Posted by Simguy on 2/7/2004, 8:46 am.

Before: Big step up in class for Visser--former champ Crawford still a legendary brunette name in the FCBA, though fallen on hard times of late. “Cindy tried to take over at middleweight last year and got her head handed to her,” says one long time Crawford observer, “that was the wake up call, Crawford still has the talent and physical tools, but she’s stepping back a bit here, dropping down in weight, hoping to carve up a promising newcomer--as bold a move as this is for Visser, it’s a telling one for Cindy, Crawford’s babying herself here and she could be taking Nikki for granted.” Nikki in tight white crop top, clingy sleeves to the elbow, scoop front, grey CK stretch undies--Cindy similarly styled top, red, gray CK stretch undies.

During R1: Crawford displaying supremacy, maneuvering around the ring, luring Visser into traps, almost toying with the blonde for a shutout. Cindy fading to the ropes, turning her right, then diving into a pre-emptive right hand counter as Visser walks in, potshot ting blonde chin. Cindy roaming midring, spearing Nik an authoritative jab. Cindy cute in the corners, bouncing off adjacent ropes, spinning around Visser with nifty sidesteps, putting blonder back to the turnbuckles and scoring to the body as Nikki covers up. Visser unhurt, but undressed a bit here--Cindy welcoming Nik to the upper echelons of big-girl skill in a classy first.

R2: Nikki’s not impressed. Visser jabbing with Cindy, coming at the brunette strong-blonde doubting older girl’s legs and determined to pressure them this round. End minute one--Niki glides in a shearing right hand off her jab, swiveling Cindy’s head--Crawford stamping in fence post holes, feeling Aussie night for the first time in the fight. Crawford shaky-legging to her right, running to clear her head--Visser unable to really pile on as American puts on evasive maneuvers. Down the stretch, Cindy starts to target blonde chin for humming right hands, stepping right, getting them over Nik’s left shoulder.

R3: Crawford fencing jabs with Nik outside, both girls lean into go-home right hands but Crawford’s just a hair quicker--VISSER’S HURT! Nikki’s turn to stagger and stomp, covering up earmuff--Crawford steps to her, licking a thick right/left off those tanned ribs to really suck wind out of her girl. Visser exhaling through pursed lips as she backs to the ropes--sun kissed Aussie shook, but alert, hands at temples, blocking well up top, but giving away her taut midsection. Crawford patient on follow up--single hooks amidships, right hands up the middle--but Visser fighting very well off the ropes turns this thing into a dangerous series of exchanges, Nikki stationary, but hacking out short rights and lefts from her high guard--dropping punches over Cindy’s right cross and hook, getting stout smack off Crawford’s shiny face, Cindy stymied, unable to finish--both girls showing heart under duress so far tonight.

R4: Crawford back to rangy boxing, not taking any chances, but really embarrassing Visser with footwork, proving the superior ring general in there. Nik basically pursuing, dukes up at her temples--she’s getting scuffed and swatted, but not taking anything serious--it’s just she can’t do anything constructive with crafty Cindy dictating from outside.

R5: More Cindy C, winning the fight with her legs--she’s influencing and negotiating Nikki around the ring, moving her into right hands, landing hooks more frequently to the body--it’s steady, patient attrition. Nikki basically using her fitness and stamina as a weapon here--she’s not getting off, not putting anything in Crawford, but she’s got the old gal fighting at an extremely high tempo, hoping to tire those long legs out for the second half.

R6: Nikki turns up the heat, gets after Cindy more effectively this round, Visser rougher, bumping her forearms into Cindy’s shoulders, bunting her back, using the left forearm/elbow liberally to discourage clinches and spins. Nik moving her hands more as well--tidy, chopping shots from the high guard, good seeking jabs as Crawford tries to wheel away--blonde starting to find the range, getting touches, now effectively aggressive. By the final minute, Crawford’s running, mouth breathing, worries expression--Aussie hunting her down, chasing her to ropes putting leather on meat for the first Visser shutout.

R7: Nikki POURS herself at Cindy, riding up rough with the guard, hacking away right hands at the defenses upstairs, bu going to the ribs and midsection with stout, pumping lefts and rights as Crawford starts to tire, Cindy’s defense reliant upon her legs--as she slows down, she’s more available, doesn’t move her upper body that much--Nikki able to apply a numbing blanket of snapping punches to the waist and ribs, systematically breaking the big brunette down. By the final minute--Cindy’s flat footed, leaning forward, mouth pouted open, just standing there letting Visser turn her hips into vicious body-lashing rights and lefts.

R8: Nikki bumps her forearms into Cindy’s shoulders--brunette’s legs no longer holding canvas--blonde’s just bumping and pushing her girl around at this point. Visser coming forward strong, jabbing to close, bumping to move Crawford back, raking her hooks and crosses as CC gives ground. Cindy not taking the punches as well as she was--she’s hurt repeatedly in the first minute as Nik turns over a short, chopping right from under her temple onto Cindy’s jaw--brunette’s form falling apart in chunks under pressure. Middle minute, Crawford tries to right the ship, engaging Visser in a series of shattering exchanges--Cindy taking a little half step back and walking Visser into some tidy right hands on the chin, but blonde just walking through them at this point. Final minute all Nikki--she just HOUNDS Cindy to the ropes, gutting the brunette with short, jagged lefts and rights on the waist--Nik keeping her elbows in, quick-slashing at belly meat, then shouldering wounded quarry into the ropes. Visser mauling Crawford late--crashing right hands through the guard, searing hooks up and into Cindy’s failing abs and CRAWFORD GOES DOWN! Cindy going out on her feet under a savage blonde barrage, pooling to the canvas to slumber wetly on her face--devastating KO8 Nikki Visser.

After: Crawford all used up, chased down, battered and halted by an underdog blonde with little or no name recognition--it’s a damaging loss to the once all-mighty Cindy, Visser paraded around the ring on the shoulders of her corner--huge win for Nikki establishes her at welterweight beyond a shadow of a doubt--some even calling her the new Estella Warren for this spirited display of finesse and brutality. Usual disclaimer from the Crawford camp--Cindy was dead at the weight, would be more comfortable at middle, so on and so forth. Crawford spokesperson says Cindy will regroup and dominate in the months to come--but skepticism is mounting: girls are standing up to her and backing her down from 130 on up.

Reposted by Archer 8/3/12