PARTIAL REPORT

Posted by Simguy on 2/2/2007, 5:48 am,

Burke in peach bikini (fringed top), black gloves
Kelly in purple bikini, white gloves

UD10 Burke

2 time “Dancing With The Stars” champ Burke one of those flashy-punching curvy-bodies who’s fighting potential seems as limitless as her celebrity quotient seems paltry, but critics noticed right away that the off-season dancing champ isn’t quite as fit as she is during the taping of the show. Kelly Clarkson isn’t as slick, doesn’t have the moves or ring presence of the sultry Burke, but the come-forward blonde pressed her softer-than-she-should-be brunette through all 10 heats of this entertaining, steak-vs.-sizzle confrontation.

The first three rounds wee all Burke, and it was Burke as we would expect her to be in the ring. VERY fast hands out a loose, relaxed closed stance; effortless, abrupt direction changes; supple slips and parries, So outclassed was Kelly early, that Burke, who has a decent up-jab off the hip, eschewed that punch to simply leas with swatting hooks and jumped-in right hands. Clarkson ate her fill of Cheryl’s leather in these heats, but after 9 blazing minutes, a dinged up Kelly was champing at the bit to continue, while Burke was beginning to regret that little extra chub she wore about her tummy and backside.

The remaining seven heats saw Cheryl fight flat-footed in front of Kelly, giving Clarkson cute torso bobs and weaves, and potshot ting Kelly with vicious swipe-hooks or short right hands out of the closed stance. Reminiscent of Carmen Electra, Burke manufactured unique power punches off either foot, with either hand--her punching sudden, smooth, and thudding. But Clarkson answered with stubborn volume, soaking up Cheryl’s bombs, coming forward, and from the fifth round on, Burke was defending the pocket against non-stop Kelly Clarkson aggression at the ropes. A great action fight resulted, with Kelly bludgeoned away crudely effective Texas-pinwheel lefts and rights, steadily beating at her foe’s chest, arms, ribs and tummy while Cheryl rolled, slipped and answered back snap-snatching counters.

In the end, Burke’s class was eye-catching, and despite eating some very hard, bashing punches in the later rounds, she never did go down ior look in danger of being anything other than exhausted. But Clarkson DID win 4 of the last 7 rounds, proving that honest work ethic can make even the most talented fighters sweat in the FCBA.

Reposted by Archer 12/8/10