Posted  9/30/16 3:59 pm

Aly Michalka vs. Claire Danes (Bantamweight Championship)
(Words: FS / Results: Lookout!)

BEFORE:

Battle of champions in this one as former champ Aly Michalka tries to reclaim the belts from current champ Claire Danes. And, neither fighter's lacking respect for the other or confidence. "Obviously, she's a Hall of Famer," says Aly. "So, I've got my work cut out. But. I'm bigger. I'm stronger. I'm younger. I've got the tools to beat her. And I know how to use them."

"She's a good fighter," says Claire with a hint of a smile. "Very dangerous. A lot like Holt, and McAdams and Lilly. You know, all the girls I've already beaten."

ROUND ONE:

Claire immediately boxing clever, which should be no surprise to anyone with even a passing familiarity with the FCBA. Danes may be as fine a boxer as the organization has, and she's been staking that claim for an incredible 18 years now. And, it's, as usual, all about the chain. Everything fits together. Everything Claire does presents options, and every option she chooses creates more options. That left jab she snaps out may not even be designed to land. If it does, fine. But, if it doesn't, that's fine, too, because what she really wants you to do is move your head. And, depending on where you move it, Claire has more options. This is scientific stuff. It takes talent. It takes intelligence. And it takes years of experience that allow you to anticipate and adjust. Danes has all that, and in spades. And it's all of those tools that allow her to put on a clinic against a former champion. Danes takes Michalka to school. From the first seconds of the round to the last. She grabs the thing wide and takes the 10-9 lead leaving Aly to shake her head on the way back to her corner.

ROUND TWO:

More Danes boxing early. But, slowly, Aly begins to adjust. She's got some length here, and she uses it. She's getting her jab on, keeping Claire outside, making her work to get to the middle distances where she can get her offense on. Of course, Danes DOES get there. You're not going to keep her out on the end of your punches all day. She's too good, too slick, too experienced for that. But, Michalka's long left gets her back in the fight. Instead of a Danes clinic, we get a good, two-way second round that features lots of action, lots of touches, but not a lot of power punches landing. And, the latter part is to Claire's advantage, especially when Michalka's able to keep her at long range. Down the stretch, there's very little in it, but, Claire's early work proves enough to get her the round, though in a narrow fashion. Narrow or not, however, she's extended her lead to 20-18.

ROUND THREE:

Michalka back to the jab, doubling up on it now, trying to force terms on Claire. Danes not having it, slipping forward, getting her box on. Aly using the feet more to create space. She's athletic as all get out, and, while she doesn't usually do a lot of dancing in the ring, she's legging it now, all in an effort to get Danes out of rhythm. For her part, Claire just keeps doing what she does, finds her spots, gets her offense going. But, Michalka beginning to get the advantage, as she's able to force more of what she wants on Claire via that length and those long, athletic legs. As we head down the stretch, Aly puts together her best offense of the fight so far, taking an even round and grabbing it late. And, at the bell, Michalka's finally in rhythm, forcing Claire to cover up and wait out a nice flurry that takes the fight to the bell. It's another close one, but Aly's on the board, trailing 29-28.

ROUND FOUR:

Michalka keeps rolling. She's got Claire where she wants her and she's shelling the champion, and, in the early moments, a shell finds the magazine. BOOM! A nasty straight right hand and DANES IS GOBSMACKED! Claire wobbles, nearly goes down, and Aly now all in looking to finish the champion and claim the gold. These are dire circumstances for Danes. Claire's under heavy fire, giving ground, taking tons of heavy shell. The knees are wobbled again by another straight right, and shortly thereafter, Claire's trapped on the ropes and given a thorough thrashing. Michalka going to town and the referee's not going to watch too much more of this. But, late in the round, Claire stabilizes, begins countering. She's still taking the worst of it, but she's doing enough to avoid the stoppage. When the bell sounds, Aly's grabbed it wide and evened the fight at 38.

ROUND FIVE:

Danes showing everyone why she's a Hall of Famer early. Michalka tries to clean up, but is immediately frustrated by the older fighter, who begins playing defense and playing it very well. Danes keeps the gloves high, moves the feet, head, and shoulders, allows Michalka to fight lead, and plays the counter-puncher as she plays for time. Aly quickly realizes no clean up is going to happen, she she gets back to work, zeroing in with the long left hand, trying to keep the fight at ranges where Claire can't be effective. She's able to do some of that, but not a ton of it. Danes is just too slick for that. She gets to spots and gets off some, all while keeping the defensive barriers high. By the end of the round, Claire's legs are back underneath her and she's giving as good as she gets. It's too late to save the round, which Michalka wins, but there's no question Danes is back in the fight, even though she trails for the first time, 48-47.

ROUND SIX:

Both girls come out knowing this thing is tight, and both are determined to take control. For Danes, that means getting back to what she does best, tactical boxing. For Michalka, it means getting more of those heavy right hands on the older woman, wearing her down, out physicaling her. And, in the early going of this one, that's exactly what Aly begins to do. She's range-finding with the left, following on with rights, backing Danes up, stepping forward, loading up, and doing it all again. And, never stopping to ask why this is suddenly working. BOOM! Spider. Fly. A right cross from Danes in counter. Perfectly placed. Of course. Perfectly timed. Of course. Would have stopped three quarters of the bantams in the FCBA. Michalka, though, is in the other quarter. She staggers, but stays on her feet. For a moment. Because Danes follows up with a blizzard of punches that send Aly reeling back and finally collapsing to her back. Danes immediately raises her hands in victory before heading for a neutral corner. Michalka remains on her back, staring up at the referee as he counts. And, she can do nothing else. The count passes her by and it's OVER! And your winner by KO6 and STILL Unified Bantamweight Champion is Claire Danes!

AFTER:

Michalka is helped to her stool and is still sitting there when Danes steps to the middle of the ring for the post-fight interview. "Like I said coming in," says Claire with that little smile of hers, "She's very dangerous. And, you can add her to the list of dangerous bantams I've left on the canvas. Because, the most dangerous bantam in the world is the one you're talking to."