Posted by Simguy on Sunday, 16-May-1999 12:43:39

Before: Battle of tall brunettes features classic style match up. Crawford a technically sound fighter with the trusty jab leading the way. Shields a wrecking ball puncher, often criticized for inactivity, but she carries the big stick in this one, Shields in red jockey 2 piece, Crawford in baby blue. Ponytails , ringlets for both women.

During R1: Crawford sticking the jab early, but Brooke walks through it and swings ith clubbing blows to the hips and belly of Crawford and soon has the model gasping in pain. A sweeping right to the pit of the stomach folds Crawford up and she wobbles to one knee with tears in her yes. Cindy up at 8, and Brooke wades in with a sneer, smashing her right down on Cindy’s cheek, then pounding a left into Crawford’s side, shaking Cindy’s entire frame. Cindy groans, holding her midsection and goes to her knees once again as she takes her second knockdown. Cindy rises and staggers away from Brooke the rest of the round, clutching for dear life whenever Shields moves in.

R2: Brooke making a mockery of Cindy’s big girls status as she stomps inside and pounds a right to the solar plexus and watches as Crawford crumples yet again. Cindy takes her third knee in 2 rounds, and gets up shaky legged. It’s a game of possum however, as Crawford takes over the rest of the way. Cindy using her mobility punches left right, then holds Brooke around the shoulders, turning the big girl and messing up  her footwork, Then Cindy gets back outside, moving her left behind her jab, and pounding away at Brooke’s head with solid right hands. Brooke looking flustered at the end of the round as she eats hard leather from never-say-die Cindy.

R3: Brooke comes forward, arms crossed, but Cindy has fully recovered, and circles, using a hard jab to steer Shields.  Midway through the round, Cindy bangs Brooke’s head back with a beautiful right cross, and the big girl’s backside shakes for seconds afterwards as she tries to soak up the shot. Crawford having her way now, stepping methodically around Brooke, heaving in long right hands to the head and stomach, and discouraging Brooke with the jab in retreat.

R4: Brooke manages to body up this round, walking Crawford to the ropes and making the smaller woman deal close in. Shields adept at pining an opponent in the corner, holds and shoves Crawford to make opening for clubbing right hands.

R5: Brooke wading forward, does good work, harming the Crawford’s rib cage with straight rights, but in the final minute, Cindy steps left, smacks a right/left off Brooke’s face, and has Brooke stepping in fence post holes, Cindy sets down on her punches, pounding another right off the forehead of Brooke, then turning into a whipping left hook to the jaw, and the big girl takes a seat! Shields climbs off the canvas, eyes watery as Crawford gets a little satisfaction.

R6: All Cindy Crawford as Brooke plows forward. Eating an endless stream of jabs. Shields too slow, too easy to hit, and not busy this round, suffers a shutout in sluggish action.

R7: Brooke much more active this round, actually pounds  Cindy out of defensive positions time and again early in the round, but in the final minute. Shields walks into a crashing right to the chin, and once again, the big girl is hurt. Brooke covers up as Cindy swings away at the gut with both hands to the bell.

R8: All Crawford as Shields can’t deal with the jab, and is clearly slowly down. Unable to cut off the ring, Brooke follows Cindy, making Crawford look quick comparison. Cindy starting to relax, reaches with lead rights to mix things up, coming back with hard left hooks as Brooke’s eyes start to swell.

R9: Good banging round for Brooke as she gets to Crawford’s flanks with hammering lefts and rights. Cindy can only hunch forward as Brooke’s big arms pound away, literally punching Crawford to a stand still.

R10: Crawford posts another competent shutout. All potshot ting action from long range as Cindy flicks the jab, mixed in the odd lead right, and pounds Brooke's shoulder with a safety-first left hook. Shields un hurt, but badly outworked once again as Crawford posts the shutout. As the cards are totally, a draw is announced. Crawford seems disappointed, Shields relieved at the verdict.

After: Simple case of surviving Brooke’s early fury, then outboxing the big girl down the stretch. Another good performance for Crawford who had enough pop to put Brooke on the deck, but couldn’t stop her to take the decision out of the judges hands. For Shields, another frustrating outting  in which her power dominated early, faded late, proving she needs o learn to finish when she has a girl hurt.

Reposted by Archer 8/16/10