Unified Flyweight Title

Posted by Simguy on 4/5/2003, 9:390 am.

Before: “Ah, Natalie,” breezes Mish in preflight. “I remember when we used to ass you around, use and discard you at will--you remember those days? Now you’re all growed up and tuff and stuff--a real serious fighter. God are you in for a reality check.” Portman quietly confident on her side of the dais: “I’ve got the skills, I’ve got the youth, and I’ve got the heart. I’m everything Mish Williams could ant in a challenger and I really think my time has come, I know if I execute, I can beat this girl and take those belts.” Portman in white sports bra, high waist white aerobics trunks, white shoes, battle braid, Mish in yellow and red floral print push up bikini top, solid red bikini trunks, white shoes.

During R1:  Portman shows her cards--it’s stick and move, keep the fight in the center of the ring, never standing in front of Mish or stepping to her. Williams playing along, coming forward--she’s grinning as Portman’s jab skids off her face, but doing a better job of slipping Nat’s straight right hands.

R2: Mish timing Nat’s right, getting under it and coming back with clanging hooks to the chin. Head shots setting up the body as Portman covers up and goes stationary when she’s tagged--Williams leaning in on the front foot to get some leverage on crisp hooks to rib.

R3: Mish punching harder opening uip with both mitts--she’s got Natalie sluggish, covering up, standing in one spot more often. Hard working Williams tanning Natalie’s glistening flanks, working up the torso to finish up wide to the jaw, clubbing around the brunette’s forward guard. Mish grinning, pleased with the shutout--she backhand snaps Natalie’s rump as brunette straggles back to her corner well used.

R4: Mish having her way early--head up, brazenly punching to the body with low-slinging rights and lefts. Midway through Portman times a hard right hand to the mouth, catching Williams wading in and putting sudden wobbly butt in blonde trunks. Mish shocked by the hurt, leaning forward behind her gloves--Nat’s turn to sample proud champion midriff and rightside ribs with stubborn hooks off the front foot. Portman staying disciplined, reefing into Mish without restraint but sliding off to the right, changing her angle to force Williams to move her feet.

R5: OH Mish bangs away. Williams charging off her stool and tackling Nat to her corner--big blonde beat down bell to bell. Williams rough with her head, tousle-scrubbing Nat’s face while keeping the fore3head on brunettes sweaty upper chest. Constant digging punches to the midsection and ribcage--Mish unashamed to work out of the wrap, holding and hitting Nat up against the ropes. Williams dipping her shoulders and ripping up into Nat’s firm breasts with either hand--chugging assault has Natalie’s butt in the ropes, mouth open from the shock. Mish doing whatever she needs to keep Nat pinned down, including reaching past the brunette to grab the tropes while pressing in with her shoulder. Williams piling on after the bell--ref has to pull her off as Natalie’s face twists in cramped discomfort.

R6: NAT STORMS BACK! Portman doesn’t take the cue to shrivel, instead up-tempoing, sticking to her game plan of angles at mid ring. Portman keeping Mish at arms length with stinging jabs in 2s and 3s--Williams bobbing, crossing her arms, picking off the stick, but getting labeled by Portman’s accurate straight right hands on the jaw. All adds up by the final minute--Williams tiring, face lumping up--a HARD right hand spanks flush between the eyes, unhinging blonde knees, Portman hopping in as Mish staggers back--brunette drilling out left and right crisscross punching to the face and chest, driving Mish pell-mell to the ropes. Williams battered at the bell, and Portman doesn’t let up--ref has to enforce the break as Natalie snarls, writhes in the man’s arms.

R7: It’s a real fight--Nat’s ribcage pinking up nicely--Mish’s face showing serious wear and tear from challenger’s persistent touches. Williams shakes Natalie with a biting counter hook, timing brunette right hand to the millisecond. Portman spends a minute hurt, sliding along the ropes as the champ steps with and beats her down, but Natalie won’t wilt! Furious slugging erupts in the final minute and MICHELLE gets tagged--tight lefts and rights beating champ to the punch and putting her woozy as Portman fights her way off the ropes. Natalie finishes the round strong--judges give it to Mish by an eyelash.

R8: Classy Nat Portman shutout! Portman wheeling and dealing, turning on her lead pivot foot, using the ring but not running. Mish looking shopworn, sluggish as she tracks nat down, but posing rather than working as brunette gets off with brisk combos off the jab. Whenever Mish steps back to regroup, Natalie presses her--Portman slugging and boxing in fine proportion, keeping the champ off balance.

R9: SHUTOUT NATALIE PORTMAN! Nat bright-eyed, cheeks flushed--concentration intent as she jabs, systematically closing Mish’s left eye and pounding the jaw with rude right hands. Portman rotating to her right, turning Mish around the ring, hammering away to the face as Williams defensive reactions start to slow. Williams punched onto her heels--frustrated as she tries to ward off punches with raised arms, but Natalie’s threading the needle.

R10: Syren to Mish--”You gotta hurt her this round Mish. I need a knockdown at least--you gotta dominate/” Williams charging off her stool to accommodate her trainer, but Nat has all the answers, Portman using her legs to absorb Mish’s momentum, luring her around the ring, tracking her with a pesky jab. Williams reaching in desperation and Natalie NAILS her a creaming tight hand on the teeth, over top blonde’s extended left. Mish stepping in fence post holes, hands at her temples…and Portman backs off! Natalie going to the prevent defense, skirting the perimeter, tapping Mish and spinning her to open up the canvas--Williams carrying the fight to the bell, but can’t find the kill switch. Comes back UD10 for the winner and NEW flyweight champion--Natalie Portman!

After: Mish getting an ice bag applied to the left side of her face, bleeding from her nose. She stares in sullen disappointment as her belts are presented to a giddy, trembling Natalie Portman, then turns away when Nat and her friends start a little shoulder shimmying end-zone dance. “Nothing against Mish,” bubbles Natalie in post fight. “she was a great, great fighter, but I worked SO HARD for this. I truly believe I had her beat in training camp. I’m no Elisha Cuthbert--to me, this was the end result of a long, hard road, I’ve paid my dies, fought through adversity. I beat up Salma Hayek, took on a tough veteran Virginie Ledoyen and by the time I got here--I was ready. This was no fluke--the better woman won.” time will tell--in the meantime, kudos to Team Portman for finally solving the riddle of Mish Williams--class mixed with enough sass to get the job done over a rugged dime.

Reposted Archer 5/15/11.