Michelle Williams vs. Jennifer Love Hewitt
(Words: Front Street / Results: Lookout!)

BEFORE:

Two fighters that are very familiar with one another. But, only one of them is familiar with victory when the two have fought. Williams has dominated this rivalry, winning six of their seven fights. And, Mishy clearly believes it's about to be seven of eight. "The formula for beating Love is no mystery," says the blonde with a smile. "Well. Perhaps it is to some, but, not to me. I'm poison for her. And, she's about to take another heavy dose."

"The past," says Love with a nod, "Is the past. What happened then has nothing to do with what's going to happen tonight. And, what's going to happen tonight is my whipping Mishy's a**!"

ROUND ONE:

Sometimes a fighter can make another fighter look bad even if she's not. And, there might not be anyone in the FCBA better at that than Hall of Famer Michelle Williams. Because, Mishy is simply that good. As a tactician, she has few equals. She knows your strengths and weaknesses of course. And, more importantly, she knows how to minimize the former and maximize the latter. And, that's exactly what she spends three minutes doing to Jennifer Love Hewitt. Knowing that Love will want to get physical, Williams allows it. And goes right to the counter. She's slippin' and dippin' and countering. She's making Love miss and responding with sharp, accurate counter punches that both score points and get the brunette's attention. Love's offensive then slows and Michelle goes onto the offense, throwing accurate flurry after accurate flurry that force Hewitt to back and cover. By the time the bell rings ending the first. Williams has taken the round wide to lead 10-9. And, she definitely has to have the brunette wondering if this is going to be yet another night when she can't find a way to beat Michelle Williams.

ROUND TWO:

And, just when you thought Love was going to be in deep trouble here, you remember that there isn't one good, veteran fighter in the ring, but two. Oh, Hewitt may not be a Hall of Famer, but she's a hundred fight veteran and a five-time champion in two weights. She didn't win 50 FCBA fights or those five titles by not being able to adjust. She adjusts. Instead of being overly aggressive with Mishy, allowing Williams to play the counter, Love dials it back and angles, moving the feet, working to middle distances and getting her offense going. Williams has to change tactics. She can't play the counter anymore. Instead, she's got to play Love's game and box with. Well. She's Michelle Williams and she can box with anybody in the FCBA. But, it takes time for her to make the adjustment. And, while Williams has the better of things late, Love controls much of the round and grabs it close to even things at 19.

ROUND THREE:

More tactical stuff. Good, back and forth boxing, with Hewitt able to get to the ranges where she wants to be and get off in combination, while Williams, so slick and slippery, holds her own and more on these terms. For about half the round things are close, but with an edge to Michelle. Then, Love does what she's been trying to do. She lands a hard right hook and DOWN GOES MISH...wait! Somehow Williams stays on her feet! But, she's steppin' in fencepost holes! And Hewitt is all in, battering Michelle around the ring, hooking body, blasting hard shot to the head. The blonde's on the ropes, both literally and figuratively as Hewitt goes to town looking for the finish. But, again, Michelle is slick and slippery even without much in the way of legs and with her head buzzing like a swarm of bees. She dodges and ducks and blocks and hangs on desperately. And she makes it to the bell. But, it's Hewitt wide and with the 29-28 lead.

ROUND FOUR:

Grim stuff for Williams. Grim, grim stuff. She's wobbly as the round begins and Hewitt knows it. Love's all about finishing now, and she's giving the blonde a beating, both to the head and the body. Michelle giving ground, countering in spots, hanging on desperately. Slowly, though, she gets the legs back under her. Hewitt continues to control things, but the Hall of Famer's shaking off the damage and working her way back into the fight. Love, smart veteran that she is, doesn't push things to far. She takes what she's being given. She works more body, looking to invest now and reap dividends later. Michelle working back to even terms by late in the fourth. She's getting punches put together. Moving well. Looking like Michelle Freaking Williams. By the finale seconds, we're seeing some big exchanges, with both fighters landing hard shot to the head and the crowd notices and is getting into it in a big way by the bell. It's Hewitt's round again, and she's up 39-37, but this thing is far from over.

ROUND FIVE:

Jenny Love playing the geometry again. Looking to angle to middle distances where she can bring her power to bear. Mishy wants a little more room and is using the feet and an educated jab to get it. Love getting the worst of things early. But, the subtle adjustments continue and she begins getting to her spots about midway through the round, making it a good, two-way fight again. Until. BOOM! A nasty right hand from Michelle catches Love stepping forward and now it's the brunette who's hurt! And, there's probably no worse place in the FCBA to be that to be hurt in front of Michelle Williams. The blonde immediately unleashes a barrage of accurate shot including a BOOMING right hook and DOWN GOES LOVE! Hewitt dropped to her left side by a snarling Michelle Williams! Referee begins what looks like a formality of a count, but, wait! There's more. Hewitt pushes to hands and knees at six and she's up at nine. Williams can only shake her head and the referee gives the mandatory and waives the blonde forward. Final 45 seconds are a nightmare for Love. Williams is all over her, working head and body, but Hewitt survives, and, despite the knockdown, is even at 47 at the half.

ROUND SIX:

Sixth begins with Michelle looking to finish. Williams backing up Love with flurry after flurry of accurate stuff. Love keeping the guard high, countering in spots, looking to run some clock and get those legs back. Mishy not having it. Keeps up a work rate that a 20 year old would have a tough time matching. She's going all in, but being somewhat frustrated by Love's high guard. Hewitt picking off much of Williams' stuff and rolling with more of it. It ain't pretty, but it's working. She's getting the time she needs despite Michelle's best efforts. Then, Williams goes rack and in a big way. A nasty three-punch combination to the bust line drops Love's hands just a little and BOOM! A straight right from Michelle and Love stumbles into the ropes. The guard goes back up, but Williams goes rack again, hammering away at Love's jugs and then BLASTING a right hook to her chin. Hewitt crashes to her left side parallel to the ropes, gloves coming to her rack. This time, she's not going to beat the count. In fact, she's still down long after it's passed her by. It's over! And your winner by KO6 is Michelle Williams!

AFTER:

Williams matter-of-fact in the post-fight. Beating Love old hat for her. "I just don't understand," the blonde says with a shake of the head. "Why she keeps chugging the poison. But, she does. And, the result is the same every time, her on the canvas, and me with my hand raised."