Posted by Simguy on 1/19/2007, 6:55 am.

Before: quality division match up--former division champs square off in an important positional battle at 110. “Packard has my respect,” says the often-prickly Ledoyen, unusually cordial in prelight. “She’s fought all around the world, she’s seen the highest highs and the lowest lows--she cannot be dismissed. She IS worn down however--we see signs of it: the very best Kelly Packard can no longer compete with the best Virginie Ledoyen, I plan to be at my best, so c’est ca: je gagne.”

Packard returning courtesy--she’s confident of victory, but respectful of her opponent. “Virginie isn’t a typical European fighter--she’s shown she can win in the States and has good variety to her game. That’s the real key against her--figuring out who she plans to be early in the fight and decoding her properly. If Virginie the Slugger shows up, I’ll box her; if Virginie the Cutie shows up, I’ll harass and pressurize her. I don’t think she’s really got a look that can threaten me--I just have to make reads and execute accordingly.”

Virginie in lavender bikini, black gloves, black boxing shoes.white aerobics socks. Kelly in royal blue bikini, white gloves, white aerobics shoes/socks.

During R1: Tightly boxed round--both girls rangy, working o the outside, Kelly elbows-in, dukes up, lengthening and shortening her stance ro adjust range, pivoting sweetly midring while dragging her front (left) foot. Ledoyen circling, eyes narrowed, changing level with her upper body, loping out of range and regrouping--girls very sinuous and sleek as they feint, probe, test each other’s reflexes.

R2: Ledoyen feinting, freezes Kelly, then catches her a sweeping overhand right: PACKARD GOES DOWN! Kelly dashed to her back--scrambling to rise, but she’s clearly buzzed: Virginie grinning, saunters in to behind a round-long pounding to her dazed blonde foe, Kelly: Face-in-gloves, sliding to her right along the ropes, just twisting and turning her shoulders to mitigate the punishment. Ledoyen: limber-limbed lasgdown as she steps-with and lathers--gloves bouncing joyously off Kelly’s cranium, shoulders, flanks, Ledoyen fighting at distance--leaning in and pulling her shots onto Kelly, then leaning out--Virginie never smothering herself as she keeps up a steady wallop bell to bell. Packard blinking back tears, stumbling wobbly butt to corner: blonde showing tremendous heart in absorbing one-sided shellack in the second.

R3: Kelly stepping in, spearing her jab: she’s pre0em,pting Virginie, catching Ledoyen as French vixen’s loading up fight-finishing haymakers. ‘Ginie (no relation) constantly disrupted--she’s headhunting, getting loose, telegraphing her power--easy pickings for sharpshooting blonde veteran. Kelly tap-tapping keen one-twos, nimble-stepping to her left, hooking Ledoyen’s mouth tidy and ducking down on follow-through; slidestepping back, getting Virginie to reach, then dotting her the right hand counter. Final minute--Ledoyen a little frazzled, confused: Kelly flutter jabs; sweeps a vicious right across waist; digs a vicious hook to liver; doubles up the left hand to jerky uppercut, snapping Ledoyen’s face back. Kelly steps right, just touching her jab to Virginie’s parted lips, then KELLY DROPS THE RIGHT CROSS! Long blonde extension--Kelly stepping in and fetching it--that’s the shot that once stunned Eliza Dushku and destroyed Kari Wuhrer. VIRGINE GOES DOWN! Pinpoint chin-punch switches Virginie off: she stiffens, turning and tilting to her right, then crashes face-down all stretched out. KO3 in spectacular fashion--Kelly Packard!

After: Packard glancing down all cool-blonde supremacy on the strut past--gorgeous angular right hand one for her personal highlight reel. “She got sloppy,” a dinged up Kelly shrugs in post fight. “She legitimately hurt me, but she underestimated me coming out for the break: I was still together--she shouldn’t have opened up the way she did. She just miscalculated, tried to take me out, and bingo--I dressed her up instead,.”

Reposted by Archer 12/5/10.