INTERNATIONAL BOXING IN HONG KONG

Posted by Simguy on 12/28/2000, 3:28 pm.

(Holt the lanky brunette in “Once a Thief”--Yip in a variety of Hong Kong action films starring with Jackie Chan and Jet Li, also a recent episode of “Earth: The Conflict” Francoise with a bigger following than you might expect, maybe we’ll see more of her (come onnnn “Martial Law”).

During R1: Holt recognizing it might take the unexpected to carve out an advantage, goes against tendency and comes out slugging to catch Yip napping early. Sandrine rolling with the jab, then slinging in with her right hand, catches Francoise on the tip of the chin and has the lanky Asian’s legs buckling in the first minute. Francoise on flat feet slugs back in a fierce middle minute--Yip stepping forward, curling her punches in rising arcs, always bringing her fists back to her chest to stay in punching position. Holt backing away, bending at the waist manages to time Yip late, lashing a whip action left hook up across the chin, then doubling up to hook the eye and Yip once again falters. All Holt in the final moments as she lets her hands go with Trinidad supple fury--Yip covered up, leaning into the ropes to take.

R2: Francoise recovering well--pace becomes more calculating as the girls circle, dancing occasionally into open canvas, then stepping flat footed to trade licking combinations outside. Yip dictating action with her lanky jab, flicking out to the belly and face, changing up speed, shooting it from the shoulder, then from the hip to keep Holt guessing. Holt laying on her back foot, diving into the occasional right hand counter---but Yip’s looking for it now and won’t give up the home run. Shutout Francoise Yip.

R3: Holt settles down to box and the sharp shooting, lanky bodied chess match everyone expected develops. Reminds many onlookers of Bronco McKart vs. Winky Wright0-both girls supple with their upper bodies, loose with their hands, patting and tapping with jabs to set up stinging crosses or whip action hooks. Sandrine ekes out a close round as she smacks Francoise upside the jaw with hooks late.

R4: Similar action--many subtle undertones, Girls take turns getting off, each looking to counter off the block, guards held high to receive. Occasionally one will shoulder up in the other, crouching low, and step out with a batting left/right to the waist. Holt still slicing the odd power right hand, cleverly falling in to smother the receipt, Judges give it to Yip as her licking bodyshots are the cleanest punches of the round.

R5: Holt drops the left hand to her side, showing shoulder and closing up her stance. Francoise takes the bait, working behind her jab to spear right crosses--Holt rolls with the right hand, opens up her shoulders to sling a right hand counter and Francoise stutter steps away in shock from chin music. Sandrine hopping forward, lashes the left up into brown rib cage, slashes down with overhand rights--Yip retreating to the ropes, sets up behind a tight guard. Cat and mouse at the ropes as Holt wants to press, but gets picked up early by a slapping hook and thinks better of it. Francoise slipping and bending at the ropes virtually knittable to the bell-angry Siamese cat eyes all around as Holt know she let an opportunity pass.

R6,7: Slickest display of boxing seen in quite a while--no wonder HBO didn’t want the fight, Holt missing with her sling fist right hand--Yip missing with her lashing wide left hooks. Leggy dancing, loose limbs, pretty posing and footwork--but the girls are basically negating each other with defensive wizardry.

R8,9: Francoise finds something: a wide, medium speed hook, setting up a darting straight right hand--Holt gets spanked a few times in these rounds as Yip gets off, gets out smartly. Holt feeling pressure to respond opens up a bit too much, gets herself outjabbed, turned a little more often as Francoise pulls the strings in these rounds.

R10: holt turns the tables, sliding in to shoulder up, then going to the firm waist of her opponent with spanking lefts and rights--stealing the look from Yip’s playbook. Yip responds by coming inside and the girls fight snake-like shoulder to shoulder, bending at the waist, turning their shoulders while on constant contact, each trying to lick leather up into tiny openings. Close round to Holt--decision comes back a draw.

After: Perfunctory hug--Holt showing disappointment as she landed the only hurting blows of the fight--Yip getting Hong Kong nod in an otherwise close contest. Sophisticated Far` East fight fans lap it up, recognizing the skill of both women--but it’s not the kind of thing that will have HBO drooling to sign either girl. Holt vocal on Hong Kong Tonight: “Francoise and I could box the ears off the typical PPV stiff, but its so hard to get the big stars to take a chance. They don’t want to look bad, and they’ve got these big pumped up names to protect. Can you imagine if Charlize Theron or Cat bell got packed up by Sandrine Holt? People have to realize that these girls are protected--they’re not the best fighters out there, regardless of what you read.” Sour graopes, or frustrated greatness? You decide.

Reposted by Archer 12/31/12.