Posted by Simguy on 3/7/2003, 7:17 am.

Before: Dani not known for overconfidence, but she’s breezing into this one like it’s already over. “After Rodriquez, I deserve a soft touch. From what I can see, it doesn’t get any cushier than Elisha! She’s going to learn that signing with the Krushers has  it’s drawbacks and Dani Fishel’s one of ‘em.” Fishel having to make weight in the sauna, day of the bout--most assume it won’t be a factor. Cuthbert obviously stepping up I class, looked shay in drawing with Naomi Watts, but the curvy Canuck has had some heated brawls in the past which suggest she can go rounds with Big D. Fishel in teal sports bra, grey stretch cotton boy cut trunks, Elisha in black bra style bikini top, snug orange boy cut trunks. Staredown--Fishel grinning, Elisha scowling--Cuthbert business tonight.

During R1: Dani bright eyed and smiling, crouching and weaving her way in, crossing her arms Frazier style and ripping away to rib when in close. Cuthbert driven back--blonde butt in the ropes and this thing gets brutal in a hurry. Grueling give and take as Fishel stands right in Elisha’s kitchen and hammers away at her flanks, snatches mittfuls of tummy out of the crouch. Cuthbert rattled, but unbowed--she’s trying to keep her left shoulder on Dani, pick her up with the little right uppercuts, pack home tight left hooks to ear and in behind the elbow. Grinding Fishel round--hair in her face, big smile as she bounces away with points.

R2: Dani storming the front gate--Cuthbert giving ground behind the jab, turning at the ropes, keeping her back clear of the strands. Early Fishel pressure fizzles when Elisha walks her girl into a jarring right uppercut--Dani brought to a halt, covered up--Elisha takes the initiative. Jab jab jab to Dani’s--Elisha stepping to the right and ANOTHER jagged little right uppercut pop between the mitts--Cuthbert poking and stepping, fitting Dani for hard rights, walking away. Fishel bloody nosed, ragged at the bell as Elisha gets off spanking.

R3: Elisha sharper, getting off first, baring her teeth as she commits to her punches. Dani sluggish, working her way in close, then not moving her hands, Cuthbert jabbing and counterclockwise stepping really opening up nice angles--she’s got the right uppercut on Dani, jab doing heartless work on Fishel’s left eye--Fishel just not product8ve enough in her spots.

R4: Cuthbert outworking Dani. Jab and smoking’ right hands are highlights, but Elisha’s electing to stand and trade,  often getting the better of Dani toe to toe. Fishel arms crossed, laying in beefy with Elisha but not working--lithe blonde able to turn the veteran, pushing Fishel behind either elbow, keeping her feet moving.

R5: Glorious jabbing, straight rights, right uppercuts--Elisha putting together punches at arms length, really extending into Dani’s swelling face. Fishel punished as she wades in--punches bouncing off her facve and when she gets to Cuthbert’s chest…clinch. Dani leaking from that chronically carved up left eyebrow, busted up the nose--she’s taking a shellacking from the kid through 5.

R6: Best round of the fight from Elisha. First minute that patient step and jab routine, setting Dani up, getting her shopworn, getting her used to punishment. Right uppercut, pivot. Pawing jabs at the nose--hard right uppercut, step to the right. Dani looking ramshackle as she trudges forward, always in Elisha’s punching zone, not crowding the blonde effectively. Midway through, Cuthbert with a HAMMERING right cross over Dani’s crossed arms! Fishel’s head slammed to the side--she stumbles forward and FISHEL IS HURT! Elisha baring her teeth, churning tight lefts and rights in rising arcs, BACKING DANI UP UNDER FIRE! Fishel woozy, shipping shots--it’s all Cuthbert t the bell and beyond as she LATHERS up sick on a hurting Fishel, Dani getting a stern talking to in her corner as Syren gets urgent.

R7: Dani grim as she stands her ground--Cuthbert wading in, looking to bring blonde donnybrook to Fishel’s punch-blasted frame. Fishel not having t look for her girl, it’s just stand and slug midring and Dani’s getting her rhythm back. Fishel ducking under short Cuthbert rights, coming back with right clouting lefts--girls taking hard shots and laying in mouth on shoulder with each other in turns. Fishel bangs out close, competitive round toe to toe as Elisha looks to roll her girl up.

R8: Dani gets in early overhand right on the face, follows up with hooks of the crossed arm crouch to finally get Cuthbert stepping backwards. Long stretches of Dani clouting away on Cuthbert’s arms and biceps as the blonde cringes, trying to protect herself. Elisha abandoning the jab, not giving Dani angles--she wants to trade, but she’s fielding big, banging shots on her jab that are causing her to double clutch. Fishel working her girl to nthe ropes and piling on--Dani getting her head on Elisha’s chest, ripping at the belly, coming through the middle with vicious uppercuts for the shutout.

R9: Janet Jones urging Elisha to box, but it’s too late--blonde’s legs looking shabby as Dani crowds in and makes it her fight. Face on face, shoulder to shoulder--girls turning and twisting into short, bludgeoning lefts and rights, uppercuts an hooks in close.; Elisha giving it her all, getting right hands hard to Dani’s midsection--crowd on their feet as the girls slip into mindless brutality. Bell sounds: Cuthbert’s butt’s in the ropes--Dani pushing off her girl and forcing glaring eye contact.

!0: Dani with big roundhouse right over the top as they fall in--Elisha clinches: she’s hurt. Fishel won’t be denied--she’s shrugging and writhing,, getting free underneath and working her girl’s gut. Cuthbert;’ eyes fluttering, she’s clinching up around Dani’s head with both arms but she can’t stop the bombardment. Fishel packing her girl to the ropes, working hard inside Cuthbert’s smothering grasp. Elisha’s exhausted grappling on top--Dani struggling for room, digging to the body, occasionally winging something wide up around Cuthbert’s arms. Elisha harmed bell to bell, but she won’t punk--Cuthbert swaying in the breeze, shoving Dani after the break--Fishel pushed back by the ref as she goes to answer. This one comes back a Tractorpull special: a draw.

After: Cuthbert hoisted onto the shoulders on her corner men, all but out: hanging a draw on Dani  as good as win to the spirited young blonde. Fishel sullen, banged up and puffy as her gloves are removed--careless first half nearly costs her the fight. Cuthbert’s inexperience really showing down the stretch, as she explains. “I had her hurt, I had her ready to go and I just wanted to out her out so BAD! I stopped boxing her, I stopped listening to my corner and I let her get back on track. I lost my discipline and that cost me the fight. I HAD her!”

Reposted by Archer 7/15/10.