet mid-ring, a resurgent MacPherson, going toe to toe with her younger aggressor. Heynatz power versus MacPherson speed. Hard right jab from Elle, left and right to the body, Heynatz returns fire with two solid blows in behind her elbows, Elle takes it and CLIPS THE RIGHT UPPERCUT sending the Heynatz head backwards and then follows this with a BLISTERING LEFT HOOK that shakes the blonde’s foundations and sends her reeling towards the ropes! Elle walks into a one two jab to the mouth, takes a half step back as Heynatz shuffles left along the ropes. Left jab from Elle, Heynatz trying to get away from the rejuvenated MacPherson. She’s throwing that left jab again, touching Heynatz on the face, keeping her at bay. MacPherson tiring, Heynatz ducks the jab and smacks a wide left hook into MacPherson’s ribs, Elle heaving, taking another body barrage as Heynatz sense her fatigue. Elle backing off and now she is copping leather to the face as Heynatz sends to the left jab back her way. Terrific round as the bell ends the 8th.
Kylie: Wow nothing separating these two ladies that round. Elle finding something in the tank with some more powerful shots early, resting midway through and then Erika stepping up to the challenge late in the round.
Kristy: We’ve got a big finish coming up her Kylz. Based on your scores, and considering that round was even, its 74-71 Elle. Erika needs a big round here.
Round 9
Heynatz waiting for Elle to come to her. They suss each other out, circling, Elle popping out one two’s, left right, left right, not much scoring. Erika patient, leaning away, or ducking and trying for that body shot. Elle continuing one, two, one, two, gets a couple through. Heynatz backing away now, drawing Elle, throwing the left jab, but not connecting. Midway through, Elle catches her with a one, two to the nose, Heynatz blinking, checking for blood, takes a hard shot to the ribs, another to the stomach, RIGHT UPPERCUT MACPHERSON, Heynatz wobbly, backpedals away bouncing off the ropes and skipping right. Elle senses her chances, racing in, one, two to the head but just can’t land a powerful punch. Heynatz in full retreat, circling the perimeter, taking punches one after the other to the head. Big round for MacPherson, pumping her fist by her side at the bell.
Kylie: Oh this is exciting Hinzy. If we have it right, Elle is well on the way to claiming the very first ACB Welter title.
Kristy: Yep, as far as I am concerned Erika needs to knock her out to win this. I have to say that I am stunned after those middle rounds that Elle is even ahead in this fight but then again, she is Elle MacPherson.
Kylie: Here we go, the final round about to begin. Baudo in Elle’s corner offering some of his own words.
Round 10
They meet mid-ring. A bit of toe to toe action but it’s Elle who drives a good jab through the guard first and Heynatz is wary. Elle waits for the Heynatz jab and fires a swooping hook that whizzes past Erika’s nose. Elle pouncing in 6 punches to the stomach, followed by an ARCHING UPPERCUT that takes all of Erika’s chin and she is lifted slightly off her feet, stumbling, slipping backwards. Elle advances, Heynatz throwing long stiff jabs to try and keep Elle at a distance but Elle just ducks under and swipes at the torso. Heynatz struggling to land a punch, she’s on the back foot, throwing the jab at Elle but the wily old veteran is returning some early body assaults, ducking in low and putting 5-6 punches on Erika’s abs. Final minute and it is all Elle MacPherson. Erika just can’t find the openings, fighting on gamely in the hope of a knockdown but is just doesn’t come. Elle landing a lot more punches in the final minute and there’s the bell.
Kylie: What a fight we have just witness Hinzy. Two champion fighters putting on 10 rounds for us. An early knockdown to Elle and then those middle 3 rounds where Erika tore the Greatest of Them All apart. Both fighters trying to capatilise in the latter rounds but neither could finish the other off and then Elle just looking to hang on at the end.
Kristy: A brilliant fight from both ladies Kylz…..here is the result….. Comes back 94-87 and the inaugural ACB Welter weight Champion, ELLE MACPHERSON!
Kylie: She’s done it! She’s done it! Unbelievable scene’s in the middle of the ring here at Acer Arena as the 48 year old Elle MacPherson takes the Inaugural ACB Welter Title beating a gallant Erika Heynatz. Elle standing on the ropes beating her chest, really pumping up the crowd. A respectful Erika Heynatz standing mid-ring clapping in appreciation of this amazing feat from a Superwoman of Australian Boxing.
Kristy: Well said Kylie, let’s go up to Sarah who has Erika with her.
Sarah: Erika, what a fight? You must be proud of that effort.
Erika: I am Sarah. It’s disappointing to lose but hey, she is Ell MacPherson and I pushed her and stretched her and exposed her tonight. I showed everyone that she can be beaten and hopefully I will still be the one to do that and win that title back.
Sarah: You certainly did and there would have to be a rematch. You bashed her during those middle rounds. I mean she really does look a mess and most of us in the commentary box thought it would end in the fifth or sixth.
Erika: Yeah look it was very frustrating. At the start of the fifth I lost a contact lens and so for the first half of the round I was looking through one eye and it wasn’t til later in that round that I dealt with it and starting hitting her again. Oh well, such is life.
Sarah: Look well done tonight. And Elle, ELLE! Come over here. Elle MacPherson, ACB Welter Champion. How does this feel?
Elle: Words cannot explain it Sarah. I’ve been bashed from pillar to post tonight. I was down but I wasn’t out. Baudo wanted to throw the towel in at the end of the 6th, I think more to protect me from more damage than anything. But I said I wanted to go in because she hadn’t knocked me down and I knew she couldn’t knock me down and here I am now at 48 years old, still winning titles!!
Sarah: Well it’s a clean slate, some might say this puts you on 86, level with Jen Hawkins, but in my eyes it’s the start of new beginnings.
Elle: We’ve got to put the AWUBA behind us now, you can’t keep living in the past. That is history, and we are about to write a new chapter in Australian Woman’s boxing and to everyone who won a title tonight, cheers to new beginnings!!
Sarah: Well done Elle!
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