Posted by simguy on 4/25/2003, 6:46 am

(Thanks to FightFan for this repost)

Before: No rest for Claire Danes - in tough against a girl who hasn't had that much trouble with Claire's defensive style in the past. Dunst in line for a possible Portman shot, not feeling too charitable towards her opponent in prefight. "Most girls hate having to track Claire down," says confident Kirsten, "I love it. To me, she's as predictable as sunrise, it's just a matter of breaking her down and finishing her off. I love the look on her face when I catch her - she just can't believe how hard I hit!" Crafty Claire - has her work cut out for her. Two toned black and white bra style bikini and shoes, Claire - white push up bra, spidey-print bikini bottoms and white shoes, Kirsten.

During R1-3: Classic Claire Danes start - frustrate the opponent, make her miss, make her pay. Danes coming out southpaw, front foot (right) in a bucket as she pivots to the right, staying low, chipping and chiselling jabs, stamping straight left hands, lathering to the waistline with shoeshining combinations. Dunst cooperating fully - loading up and leaning into telegraphed go-home right hands, not using the jab which has proven so disruptive to Claire in the past. Three straight shutouts Danes as Kirsten's single shot haymakers aren't getting it done.

R4: Danes in a groove, comfortable with her margins as she stands in front of Kirsten, slides back while dragging the front foot, bends deep at the waist, pivots easy to the right as Dunst misses with grunting effort over top. Claire not hurting Kirsten so much as controlling her - pesky jab keeping Dunst off balance, constantly covered up and interrupted. Straight left hand fitting nicely between the breasts, on the teeth - followed up by Claire's hardest licks: meanspirited right hooks sticky to the ribs.

R5: Claire almost mocking Dunst with breezy confidence. One sequence indicative: Claire pointing her right shoulder at Kirsten - Danes rolls just inches to her left, taking a Dunst hook off the right shoulder, dips down to let the Dunst right hand whistle over top, then twists her body to the right, dragging a licking left hand flush to the pit of Kirsten's belly. Danes ducks again to swivel to the right, then swats that tight right hook against Dunst's cheek. Slapping, slipping display of ring generalship - Kirsten not shutout, but unable to connect with anything dangerous.

R6: Claire indulging in a little ill advised slugging, dukes up, bending and getting low in close, slapping Kirsten's face and body with tight swiping blows. Dunst also with dukes up, dipping her shoulder and digging up into Claire's chest or teeth with jagged left uppercuts, but Danes won't be discouraged. Rousing back and forth - Danes shoeshining, mixing slaps with biting impacts to rattle Kirsten in bursts - Dunst answering with fewer, but harder left uppercuts and chopping right hands.

R7,8: Danes playing take away once again, now switching orthodox, putting the left foot in the bucket and pivoting to her left. Dunst shiny from punches, breathing hard and tentative: she's missed the vast majority of her punches and isn't pulling the trigger as freely. Kirsten just following, squaring up set to punch, then getting poked or slapped, or otherwise molested - just enough to keep her guessing. Still no jab from Kirsten Dunst - it's the biggest tactical blunder she's committed all night.

R9: Danes whittling away at Kirsten's pale ribcage, Claire swivelling around the opponent, slipping punches, then answering back with biting, tight-licking lefts and rights. Belly meat and flanks all torn up on Kirsten - first time all night that she's winced or frozen after getting touched as Claire mines paydirt. Danes showboating in the final moments, dropping her gloves, extending her chin, then neatly ducking or turning away to make Dunst miss yet again.

R10: Danes in the final inning of a no-hitter and both girls know it. Dunst charges out in the first minute, spraying punches in wild arcs, desperate to label her foe. Claire giving ground in good order, pointing one shoulder then the other as she steps back, bending at the waist to run overanxious Kirsten onto a shoulder, nudging up and stepping out as Dunst gets flustered. Claire easy to one side or the other, sliding around Kirsten's flanks with a helping hand at the hip or elbow - Dunst getting negotiated like a rookie as Danes just slicks it up. Claire choosy with her punching, taking no chances, but she lands several lathering right hooks against the left side ribs, a few shoe-shining combos on the face to get off the ropes - she runs untouched in the final moments as an angry Kirsten Dunst glares on. 10-0 rout - Classy Claire Danes.

After: Danes all breezy smiles and smug attitude in victory - rich, rich beating bestowed upon a hated rival and the kind of slick, maddenning technique that leaves foes unravelled more than hurt. Dunst shaking her head in her corner - total lack of jabs from her usually educated left hand the most important contributor to this humiliating outcome. "Technique, baby," says a grinning Claire in postfight as she removes her wraps. "Dunst came in here looking to take me out with every punch and I just shut her down. I just took my time, touched her up and held her in the palm of my hand all night. She probably wishes I'd knocked her out - nothing's worse than having me toy with you for 10."



Sim Guy

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