BOXING AT THE MIRAGE

Originally posted by Simguy on 11/6/2006, 7:19 pm

Before: “BSE’s had a pretty good run at us lately,” Garner acknowledges in prefight. “They’ve firmed up at 100, they’ve blackened some yes and pushed back with authority this year—things’re pretty bitter between their flyweights and ours. O’Dell and I are a little calmer about things—I know her stable has mine in their crosshairs, but it’s not like we’d jump each other on the red carpet, you know? I’m not about to knock her out if I see her at Starbucks—this is purely professional competition between us, and I appreciate that about her. I’d like her to keep her stablemates on a little tighter leash—they’re a pretty mouthy bunch—but overall, I respect Jenny and I’m looking forward to handling her in her own house.”

O’Dell grinning at Garner’s smooth podium-work—respect clearly mutual as JOD takes the mic: “When I finally out Landry down best-of-7,” Jenny begins, “part of me was already thinking: ‘Jennifer Garner’. Coming off the beach, I’ll admit it: Garner was on my short list of girls I wanted to beat in the ring. She’s absolutely right—I have nothing but respect for her, and I’m going to do everything in my power to hand her a loss in ‘my house’. This is the fight The Mirage always wanted when we first approached them—I’m just thrilled that we’re finally in a position to make it happen.”

JG in snug black boy cut stretch shorts, overlaid by leopard print loincloth; short, ankle-high black suede boxing moccasins with leopard print; black stretch bra with leopard print cups; gloves of black sheepskin (promotes bruising not cutting). JOD in lion-hide bikini (roughhewn, torn edges), loinclothed bottom; knee-high tan boxing moccasins; tan sheepskin boxing mitts. Girls tough’em up and nod acknowledgement like true sportswomen.

During R1: Right hand’s there for Garner early: short, chopping shots off the jab knockin’ back JOD’s face, putting her in reverse. These are crunching punches, dazing O’Dell—she’s doing well to get on her bicycle and leg the perimeter to let her head clear. Garner chin tucked, hunched in a slight stalkers-crouch: she cuts off the ring, jabs Jenny’s chest to put her ropeside, bangs those flanks with muscular sheepskin thump as blonde covers up. Late the round, Garner rocks O’Dell again—JOD backpedaling, clearly frazzled—she eats a hook as JG steps and leads with it, swiveling O’Dell’s head around as crowd roars. JOD disheveled—showing A+ chin as JG steals JOD’s “quick-start” thunder in the first.

R2: Garner hunting O’Dell with stiff jabs, scoot-steppin’ in and banging that ribcage right/left: O’Dell grimacing, breathing out through pursed lips as she immediately disengages, looking to use the ring. JOD sticking and moving, touching Garner a stiff jab, looking to step right and walk Garner into sneaky right hands: O’Dell refusing head-o exchanges in a bid to be unpredictable. Garner the aggressor, pockets more points with her usual efficiency.

R3: O’Dell still boxing, showing a terrific, loping leg ‘round the perimeter—just not putting enough on Garner for the judges, O’Dell hopping well outside, jabbing stiff when she gets it off—but Garner’s unimpressed. JG pressing her attack to the O’Dell ribcage: firm, thudding rights and lefts force JOD cover up a-grunting behind her mitts. JOD clinching in response, tieing up and wrestling with Garner—O’Dell showing a lot of different looks thus far. Heads clash in clinches—Garner trying to rough O’Dell up and JOD doesn’t like it—ref issues cautions to both girls as temperatures rise through 3.

R4: JOD finally slows the Garner express with a mix of right hands off the jab. O’Dell midring, pushing off ball of right foot—good popping pulse on the jab; short, non-anticipatory right cross—Garner catching on her chin as crouches her way in, O’Dell showing good judgement—trading in spots; stepping away to circler at times; clinching up under garner’s arms for ref’s breaks, typically whenever JG establishes position inside. Garner getting her touches, especially a loud left hook to blonde ribs—but O’Dell on the board with a classy fourth.

R5: O’Dell LEADS the right hand Brittany Daniel style—GARNER’S HURT! Jenny G stepping in fence-post holes, surprised more than hurt—O’Dell brawny, palm Garner’s shoulders and shoving her ragdoll to ropes. Free-swinging right and lefts to the midsection CRAMPS GARNER UP! JG groaning, pitching forward hurt—O’Dell helping herself with withering blasts behind either Garner elbow, really reaching down and getting in there snug. JENNIFER GARNER TAKES A KNEE! Garner ashen faced, eyes narrowed in pain as she patiently takes 8, then stands, breathing hard. O’Dell all flared nostrils and blazing eyes—she rushes out from neutral corner, sailing into the Garner midsection with fresh shellack. Garner’s turn to clinch—her mouth open on JOD’s shoulder, eyes closed: brunette hanging on hurt at the bell as blonde struggles to free up arms for extra punching.

R6: JOD on stalk—Garner shying away, using her legs to buy time, Minute mark—O’Dell feint/lead right hand landing flush and hard to chin: Garner collapses to ropes, left shoulder towards JOD, gloves instinctively covering her head and O’DELL’S SWNGING AWAY! JOD unleashing gobsmacking rights and lefts—bouncing sheepskinned fists off head and shoulders and GARNER GOES DOWN! JG mouth open, dazed on all fours—heroic effort to the climb the ropes and fight off the bludgeoning KO. ON COMES O’DELL! And GARNER WON’T HAVE IT! Jenny G all busted up, legs rubbery but eyes hard—she bares her teeth, slugs with pride as O’Dell wades in to finish. HAMMER AND TONG! Crowd on its feet as JOD sweeps wide rights and lefts while JG dips side to side, looking to punch-with. Both girls clout opposing chins, buckling offending knees as wild slugging punctuates the sixth.

R7: Girls trade right hands, comeback hooks: O’DELL’S ROCKED! JOD on her heels, lips parted, eyes blinking—she shaky-legs it to her right, eyes watery with how-could-you tears. Garner seething, heartlessly cutting off the ring, jabbing to O’Dell’s chest to locate her then HACKING tight bright hands to the top of Jenny’s scalp. O’Dell trying to push back right hands, but she’s too hurt—GARNER’S RINGING HER UP IN TRADE! JOD reeling along ropes, staring into abuse—Garner stepping –with, hooking Jenny’s mouth and dropping right hands upside the head; Blonde beaten at the ragged-stagger, pillar to post—but she just won’t go down! Bell: Garner, chest heaving, looking JOD over with merciless eyes. O’Dell Wobbly butt, stumbling back to her corner, but assuring trainer she’s good to continue.

R8: Jenny O’Dell plays punch-and-clutch to perfection, piecing out her jab, walking JG into the right, then tieing up as garner accepts the clinch. Garner maybe taking the round off, but it’s a bad time catch breath: JOD able to recover her legs, re-establish her right hand—Garner looking a little glassy-eyed back to her corner as JOD rights the ship.

R9: Jenny’s legs springy—she’s hopping right, pivot-stepping left, then standing her ground to slug as Garner walks her down. HAMMERING back and forth—JOD channeling Garner a bit with the jab, steering brunette and dictating tempo—but when JG closes to medium/close range, both girls just lets hands go. O’Dell stepping away judiciously—never running—just disengaging, stepping to turn a Garner flank, then beating JG to the punch at the start of the next melee. Both girls puffy-faced, well-clouted—but O’Dell shapes the round, earns the points with hardnosed ring-generalship.

R10: Same again—hardhearted toe-to-toe trade as girls set feet wide, slug viciously from compact, elbows-in stance—but O’Dell dictating the terms. JOD the first to disengage, but also the first to punch—her jab’s steering Garner; right hand landing firmly to brunette chin. About even when girls toss to ribcage—both just opening up with lapping hup-hup in crowd-pleasing fashion—O’Dell willing to indulge Garner to a point, then stepping away before JG can establish supremacy. Goes bell to bell like this—hard round to score: girls swat mitts and fall into brawny hug when it’s over, in mutual acknowledgement of a rugged dime. Come backs a slender UD10…Jenny O’Dell!

After: Lumped up Garner smarting as decision is announced, but she claps, nods her head—multi-time champ giving JOD props for a hard battle well won. O’Dell thrilled, but giving Garner a warm hug, holding JG’s left hand high: both girls able to fight viciously, then show class after ringadingdong dime. “it’s been such a huge year for me,” JOD gushes in postfight, eyes a little shiny. “This just ices the cake. I’ve worked so hard to get to Garner’s level—you guys have no idea. Every woman I’ve beaten since coming off the beach has been a step towards where I’m now standing, and it’s a little overwhelming. Jennifer’s fought her usual tough, tough fight, and I take my hat off to her. Nobody’s ever made me work the way Jennifer Garner has in a boxing ring.

Reposted by Archer 7/21/