Posted by simguy on 9/9/2004, 6:31 pm

(Thanks to FightFan for this repost)


Before: "Slump" not a word ever associated with Eliza Dushku, but she's hearing it whispered behind her back in camp and around the FCBA with some frequency these days. "People like to bash what they can't deal with," Eliza shrugs. "I'll put my record alongside anybody's - I'm not ashamed of anything I've done. I'll be my old fearsome self against Marcil and that'll be the end of it." Vanessa stepping up in weight to take on a real technician - free-swinging brunette a deep underdog at most books, but she likes her chances. "Hey - Eliza's not clicking on all cylinders - everybody knows that. If I'm ever going to take a crack at her, now's my chance. You're going to laugh, but seriously: I don't think Eliza Dushku can take my punch. When I knock this b###h out, you're going to have to redo all the rankings: Vanessa Marcil's making her move boys!" Dushku in red leather bikini, Vanessa in black bikini, ring connections, wearing dark, circular sunglasses to ring instructions and affecting a smug attitude as Eliza smolders.

During R1: Crisp jabs set up biting hooks, both girls getting in close, putting shoulder into punches. Fierce opening salvo concludes - Eliza steps out to circle right, stumbles, straightens and STAGGERS TO ALL FOURS! Marcil letting out a whoop, lifting her mitts and prancing - delayed effect has Dushku wide-eyed, shaking her head in disbelief: she's HURT! Eliza still circling the airport as she beats the count, then digs in, 'cause HERE COMES MARCIL! Vanessa snarling as she throws her little body into winging haymakers - probably not the best idea as Eliza stays compact, ducks the sock, comes up with biting single rights or lefts up into Marcil's ribs. Dushku getting some tuff touches, then spinning her way off the ropes, luring Marcil forward, touching her jabs. Eliza's legs still rubbery in final minute - she's just marking Marcil with the jab, then ducking in low to wrap up around Vanessa's waist for canny breaks. Bell: Marcil lifting her mitts again and bellowing in triumph - Eliza cool in her corner, taking on water with no expression.

R2: Vanessa jabbing with Dushku midring, beating Dushku to the right hand, outworking Dushku toe to toe. Little Vanessa getting her nose in there, cheeking-up with Eliza in the trenches and moving her hands back and forth, brazenly going at the Dushku midsection. Eliza sluggish, not busy enough and clinching more than usual - just easing her hands 'round Marcil's back and holding her close. Marcil a little bundle of energy, bumping her bony shoulder into Eliza's chin, backing the bigger woman up and by the final minute - Vanessa's issuing a beatdown. Dushku blocking, pivoting to her right as Marcil swings away - Van not getting a lot of quality contact, but it's all one-way pitching as Dushku lethargically blocks and turns. 10 second mark: Marcil jumps up into Eliza's rack with driving lefts and rights - Dushku allowing herself to be stacked up and mugged at the ropes as the crowd screams its approval. Vanessa falling in love with titty-stomp, keeps pumping away on past the bell - ref has to pull her off as Eliza stalks fuming to her corner.

R3: Little more Dushku-like performance. Eliza right hand at her cheek, left jab setting the tone - she's pivoting left, hooking off the stick. Marcil missing more often over the top as Dushku ducks her head and swivels out of the way. Dushku also banking more body shots - principally hooks in behind the elbow that have Marcil bogging down some - Vanessa's output dropping as Dushku touches up the ribs. Final minute, Eliza content to circle behind the jab - Marcil coming forward aggressively, but unable to get off with anything meaningful.

R4: Eliza walking Van into punches, placing pinpoint shots and falling off to the side - Sherrif executing clinically after a slow start. E getting the tidy left uppercut, the jab and the left hook to liver, just swinging 'round Vanessa's right flank, making Marcil reset her feet. Minute mark - Vanessa unleashes a reckless barrage of wide lefts and rights - each deftly parried, slipped and rolled as Dushku covers up in the pocket. Eliza's retort: tapping little right uppercut on the chin, cute left-shoulder bump and a SAVAGE hook DEEP to liver. Shivering blast drawing a cry of pain from Marcil - elbows in she backs away, weaves, then sinks to her haunches. IT'S OVER! Devastating body shot KO4 Eliza Dushku.

After: Marcil sobbing, rocking on her haunches, hugging at throbbing midsection - one of the cruelest body shots all year erases what had been one of the most shocking 9 minutes of boxing in recent history. "I started slow," Eliza admits, "and Vanessa took advantage of that. I had trouble getting into the fight - I felt a little flat coming in and she caught me a good shot early, but really, it looked worse than it actually was. Was I hurt? That's debatable. Let's just say I was surprised - I took a knee like a pro and made some adjustments. A lot of girls, if they have heart like Marcil, will throw everything they have at me right out of the gate because they know they can't win in the long run. She got lucky, it blew over, and I took her out: end of story."


sim guy

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