(Reebok Flyweight Title)

(Thanks to FightFan for this repost)

Posted by simguy on 3/2/2001, 8:44 am

Before: Promotion all about Bo: her legendary career, her comeback, prospects of a super fight with Liu - Lane in the background, but not rocking the boat - veteran Di remains a company girl even with the pre-fight emphasis on her opponent. Derek's old for a fighter, but she's looked solid thus far, banging out wins over younger flyweights, pundits generally convinced it's a matter of when, not if she catches Lane hard. Still, Di's never just handed over a belt - Derek's got to go get it. Bo in black string bikini, wet shoulder length hair, Di in gold bikini, wet shoulder length locks.

During R1: Bo setting the pace - closing with the champ, banging Di hard with elbows and forearms to the arms and body, setting up little rising left hooks under the chin. Derek loose, right hand under her chin, left slung across her hips - she's dipping that shoulder and cranking the hook with good wiry power early.

R2: Di stands her ground, and initiates inside, even bashing away on Bo's biceps with short elbows to Derek's surprise! Toe to toe, Lane working sharp and crisp, working in between Bo's shoulders, putting punches together to the body, hooking the jugs mercilessly, and landing right hands along the jaw. Derek on her heels slightly, answering back with that slinging hook, missing the overhand right as Lane easily reads, slips underneath. Round to Di.

R3: Lane back on the inside, taking advantage of Derek's long wind ups to continually beat the blonde to the punch, harassing the challenger with busy pressure. Di stepping over to fight off Bo's left shoulder, often brushing both of Bo's arms to the left, stepping to the right to keep the angle. Derek unhurt, but cleanly outboxed this round as Lane gets off first, doesn't stay in one place too long, but always stays close enough to keep at her foe.

R4: Better round for Bo - she's stepping in and out rather than constantly coming forward, slowly giving Di more respect. Derek effective with room - she gets over with the leaning right cross, and that short, rising hook from her hips repeatedly puts Lane on her heels this round. Di taking punches well however, rolling, pulling away - Bo just can't seem to land flush on the champ.

R5: Di opening up with a sweet jab, stepping to her right as she bangs Bo's face, then dropping a picturesque right cross on the chin to put Derek wobbly butt! Bo hanging on, slender legs trembling, and Lane loads up. Heavy artillery with both hands to that toned midriff, spanking Bo's hips back and leaving her hurting over her feet. Derek riding her hands on Di's shoulders isn't punching, isn't working - Lane getting off with workmanlike combinations, slamming lefts and rights into the extended rib cage, finishing with curling punches around Bo's arms to get at those juicy breasts. Round ends with Di punishing a listless Derek on the ropes - Blonde open mouthed, groggy at the bell.

R6: Another hard working round for Lane as she keeps up the pace, challenging Bo's 40 something legs to keep up. Di busy on the inside, fighting off Derek's chest, getting inside those long arms and clubbing away at the torso. Midway through the round, Lane stepping forward with alternating lefts and rights pounds Bo's sternum, banging the blonde into the ropes - Derek needing a clinch for a break. Bo finishes the round strong with wrap around lefts and rights - Lane unable to answer back, but again, she's rolling side to side, picking off punches with her shoulders - Bo can't put the hammer down.

R7: Bo with her best round since the first. Lifting the jab off her stomach, she fends Lane off this round and bends into a few scoring right hands - Lane outside, takes the round off - circling and blocking rather than mixing it up. Derek obviously more comfortable stalking and slinging punches at distance.

R8: Di changes up, goes right at Bo and once again initiates mouth on shoulder slogging that the blonde doesn't like. Lane backing Bo up, shouldering her into the ropes, working the body and jaw in tight with curling hooks and slick uppercuts. Derek with her arms out wide around Lane, gives up plenty of real estate for nothing - and those breasts are getting BLUDGEONED by busy, side to side brunette punching.

R9: Derek with hard elbow work for the first time seems to have Lane cowering - Bo taking over at the midway mark, bending into those right hands, twisting her hips and bringing the come-back hook up from her knee as Lane rolls left and right with the shelling. Again, Derek's punches skid off well turned shoulders or mitts, never connecting quite clean. No offense from Lane however as she fades around the ring.

R10: Bo working hard, using that right forearm to touch up against Di's guard, then twisting into short, rising hooks from the waist - sustained, steady barrage of lefts finally breaks Lane down as she wobbles to the ropes, grimacing and hunching up. Fierce licks from lanky limbed Bo: she squares up, cranks the left into Di's rightside ribs, uses her forearms to push up, then back with the heavy punching to the body, skidding across the upperback as Lane bobs. Lane recovers as Bo can't consolidate, and down the stretch, it's Diane Lane, bobbing and bouncing into the ropes, making Bo miss, countering with short, straight lefts and rights to the jugs - Derek too proud to back off gets shined up at the bell as the girls trade licks to an appreciative roar. Side by side, one woman's glee is another woman's stunned disappointment: Lane retains the belt via draw.

After: Diane Lane, pent up frustration from the lack of respect shown before the fight, climbs the corner ropes with the belt to remind everyone of her status. Puffy and beat up Bo Derek looks her age as she sullenly regroups in her corner. Lane basically making Bo uncomfortable all night, keeping her off balance, constantly working. Throws a wrench into the proposed Derek/Liu title bout - but Lane eager to issue her challenge: "If Lucy wants some of that, I'll lay it on. She was a great fighter, just like Bo Derek, but after her last few fights, I don't think she's the same girl. She's licking her wounds, looking for someone to beat on and baby, that's not gonna be me!" Measure of Bo's reputation that this outcome goes down as an upset.


sim guy

ff