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31 October 2014 Natalie Portman vs Brenda Song

Page history last edited by Archer844 9 years, 4 months ago

Natalie Portman 08.jpg Brenda Song 05.jpg

Posted by Lookout! Boxing on October 31, 2014, 9:26 am

Brenda Song (Bazz Fight Club) vs. Natalie Portman (Hawkeye International)
Words: Front Street / Results: Lookout!

BEFORE:

"My first goal was to become the flagship fly at Bazz," Brenda says with a sweet smile. "That was just as easy as I thought. I was already a top contender when I got here, so, with those things accomplished, it's time to line up that title shot. And, there aren't too many better ways to do that than to beat Natalie Portman."

Portman all business as usual. "Song's the so-called 'Champion In Waiting'," Natalie tells the gathered press corps. "Well, I'm just the champion. The nine-time champion. And that's the difference between Brenda and me. Style vs. substance. And substance always wins. Get ready for another Pax Portmanica, because it's on the horizon."

ROUND ONE:

Song's unorthodox style a bit of problem for the classy Portman early. Brenda's bopping and bouncing and throwing from odd angles. Natalie responds by keeping the hands up, slowing the pace down. She wants to line Brenda up and get off, but Song's not having any. Instead Brenda's all over the place, using the legs to force the former champ to chase and cut the ring. Natalie working to do so, but not having much success. Not a lot of leather landing from either fighter as a result. Some snappy jabs, the odd follow, but it's mostly tactical movement and defense. When the bell rings, it's a narrow victory for Brenda, who has the early 10-9 edge.

ROUND TWO:

Natalie a bit busier, a bit more comfortable in this round, looking to stalk the bouncing Brenda. Song all movement again, wants to stick and go, looking to throw leather from places where leather shouldn't be thrown. Portman careful, very wary of fire from unexpected spots, keeping the mitts high and the legs moving, using her class to find ways to put punches together. Brenda not concerned by the slight turning of the tide, keeps throwing dangerous stuff that slows Portman's planned offensives. It's a good, close round all the way through, but, at the bell, Natalie's solved a portion of the puzzle and taken the round to even things at 19.

ROUND THREE:

Portman getting more aggressive now, seems to be finding ways to manage Song's unorthodoxy. Natalie beginning to cut the ring effectively and bring Brenda to battle. Natalie's putting together her combinations, forcing Song to cover up and then BOOM! A right hand off a slide step and Natalie's buzzed! Brenda quickly takes advantage, going all in on the offensive, sending Portman into full retreat. Natalie quickly backed to the ropes and taking as Song sends in the heavy guns and batters away at the former champion. Portman stands up to it well, and, as the clock ticks down, begins responding in counter. By the end of the round, Natalie's firmed and giving as good as she gets, but that right hand turns out to be a two-point punch, turning a round that looked like it was going for Portman into one solidly in Brenda's column. 29-28 Song after three.

ROUND FOUR:

Natalie a bit chastened as the fourth begins. Much more wary of Brenda, as there's nothing more dangerous than fire from places you don't expect. And that kind of a knife cuts two ways. There's the fire and the FEAR of the fire, and the second is sometimes more effective than the first, even for a hundred-fight veteran and a nine-time champion, and that's the case here. Portman is a step too slow, a second off, a few inches short the entire round. She's waiting too much, playing too much defense, not wanting to get caught again. This leaves Brenda free to bop and bounce and use the hit and run tactics she loves. It's Song from bell to bell, and, when the clock reads 0:00, Brenda's built a bit of a lead, 39-37.

ROUND FIVE:

Portman seems to shake it off early, as she goes back to work stalking and cutting. Natalie having some success bringing Brenda to battle, and winning the majority of the exchanges when she does so, but Song's strategy working, too. When they aren't square, Brenda's in control, jabbing, circling, landing quick flurries and vacating the area. It's good, two-way stuff until the two minute mark when Portman follows a nice left jab with a perfectly-placed right hook that hurts Brenda. Song wobbles and Natalie smells blood in the water. From there, it's a 180 replay of round three, with Portman rolling Song back into the ropes and battering her for about 45 seconds before Brenda firms and begins countering. By the time of the bell, Song's back to even, but those 45 seconds give the round to Portman wide and it's 48-47 after five.

ROUND SIX:

More pieces of the puzzle begin to fit for a girl who looks more and more like the once and future champion as the round goes on. Portman is SO smooth, SO slick, SO classy. Everything flows from everything else. Not a step, not a movement of hand, head, glove, or shoulder is wasted. It's all part of a bigger whole, all perfectly put together, all too much for Brenda, who can't seem to get anything done. No matter where she punches from, it's picked off. No matter where or how she moves, Natalie finds the range, and puts leather in her face. Song not discouraged, not frustrated, knows she can get work in, because she's already done it, but not in this stanza. It's just too perfect, just too fine. It's all Portman all the time, and the wide result makes it even at 57.

ROUND SEVEN:

Even for Natalie, things aren't going to be that easy against the likes of Brenda. Song just too aggressive and too talented for that. If last round was a glide, this one is a slog. Brenda's back to landing from odd places, back to creating trouble for Natalie, back to disrupting her rhythm. But, the once and future champ fights through it, keeps to the game plan, won't take "no" for an answer. The result is some of the best two-way stuff of the fight, and a round young fighters can watch and learn from. It's Brenda at her best, sneaking in unorthodox stuff, and Natalie at hers, sharp, accurate, hard-working. When the final bell rings, the crowd knows it's been treated to something special, one of the best rounds of the night. It's close for the judges, but it's Portman by a whisker, and Nat's got the lead 67-66.

ROUND EIGHT:

Brenda ups the ante. Song is one of those fighters with a scorecard in her head. No matter what the corner tells her, she knows where she is in a fight at all times, and she knows she's just fallen behind in this one. And. That. Will. Not. Do. Brenda's always aggressive. That's the style. But she's even more aggressive in this stanza, using that stick and move style in a different way. She doubles down when she lands, following up with hard, quick flurries. That allows Nat to counter, but it's a chance she's willing to take, and she makes it work for her. She keeps the exchanges short, but times them perfectly, getting out when she has the advantage and forcing Natalie to work to close and cut. Portman manages to do that some, and score when she does so, but, at the bell, Song's gotten the points, and tied this thing up again, this time at 76.

ROUND NINE:

Song is back on her bicycle, sticking and moving, making Natalie chase. But, Portman doesn't. She STALKS. There's a difference, and, if you want a perfect demonstration of it, watch Natalie. It's aggressive. But it's sound. "Sound aggression". There might not be a better description of Portman's style. Brenda bops and snaps. Natalie stalks. Then a right hand comes off a sweet left jab and DOWN GOES BRENDA! Two perfectly placed punches and Song is on her back. Brenda's not done, though. She beats the count and is on her feet at seven. And Natalie ranges in aggressively. Soundly. The fists fly, but there's nothing sloppy. Punches are set up. Feet are moved. Song covers up along the ropes, trying to survive the onslaught. She's nailed several times with hard rights and left hooks that wobble her. Finally a right hook nearly unhinges the knees and the REF STEPS IN! IT'S OVER! And your winner by TKO 9 is Natalie Portman!

AFTER: "It was just a matter of time," says Natalie, beautiful face puffy, betraying just how tough things got in there. "She gave me some trouble and I knew she would. She's good and she's got a tough style to deal with. But, sooner or later, I was going to get her. It took longer than I hoped. But, it happened. Oh, and I'll be watching that fight between Hough and Miller. I got NEXT, girls. Nat's got NEXT."