Posted by Simguy on 1/5/2007, 7:03 am.

Before: training camps could be the key to this elite-class bantam tilt, as one boxing inside with Celebrity Ring relates: “Neve had Holly Valance in camp---and Valance, along with the other girls--was supposed to provide Kelly-Hu-like looks in sparring--but it didn’t exactly pan out that way. Holly got right up on Neve and banged with her--and you know Campbell: she won’t take that in her camp, and the next thing you know--Neve and Holly are going hard 10 round sets while everyone else is just standing around watching, Valance held her own and Campbell got some wonderful intense work in--but you wonder how it’ll translate ti a more deceptive, elusive opponent like Kelly. For Hu’s part, she sparred with fellow pageant veteran Ali Landry among others--looking to model Neve’s strength advantage in the ring. Hu landed some nice counter right hands on Ali-even moving her at time--and most observers felt that Kelly’s hook was sharper for the most part. So it’ll be interesting to see how Hu’s opponent-appropriate training will stack up against Neve’s hard-competitive approach.”

Neve in black push up, yellow bikini bottoms, black gloves. Kelly in royal blue bikini top, red/white Hawaiian print bottoms, white gloves.

During R1,2: Good opening heats for Campbell--she’s crisp, uptempo, aggressive, getting on kelly and pressurizing her out of her close stance before Hu can get cute. Neve keeping right hand tight to temple--stiff-jabbing close, then batting hooks head and body--twice shes able to land that succulent hook to liver to buckle Kelly’s knees in the first. Hu frowning in concentration--not really fighting her fight, but competing fiercely nonetheless: Hu’s lathering a heavy, whippy, sidearm hook at Neve--double-batting it against the head, stepping back and walking Campbell into the odd right. Neve blocking well, landing the heavier blows and pushing Kelly back: Hu unusually flat footed, making little in/out adjustments with her feet rather than running as per usual.

R3: Kelly gets a little distance, gives Neve problems this round. Hu: Left hand dangling at her thigh/hip; right rocked at her chest; chin tucked behind that lead left shoulder as she bends supple at the waist, slide-steps out to lure Neve forward. Silky-smooth punching from Kelly--Neve not seeing the sudden, screened right hands, and Kelly’s lathering hook landing with a lot of batting helt. Hu particularly fond of hook Neve behind the right elbow. CHUP! CHUP!--Kelly setting down more of her shots and improved power is noticeable, Hu’s feet keeping her safe--she’s turning Neve, pivoting to turn Campbell’s flanks: Neve well-protected with a high guard as she steps forward. Campbell’s right hands aren’t connecting as Kelly simply rolls-right to slip: Neve’s jabbing into Kelly’s exposed left-breast however--fitting thudding poke juuust inside that left bicep. Hu will allow that, but  nothing else from Campbell in the third--classy Kelly round.

R4: Classic boxer bs puncher round as Neve encroaches behind sturdy defensive/stubby jab, landing brutal-sounding hooks against Asian ribs and waistline. Hu absorbing the odd thudding body-blast, but controlling the exchanges with footwork: much more economical stuff from Kelly--just enough movement to neutralize Neve or get her out of position while Hu’s IN position to clean up. Kelly’s squirting those sneaky right hands through Neve’s guard, punching Campbell’s mouth this round, and Hus hook is very insistent about Neve’s right side. Hus spicing everything up with a very sharp, snapping jab up from her hip--neatly pre-empting Neve on the way in, catching Campbell in the mouth or tummy. Close round-- the kind of round Hu was losing last year by running too much: she wins this one by staying in range, making Neve miss and making her pay.

R5: Same again--Neve drawing cheers whenever she lands that thudding hook in Kelly’s flank or paunch--Campbell getting it nicely with a little step-up left hand swat at the ear  before committing downstairs, Hu still leggy--taking a good shit thus far: she’s refusing Neve the opportunity to pile on--sliding out juuuust enough ti tem pt Campbell forward, then startling Neve a lead right or check hook. Hu’s jab continues to bedevil and vex: Neve can block it, but she’s having no luck countering it. Hu small--steppin’ to either side, back, then forward, bending supple at her waist almost every time Neve releases: Kelly really seeing the punches well, slipping under and licking back at Campbell for points.

R6: Vintage shutout Kelly Hu, her tastiest round of the fight thus far. Kelly not really hurting Neve with any one punch--but startling her, stinging her, Hu’s feigned retreats simply masterful--coaxing Neve forward, then catching her off balance or unprepared to punch. Neve’s right hand a non-factor--Kelly rolls it, answers back with a very sharp, jamming straight right counter up the middle--starting to get hard head-shudder on Neve Hu’s sidearm hook exquisite--batting, lathering away--sometimes lukewarm, sometimes hot--and the jab is similarly baffling. Neve’s cadence always the same: Kelly’s rhythm just one jazz-riff after another--hard to read. Bell: Neve’s face polishing up nicely, she’s frowning at the canvas, thinking things through, Hu breezy, smiling, dictating terms through 6.

R7: Kelly aggressively at Neve--stooping to reach jabs to tummy, then pivoting-left around a sharp, biting hook, Lead rights penetrate Neve’s high guard, bloodying her nose in first minute: Campbell’s a little tentative, falling off the pace, following Kelly around rather than cutting ring off. Midway through, Kelly tummy-jabbing Neve to distraction--Campbell frustrated, angry, loosens up and eats a VICIOUS hooks as she steps in. CAMPBELL SWOONS TO CANVAS! Neve clapped hard behind the ear--Kelly turning her shoulder into the tight, swatting shit--Hu BEAMING, hands raised as she struts to neutral corner. Gut check, Neve: Campbell beats the count on shaky pins, clearly disoriented, Hu smirking, taunting Neve with her expression now--jabbing at tummy, then melting away as Campbell’s late with receipts, Kelly still showing plenty of respect--touching and tapping, poking and stinging, then wheeling away--Hu taking no chances as she blanks stunned Neve in the 7th.

R8: Kelly shows last-year form: prevent defence as she runs the perimeter, minimizes contact and puts nothing on Neve in the 8th, Campbell recovering well from the knockdown--hounding Hu corner to corner--Kelly too nimble and fresh to be rope bound--but Neve’s jabbing jug, hooking waist and landing loud when she can. Familiar boos for Kelly--crowd doesn’t like Hu’s safety0first approach, but she gets out of ho0hum round no worse for wear.

R9: SHARP counterpunching, Kelly Hu. She’s right there in the pocket, eyes narrowed with concentration as she rolls Neve’s right hand, comes back BLISTERING right hands up the middle. Where right hands lead, Hu’s hook sure to follow--Neve rocked time and again on her heels as Hu puts vicious combinations together. Campbell rugged--taking the pasting--but she can’t find Kelly’s chin. Middle minute sees Kelly sink a series of heavy-clouting hooks in behind Neve’s right elbow: Campbell grimaces, backs to the ropes, elbows in tight to her body as she cramps forward in pain. Final minute, Hu grimly determined to go at Neve: Kelly squares away, prodding a little poke-right up the middle to set up that lathering sidearm hook as Campbell bobs sadly in front. Neve giving up touches, but finally dropping her own stubby right to beautiful Asian face, Kelly ignores these shots--not recognizing the danger--and then Neve BUSTS a hook to liver off the right hand tap upstairs, HU FOLDS UP HURT! Kelly shouting in agony, hugging her body, backing away, THEN TAKING A KNEE! Neve breathing hard, badly busted up, but glaring with hot satisfaction at the hurt and KELLY’S DONE! Hu blubbering--stretching her torso out on all fours, trying to find wind, but it’s no go. Come from behind KO9, Neve Campbell.

After: Textbook smoothy/banger match up--stubborn Neve shipped a classy beating tonight, but stayed strong: brutal hook to the liver bails the brunette bomber out once again. “I was getting my hook on Kelly pretty consistently,” a weary, but satisfied Neve says in post fight. “You know--it was only a matter of time. She wasn’t hurting me at all--but I know Kelly’s a flashy, eyecatching puncher and I figured I was behind on the cards as a result. I just wanted to say that Kelly would have been too much for Rachel McAdams tonight, and I got the stoppage over Hu--so do the math. The way McAdams continues to ignore my excellence is shameful cowardice--nothing more. She wants no part of this (holds up left fist), and I don’t blame her.”

Reposted by Archer 12/1/10.