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26 December 2014 Eliza Dushku vs Evangeline Lilly

Page history last edited by Vassago 9 years, 3 months ago

OFFICIAL SSB PPV

Posted by Lookout! Boxing on December 26, 2014, 11:57 am

Eliza Dushku vs. Evangeline Lilly
(Words: Front Street / Results: Lookout!)

BEFORE:

It seems silly to say it, but both women come into this matchup with something to prove, and both clearly know it in the run up. Wait. What? Evangeline Lilly, a five-time champion with a Hall of Fame winning percentage who's been, more times than you can count, the best bantam in the world? And Eliza Dushku, a 16-time champion who's also been the best bantam in the world more times than you can count and is IN the Hall of Fame? But. Both have had challenges of recent vintage. Since losing the bantamweight straps for the last time in mid-2010, Lilly's had periods of inactivity and boasts a pedestrian, for her, 7-5 record. Oh, and she hasn't worn the belts since 2010! Since losing the belt for the last time last year, Dushku has lost her management and managed to win exactly one bantamweight fight. Lilly is 35. Dushku 34. In a division where the names on people's lips are increasingly those of VanCamp, Holt, Michalka, Danes, and the Olivias, Wilde and Munn, in a division where Lilly currently clings to the lowest rung of the Top Ten ladder and Dushku is barely in the Top Twenty Five, questions are being asked. Yes, they're still iconic, but are they still the measuring sticks? Still the girls all up and coming bantams are going to have to measure up to? And, again, in the run up, both clearly know it. They both talk about how important and challenging the fight is. They both talk about their previous fights, several of them for the title. But, you can read between the lines. They both have something to prove on this night, and that something is that they still can.

"It's been a long time since I've worn the belts," says Evangeline. "And it's kind of ironic that I have to go through Eliza to get another shot. I had to do that the last time I claimed the title. And we all know how that went. Tonight's result won't be any different."

"Dismiss me at your peril," says Dushku, beautiful eyes hard. "It's been a rough couple of years, but that's behind me now. I'm comfortable here at Medallion and ready to wear gold again."

ROUND ONE:

They still can. You might not see a better round of boxing if you sat down and watched a hundred fights. It's a classic between two icons. Lilly wants to work forward, bobbing and weaving in a crouch, looking to work hooks when she gets where she wants to be. Dushku is 34, but she doesn't look it in the ring. She still moves like the flyweight she used to be. She doesn't dance or bounce. Those words don't contain enough menace. Nor do they adequately describe just how smoothly, beautifully, and perfectly she moves. It's all about footwork and hands that strike like snakes. It's all about precision and beauty. And Lilly is all about coiled power. Those hooks hit the body with a THUD that's audible. Dushku's lovely face doesn't betray any discomfort. But. That's because she's The Sheriff. There's awesome power in those punches, and every one scores points and takes its toll. It's a chess match, a boxing match, and a war of wills from bell to bell. And when it ends, Eliza's smoothness has out-pointed Evangeline's power for an early 10-9 lead.

ROUND TWO:

Yes. Yes. They still can. More fantastic stuff in the second, as things take on an Ali-Frazier vibe, with Eliza playing the role of "The Greatest" and Evangeline doing her "Smokin' Joe" impression. Dushku moves beautifully, hands, feet, head, shoulders. Lilly, all movement above the waists, bobbing, weaving, closing, then putting those sweeping hooks to work. Both women effective in the extreme. Both accurate and busy. Both excellent in defense, dodging, blocking, countering. It's superb stuff as each fighter responds to the other, finding every small opening and pouring hard, accurate leather through it. In the final minute, Lilly begins to get the advantage, getting those hooks home and forcing Eliza to cover up. It's not much of an advantage, but it's enough to claim her, in narrow fashion, round two and even this at 19.

ROUND THREE:

More Ali-Frazier excellence. Eliza showing a bit more leg in this round, doing a bit of a drop-step-and-circle to create a hair more space for Lilly to cover. Evangeline covers it. Synchs the footwork. Gets square. Makes with the heavy leather. Then, Eliza slides off square again. It's not cat and mouse. It's not even cat and cat. It's Lioness and Tigress, both having their moments. Lilly working body any chance she gets, thinking to get to Dushku's legs. Eliza responding with quick, accurate flurries to the head that stop Evangeline and force her to cover up. Again, neither fighter is hurt, but both are clearly feeling the shell coming from their respective opponent's guns. Again, it's narrow, but this time Eliza claims the round and goes back on top 29-28.

ROUND FOUR:

More of the same, and the longer this goes, the more questions get answered. This is vintage Lilly you're seeing. The lack of activity hasn't done anything to dull her reflexes, her machine-like movement, her above-weight power. And it's vintage Sheriff she's battling. Eliza's legs still looking like those of the flyweight she was years ago, the hands cat quick, the punches still packing the power that made her Sheriff. And the adjustments. All subtle. And all answered quickly by an equally-experienced, equally-talented opponent. It's beautiful stuff, stuff only a few bantams on the planet are capable of. And two of those few are in the ring right now, trying to shove the other out of the way and grab a shot at what' they believe is rightfully theirs, the unified bantamweight championship. Again, it's narrow. It's Eliza again, having out-Alied Evangeline's Frazier. 39-37 Dushku after four. But, far, far from over.

ROUND FIVE:

And Lilly proves that almost immediately after the bell to start the fifth. It's a sweeping, Joe Frazier left hook that finds Eliza's chin. And everything changes in that instant. Dushku doesn't go down, but the legs give a shimmy. The guard goes up and Evangeline pours in. Lilly backs Dushku up with barrages of hooks, banging the on-sale body, then working her way up to the head. Eliza, unsteady, counters as much as she can, but, with no legs behind the punches, Lilly ignores them and simply keeps working. The round ends with Dushku against the ropes being absolutely brutalized. Lilly's all over her, pounding away at head and body as the referee looks in. Dushku does enough to prevent him from stopping it, but she can't stop Lilly from claiming the round wide and cutting the lead to 48-47.

ROUND SIX:

Evangeline smelling blood in the water turns up the heat. She's not all in. It's all very sound stuff, but Lilly is clearly looking for the finisher as she walks through Eliza's jabs and goes to work with those heavy hands. Dushku not able to hold canvas, and dealing with something that's rarely happened in her long, distinguished career, getting bullied around a little bit. Few bantams would dare even try that with The Sheriff. Lilly tries. And succeeds. Then finds out why few bantams try. It's a whistling right hand counter that's absolute perfection from foot to glove. BOOM! Lilly wobbles, and the world turns upside down. Eliza knows instantly she has Evangeline hurt, of course. And there are few worse situations in the world than standing in front of Eliza when she knows she has you hurt. What happens next is not even the reverse of what happened last round, and not because it's shorter, because it's worse. Dushku batters Lilly for nearly two minutes, most of it spent with Evangeline simply taking leather on the ropes. Most bantams would not have made it to the final bell, but Lilly's made of sterner stuff. Those sturdy legs hold her up, but, when the round ends, it's wide for Eliza, who now leads 58-56.

ROUND SEVEN:

Lilly visibly slowed as a result of last round and Eliza takes full advantage. Dushku not pushing at the "off" switch now. Instead she's back to playing Ali to Lilly's Frazier. She's moving, jabbing, boxing, all of it very smooth and very effective. Lilly working hard, trying to close and get some work done, but she's a step slow, always reacting to what The Sheriff is doing, constantly being thrown over to the defensive. Eliza in firm control, immediately reacting with heavy flurries to put down each and every Lilly attempt at resistance. And there are attempts. But, they're futile. Lilly can't get to her spots, can't put punches together, can't get anything going. Instead, Dushku peppers her with both hands, filling each and every opening with leather, keeping Lilly at range for three minutes of shutout boxing. The cards now read 68-65. Evangeline in a three point hole with only three to go.

ROUND EIGHT:

Lilly out quickly. The legs have seemingly come back now and she's back to bobbing forward looking to close and hook The Sheriff. Eliza using that drop-step-and-circle routine, creating a little space and making Lilly work to get where she wants to be. Evangeline putting the effort in, getting there now and making with the heavy hooks. And, then BOOM! LILLY DOWN! It's another right hand counter from Dushku that sits Evangline down a minute in. Lilly staring up at the referee, gobsmacked. Dushku in a neutral corner watching, betraying not a bit of surprise as Evangeline gets to her feet at eight. After the mandatory, the referee waives Eliza forward and this time Dushku goes all in. She wants the finisher now and believes she can get it. Lilly's quickly backed to the ropes again and hanging on, trying to clinch and counter, looking to survive this round so that she can find a way to pull this thing out. And, that's exactly what's going through Dushku's mind. Eliza knows it's not over even with a big lead. Not against Lilly. That's why she has to take her out NOW. And it's an uppercut that makes all the difference. Short. Quick. Right on Lilly's chin. Evangline's legs give a shimmy and she grabs Eliza to stay on her feet. Dushku pushes her off, back into the ropes, and bangs out a flurry. Lilly sags, taking, giving nothing back. AND IT'S OVER! The referee has seen enough, leaping between the fighters and bundling a battered, dazed Lilly to safety. Your winner by TKO8 is Eliza Dushku!

AFTER:

Dushku complimentary in the post-fight, has nothing bad to say about Lilly. Her detractors, however, get an earful. "As I said before the fight, dismiss me at your PERIL. I'm the best bantamweight in the world and have been for more than a decade, and losing a fight or two or having those cowards at HISC give up on me doesn't change that. Get ready, Claire Holt. Strap up tight, blondie. People might think you're some kind of phenom, but you're about to get a reality check in the form of The Sheriff."