Posted by Simguy on Tuesday, 02-Mar-99 21:56:42

Before: Brash young guns in their respective sports clash for the first time ever. Bobek, a figure skater who can slug with anyone, lacks discipline and possesses no defence unless she feels like it. It’s a pick’em bout on the books--bettors like Bobek if she can get past that condor reach of Anna’s, but Kournikova the slicker boxer with more experience. Both women scored recent impressive victories over Katarina Witt. Anna in teal adidas
Terrycloth trunks, white jog bra, Nicole in pink cotton lycra shorts, pink and black jog bra.

During R1: Anna starts with her typical gangly, skipping style, but Bobek  isn’t impressed. Midway through the round, Nicole finally cuts off the ring and starts landing murderous right hands, looking to stop Anna with every punch. Kournikova stands and trades, lifting her punches underhand in little clipping arcs, but she gets tagged late in the round and nearly takes a knee. Bobek pushes Anna to the ropes and fouls her repeatedly to the bell.

R2: Similar look to the first, with Anna legging around Nicole, and Bobek confidently tracking the tennis player down. Bringing Kournikova to blows, Nicole’s power seems awesome: she staggers Anna with a right on the top of the head, wades through Kournikova’s desperate punches, and starts clouting Anna about the chin and mouth with lefts and rights. Anna dazed again, looks to clinch, but Nicole won’t have it, shucking Kournikova’s arms, or shoving her back for more abuse. Nicole really getting good extension on her punches has Anna ready to go, but just can’t take her out.

R3: Anna’s best round sees her suck it up, circle and jab Nicole to a standstill this round. Kournikova nicked up, slightly shaky, controls Nicole with nice boxing, even dropping some slashing right hands at the end of the bell to snap Nicole’s head back.

R4: The girls meet at center ring, and in a blur of swinging arms, Nicole misses a wild right hand, ducking under Anna’s right, and comes back with a looping left that crushes Kournikova’s head back with awe-inspiring violence. Anna out on her feet, steps back unconsciously as Nicole plows forward, clubbing Kournikova on the way down with a messy right. Anna in a heap on the canvas, doesn’t see Nicole’s humiliating pose over body until the next morning’s paper arrives.

After: Bobek taunts the KO’d Russian cuties as she lays on her back out cold. The picture will be a late finalist for a sports Pulitzer, vaguely reminiscent of Ali/Liston. Kournikova reportedly outraged at Nicole’s poor sportsmanship, demands a rematch.

Reposted by Archer 8/10/10.