Thanks to Fight Fan for this repost.

Posted by Simguy. Tuesday, 28-Mar-2000 07:54:31

Before: Winner reputed to be garnering a title shot against Anderson - fight features two veteran inside fighters with plenty of moxie. Thomas sparring with the much younger Rachel Weisz in preparation, said to have handled Weisz easily towards the end of camp. Delany unimpressed, predicting an early stoppage of the brittle Brit. Dana in black sports bra, red Adidas terrycloth trunks, Kristin in yellow sports bra, evergreen trunks.

During R1: Shoulder to shoulder, both girls fighting behind tight guards, blocking a lot of shots on gloves and shoulders. Dana busier, making the fight, gets the nod for effective aggression.

R2: Thomas jabbing her way in, has Dana backing up, and Kristin scoots in to whistle a short left hook up into Delany's sternum, nearly sitting the American down. DD hurt, and Kristin rolls up, stepping left and right, jerking short, meanspirited shots in between Delany's elbows and keeping the brunette hunched over in pain. Nice mugging round for Scott as she coolly regard her wheezing foe at the bell.

R3, 4: Fight is definitely on as girls go forehead to forehead and start to get their hips into thumping 2 punch combinations. Delany more varied, and a little savvier in turning a shoulder or slipping under Kristin's hook, nips the Brit for points in both rounds. Thomas getting her head rocked back by a clever, short right uppercut inside as Delany goes to the face of her beautiful foe.

R5: Blistering pace continues with the girls standing cheek to cheek, waltzing counterclockwise, and ripping little curling blows up inside. Kris moving her head from shoulder to shoulder on Dana, starts to tan the brunette's sides, and in the final minute, a snapping left on the ear sets up a digging left to the liver and DANA GOES DOWN! Dana dropping to one knee, grimaces as she takes 8, Kristin stalking like a caged jungle cat behind the ref. Bell sounds before we see Delany under finishing pressure as Thomas smacks her gloves together.

R6: Delany fading to the ropes, appears hurt, and maybe she is, but as Thomas wades in, it's Delany who explodes into action. Chopping short lefts and rights in a horizontal plane, Delany spins off the ropes as a stunned Thomas falls forward and Delany pours it on. Thomas getting
pasted, head jolting left and right, folds forward and a cracking right uppercut puts the Brit wobbly butt, while a clouting left on her jaw knocks her sideways to her knees. Dana breathing hard, standing over her girl is pushed back by the ref, and Kristin takes 8. Hammer and tongs the rest of the way as both girls fight on slightly rubbery legs, taking turns on one another with clubbing, compact combinations and its Delany finishing the stronger fighter

R7: Delany consolidates, cheek to cheek with Kristin midring, she walks the Brit to the ropes and has her way, just staying on top, using her shoulders to nudge Kristin back, then jerking rights and lefts into the stout midriff. Thomas starting to go slack jawed, lolling into Delany and soaking it up as DD works.

R8: Now Kristin plays possum, luring DD to the ropes, sagging forward, then jerking little counter left uppercuts to sap the will out of the brunette this round. Kristin bouncing in and out of the ropes, slipping and countering, finds Delany's chin again and again with clipping uppercuts, and Delany goes wobbly butt. Thomas clinching up under her girl's arms, twists Delany to the ropes, and fights off DD's chest to the bell. Kris getting in some late shots to the belly as Delany swoons, helpless to resist or complain.

R9: Flat footed, exhausted slugging midring as the girls almost need one another to lean against in order to keep from falling. Girls just taking turns, defensive form long gone, each twitching and jerking back from hard spanks to the gut and chin in close. Down the stretch, as they lean forward, the girls start trading little clouting right hands on the mouth, back and forth 4,5,6 times and Kristin nearly goes to a knee as the bell sounds.

R10: All Kristin Scott Thomas as she walks Dana back, keeping leather on Delany's belly, and putting Dana's back to the ropes. Girls lay in with each other, mouth breathing and sweaty in one another's arms, but it's Scott who does what little punching there is as Delany clinches or covers up. Scott with nothing on her punches - Dana seated on the ropes - round winds down and leaves both girls drained by the final bell. Decision comes back a heartbreaker for Kristin as Dana squeaks out a narrow Duke.

After: Delany looking a little shaky over the full 10 rounds, fading late to drop 2 of the last 3 stanzas, has Anderson licking her lips. Controversial title shot as Delany jumps the cue, but Gillian using her clout, points out that she DID have back to back defenses against number 1 contenders - spanked them both, and she deserves a walk now and again, just so she can enjoy the title.