Posted by Simguy on 7/2/2005, 9:56 am.

Before: “Eliza makes good technical match ups,” notes one columnist for Celebrity Ring Mag. “Dushku/Hu is always a skills contest and Jolie/Dushku has the potential to deliver the same goods., Jolie’s just as hard nosed as Eliza, just as efficient and she’s definitely bringing mega-star swagger to the dance, If there’s an X-factor in this bout, it’s probably the weight of Angelina’s celebrity: how many extra punches is that going to equate to?” Rumours persist about Eliza’s injury situation, mental state after an up and down year, but web-cam coverage of her camp reveals a very sharp taskmistress in sparring—routinely chopping down her partners and forcing teary-eyed stoppages, “I feel great, I’ve had my best camp of the year coming in and I’m, looking forward to Angelina,” says a confident Dushku at the podium, “I know I need a string performance in a big fight to re-established myself and this is it, this is where I get it all back,” Jolie in line for a title shot, knows a win over Dushku combined with her star power probably makes Electra/Jolie next. “Taking care of Eliza basically assures me the title,” purrs Angelina. “I beat her, it’s a foregone conclusion that Electra will fall,.” Jolie in black Tomb Raider/Got Milk bikini, long battle braid--red leather bikini, Dushku.

During R1: Eliza making choices early: lead rather than counter; up tempo rather than stalking—it’s an aggressive punching Dushku to start. Jolie managing the heat with Lateral stepping, mostly to her right, occasionally to her left just shake pursuit. Right jabs from Jolie batting against Eliza’s left hand or spiking to her face, Dushku double-tapping her jab, scooting-to and hooking off the stick as action ranges the ring. E also throwing a more brazen right hand than usual, setting up the down middle against the southpaw. Tactical stuff—Jolie lands the most authoritative shot: a slick counter right hook as she slides back, walks Eliza in, busting the left cross as Dushku backs off in a hurry.

R2: Dushku double jabbing, getting close and hooking the rib cage, then throwing hard right hands up the middle--Eliza really committing on the shots, throwing her body into them—Jolie backing up, sidestepping in the face of unexpected heat. Dushku uncharacteristically wild at times, overswinging and getting out of position—price she has to pay to keep Jolie on the defensive.  Angie operating behind the jab, fitting straight, shivering left hands into Eliza’s mouth up the middle—great angular boxing from Angelina gets crowd-pleasing spank off Dushku’s face., Eliza taking a great shot early—she’s getting tagged, walking through it, beating slender Jolie about her biceps and flanks in a back and forth second. Bell: Angelina swivels abruptly away from Eliza, snaking her long braid across Eliza’s eyes, Shout of protest from Dushku, hands at her face—Jolie immediately warned for “braiding”.

R3: Eliza’s pressure starting to break Jolie down a little—Dushku’s commitment to body paying off. Eliza doubling up the jab, doubling up the jab the hook head and body, mixing in a short, chopping right straight to the chest that has Jolie backing off disgruntled. Eliza able to establish position on Angie’s chest more consistently, laying in shoulder to shoulder, working with short, digging blows up into lungs, scrubbing jug side to side. Jolie grimacing, licking lanky uppercuts and shortening up stroke on right hooks to wipe at Eliza—good thick stuff in the trenches. Jolie able to pick Eliza up hard a couple of times—Dushku shrugging it off tonight—chin, legs reminiscent of vintage Eliza.

R4: Eliza closing behind the double jab and fighting at closer range than Jolie would like: AJ a finer inside fighter in her own right, but she’s not the compact combination puncher Eliza is. Dushku really tearing up the gut both mitts now, tucking hooks behind Jolie’s right elbow and continuing to bump that rack—Jolie against the ropes, getting down old-school as Dushku cleans up torso in tight., Dushku chin-checking now more often, hooks and uppercuts biting and scything at Jolie—Eliza also clouting the temples short, clubbing blows when Jolie leans forward. Nasty stuff—Dushku’s work rate high, tidying up head and body—Angelina just covering up, laying in with Eliza, trying to ride out the hurt. Bell: Jolie visibly wobbly butt, achy to her corner—Dushku mining gold downstairs tonight.

R5: Dushku crisp, focused: doubling the jab as she has all night long, scooting-to to get hooks, moving her hands when she’s in close. Angelina mouth breathing—now reaching around Eliza to tie up, now pulling elbows in to cover up. Jolie really smarting to the body—Dushku’s snapping attacks really a toll on slender torso and a firm, consistent commitment to jug deeply discouraging proud Angelina. Jolie slowing, sluggishly turning with shots, left hand at her cheek, right across her gut—she’s not offering back much, just rolling, slipping, accepting the beat down. Dushku workmanlike—digging the body to loosen Angie up, then clipping the uppercut, putting the hook top, ringing Julie up chin and temples in crisp little spurts, Systematic bludgeoning—no one punch doing it—but eventually and in stages. Jolie wilts to one knee, all hollow-eyed, open-mouthed. Angie up for 8 with a minute left: Dushku wading back in, getting tight, tight hooks as she squirms close, stands up tall to twist her shoulder in behind the shot, catching Jolie on the mouth and draping her back. Angie undone, arms flailing out wide, head lolling—she’s out on her feet and ELIZA’S TAKING EXTRA! Sheriff indulging—been awhile since she’s had a reeling A-lister helpless on the ropes—she pours to Angelina without a trace of remorse. Jolie’s head on a swivel as she’s buffeted back over the top rope, then she doubles up, sinking under a cascade of bashing blows across her back. Angie to all fours, trembling abused—she can’t get off her knees as ten count passes her by. KO5 in methodical fashion, Eliza Dushku.

After: Dushku preening, hopping over with gloves still on as Jolie’s actually crawling back to her corner: Sheriff straddling above, reaching down with contempt top pick up Jolie’s braid then tossing it down, around, and across Angelina’s face with derision. Eliza finally stepping away and strutting—her best, most Sheriff-like performance in some time leaves the biggest star in Hollywood shabby on her knees. “I haven’t been fighting with a lot of commitment,” Eliza admits of her recent outings, “and I knew that has to change against Angelina. I didn’t want to box her because I really think Jolie’s the best boxer in the division, me included—I felt I had to throw down hard and get inside as much as possible. I hope you all saw my right hand tonight—we wanted to get that punch against a lefty and I think it shook her up—people aren’t used to seeing me turn the cross over and bend in like I did tonight. Mostly though, I was very pleased with how I was able to receive her shot—she’s not the biggest hitter at bantam, but she’s no joke and she couldn’t hurt me with her best left hands.”

Reposted by Archer 5/19/13.