Posted by simguy on 4/16/2004, 7:23 am

(Thanks to FightFan for this repost)

Before: "This is supposed to be the 'sweet science'," Claire says in response to questions about her recent skid. "I'm the sweetest of the sweet, but if you're going to allow goon-tactics in the ring, then that's what you'll get. Did Shannen Doherty beat me in a boxing match? Certainly not - it's outrageous what that girl was allowed to do to me." Packard joining the long line of challengers anxious to kick Danes while she's down - Kelly's got her own explanation for Claire's struggles. "I've been waiting for that whole house of cards to collapse since day one," Packard sneers, "Claire's pulled the wool over the eyes of the media, but she can't fool the fighters. I knew she'd get exposed and when she did, she'd get unravelled. She thinks her skills are so sweet - wait'll she gets a taste of me. I'm labelling myself 'Sugar' Kelly Packard - there I said it. And I'm going to earn that name against Claire Danes." Kelly in pink and white floral motif sport top, solid pink bikini bottoms white shoes and aerobics socks - Claire in black and white half n' half bikini, bra straps, matching two toned boxing shoes.
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During R1: Kelly immediately tackling up and trying to bull Claire to her corner - Danes stacking her up, test of strength midring until Danes is able to throw Packard off - Claire proving not just anyone can employ the old bull-rush against her. Both settle down to boxing - Claire turning southpaw, chin tucked behind that right shoulder, executing tight counterclockwise turns with a chiselling right jab. Packard spitting her jab, bringing hands back sharp, weaving her torso - classy stuff from both girls, not a lot of contact. Kelly steals the round with a late sequence: doubled up jab, step-in - straight right hand into the body for a satisfying touch.

R2: Danes turns around orthodox, but it's the same sinuous rhythm - Claire turning behind her left shoulder - Kelly more traditional, hands up, sliding footwork, dragging the front foot as she eases back. Midway through, Claire flurries hip, hip, ear, ear - Kelly thinks it's over when Danes pokes the right hand through guard to teeth, knocking Packard off balance. K-pack awkward to the ropes - Danes jabbing, then stepping in close to carry a thumping right/left hard off trembling abs - Packard clinches immediately, grimacing hurt. Rest of the way patient Claire probing and attacking Kelly at the ropes - looking for more straight right hands and slashing left hooks across the waist. Good D from Packard - bending, bouncing into the ropes, twisting her shoulders - Danes can't hurt her again in taking the round.

R3: Chessmatch continues - lots of feints, tapping medium-speed combos head and body, artful jabs - both girls trying to create openings on offence, create apparent openings on defence. Midway through it's Packard scoring - swaying back from a Danes right hand, calmly checking Claire's chin a swatting counter hook - Claire steps away gingerly, concerned expression. Kelly opening up just a bit - combinations head and body - Danes turn to dip and roll on the ropes, block punches with her elbows, move her head. Packard unable to score cleanly again, but she does land a loud right hand to Danes' back when Claire turns to slip - Claire complaining early about the cheapshot.

R4: Another safety first, classy round - both girls very hard to hit flush. Claire swivelling, turning, output dropping a bit - she's luring Kelly to ropes, getting around with cute spins and sidesteps, but not cashing in much. Kelly coming forward, hooking off the jab, even occasionally stepping in off the jab and looking for brisk left uppies off it - carries the round with aggression.

R5: Claire tasty in the pocket - more flat footed, upper-body boxing as she makes Kelly miss in tight, rings up taut Packard midriff with caressing lefts and rights. Kelly stubborn - she wants to be able to outbox Claire inside and out - pride luring Packard out of her comfort zone as Danes gets the extra touches this round.

R6: Danes looking awfully comfy in there - right in front of Kelly, dipping low, swivelling clockwise, lathering at the waist, tucking in rising lefts to ribcage, poking right hands to the mouth. Packard rushing a bit, looking stressed - connect percentage dropping as she can't locate Danes with her right hand, makes only glancing contact with the left. Claire doing wonderful work in the Packard midsection - tearing up belly nicely.

R7: Kelly blushing as Claire starts turning her, Danes putting saucy hands on Kelly's hip or back to aid the sidesteps - deeply insulting for a boxer of Packard's quality to be negotiated this way. Claire not just being cute in there - she's getting around Packard, then really licking at that gut - crowd getting into it as slashing, swatting type blows are joined by more digging, more plowing, biting type contact down there. Constant attrition showing up in Packard's legs - she's wobbly butt, looking to clinch, getting her tits and face tarted up by brisk Danes shoeshines whenever Kel extends her arms. Heart rending stuff - Packard stiffening, now obviously hurt, but unable to punch or clinch effectively as Danes slides to the side and samples a little more tummy or rib. Three long, long minutes have Packard weak kneed, open mouthed, badly drained at the bell - Danes straightens, smiles brightly at the wear and tear on her opponent. Claire awarded 10-8 as she goes untouched, very nearly forces brave Kelly to take a knee.

R8: Packard turns southpaw - counterclockwise movement breaking Claire's spell - DAnes forced to adjust her feet as girls slap jabs, spread each other out. Distance favours Kelly - she likes to use her legs more - she's circling, getting her right jab over Claire's, dictating the pace. Final minute - Packard able to slide a sneaky straight left awkwardly to the left side of Danes' jaw - Claire's knees give a shimmy, she backs straight out - Kelly able to step with and carry a slinging left hand square to tits to punctuate the points.

R9,10: Danes goes to tactical clinches to bog down Kelly's movement, then re-establishes the slap 'n swivel inside. Packard reduced to trying tight counter uppercuts while keeping her elbows in to protect her pulsing ribcage and worried belly. Claire in charge these rounds, stepping out on occasion and running Kelly into a scolding jab, turning Kelly and going at her body with slicing lather. All that breadbasket work adding up in Packard's trim legs - blonde looking pasty, reacting late - she's not really rocked by any one punch, but Claire's done a masterful job of systematically draining the tank. Goes the route, comes back a sterling UD10 Claire Danes.

After: Just what the doctor ordered - Danes able to box, stick to her knitting and not have to worry about the other girl pancake-tackling her into the ropes. Packard glum - to the casual viewer this wasn't a punishing bout, but Claire's cutesy moves deeply scalding to Kelly's pride when they worked, and that constant tummy pummel really had Packard hurting down the stretch. "Taking rounds from Kelly is special," says a resplendent Claire D in post fight. "When I started spinning her and moving her around - I could see her spirits start to sink - I'd rather decision Kelly than knock her out: it hurts her more to get outboxed like that. Speaking of which, I think I'LL just be taking that 'Sugar' monicker for myself. Kelly's really more a fructose gal. If that."



Sim Guy

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