Unified Bantamweight Title

Posted by Simguy on 10/1/2004, 6:42 pm.

Before: “Keira doesn’t impress me,” Hu says with a dismissive shrug. “her title reign was largely a fluke and I intend to prove that point with total supremacy in this fight. The Kelly Hu story is just beginning to be written: Keira’s a footnote.” Knightley coming in light but wire fit--she goes right for the jugular on Kelly I preflight. “Nice love handles Kel,” Keira smirks, “After I run you ragged, you might want to check out Jenny Craig--just the thing for shabby Yanks who’ve lost the script.” Ouch. Hu cold and staring during ring instructions: mission accomplished Keira. Knightley in tan hide bikini, Kelly in black leather bikini, bra straps, slick low ponytail.

During R1: both girls boxers, but similarity end there. Keira up on her toes, lots of leg, using every inch of ring. Hu using her upper body more, closed stance on prowling, flat feet, pointing the left shoulder, keeping the left across her tum, right up around the chin.

Keira having some success with counterclockwise movement, punching right hands to the back, hooking Kelly in the forehead then scooting away. Hu stalking, patient, but not clearing the holster--up-tempo shutout Keira.

R2: Hu still having trouble with the sheer pace and energy of Knightley, Keira bouncing left or right, poking lead rights, stepping in and out, batting away with clawing lefts and rights in combination. Hu able to twist and roll with the incoming, not getting hurt, but she’s not doing much offensively--just following Keira around the ring, then slipping punches as Knightley gets off first.

R3,4: Hu more effective, getting the jab off her hip constructively, stepping over to cut off the ring and letting the right hand go--Keira’s getting tagged. Hu’s favourite move: brisk lead right, step right and pull the hook across Keira’s face--it’s scoring well and forcing Knightley to back off and regroup. Still not a lot of sustained contact--girls clawing in squalls at each oither then bopping out of range--very tactical, safety first type stuff.

R5: Hu’s supple slipping, torso moves, screened right hands and catspaw hooks. Knightley’s chipping, chiseling jab, batting combinations as she turns off the ropes--fight flitting all around the ring as girls tap and swat at each other, Hu placing some flat right hands to the chest and chin of Knightley--Keira pulling away at the time so escaping unhurt, but Kelly’s imposing her will through 5.

R6: Good Keira Knightley round of boxing erased when Kelly lands the hardest punch of the fight in the final minute. Girls trade hooks and Hu steps in to chop the short right to Keira’s mouth--Knightley’s legs give a shimmy and she’s rattled as she staggers to ropes. Hu tentative, not following up--girls stre and pose at one another to the tell as Kelly steals the round.

R7: KEIRA RETURNS THE FAVOUR! Knightley jabbing to Kelly’s forehead, suddenly hooks off the stick, bends right and claws the hook again, backing Kelly up with a surprised expression. Batting flurry as Knightley gambles and is rewarded--several clanging lefts and rights land to skull and chest of Hu as she’s disorganized at the ropes. Keira leaning in and out, finishes up with a crashing right hand flush on the chin, buckling Kelly’s knees--Keira scampers away with a delighted look as she cuts Hu inside the mouth. Best two-way action of the round as Hu rallies off the ropes, walks Keira down and forces trade. Hu twisting her shoulders and looking for short-arm poking right uppercuts and tidy hooks--Keira sliding back as she jabs, drags the front foot and rocks forward into spindly-armed hesitation rights.

R8: Hu marches on Keira. Kelly jabbing with authority, gets Keira’s back on the ropes, picks spots to sweep in and land sidearm right hands hard to the body. Keira concerned, dukes up, leaning back, trying to time Kelly, flinching as Kelly feints her. Cat and mouse--Kelly pawing the jab to the face, sticking jab to belly, feinting up top then delivering swinging rights loud to the body-it’s starting to cramp Keira up. Knightley guessing with Hu, dropping either elbow to block and finally, Hu catches her out of position. Kelly able to turn on a withering right hand on the chin, bending in and down with the sudden wallop and KEIRA’S STUNNED! Knightley limp, shabby as she reclines against the ropes, hands up but weak and HU UNLEASHES! Torrid lefts and rights tear past the defences, smashing Keira’s blank face side to side and THE REF JUMPS IN! TKO8 Kelly Hu.

After: Competitive bout--Keira posing problems and testing Hu at times, but champ comes through, finally turning puncher to solve the puzzler. “She moves well, but I was too strong for her,” says Kelly in post. “She can’t punch at this weight--I didn’t respect her at all, Honestly? I could have tied my left hand behind my back and beaten her with power alone. I boxed her just enough to show her that she was outclassed, then I ended matters.” Keira scoffing at the notion of Hu head and shoulders above her. “I can’t believe she said that!” Knightley blurts. “She caught me one single devastating punch--other than that, we were neck and neck.”

Reposted by Archer 8/16/12.