BOXING AFTER DARK

Posted by Bonzo on 4/24/2011, 11:03 am

Before: Abbie Cornish enjoying huge publicity with a string of good roles in big films a la Sucker Punch – now it’s time to get success and respect in the FCBA. Cornish hardly made much of a splash in her career up-to-this-point but her stunning and brutal punch-out of Laura Prepon got noticed. Abbie one of those women like Cassidy Freeman who can easily move between light and welter, depending on where they can get the money. Cornish is making clear she will be focusing on her lightweight career, won’t say No to an Amanda Righetti fight, though. “I appreciate the chance to compare myself to a division star. It’s a dangerous fight all right, but I don’t see myself as an underdog. I’m a big girl with a hefty punch and I’m hard-nosed as hell. I’ll probably punch her out early, but I’ve got the durability to take it all the way to ten. This is my star-making fight!”

“I love how Abbie has a plan. She’s ambitious, knows what she wants and knows how to take it. I saw her knock out Laura Prepon who’s no cupcake – impressive!” Righetti admits. “I saw that fight, and though, hey, this is a girl who’ll be going places and I wanted to test her out. That’s an opportunity for her, but it’ll also be good for her to realize that you don’t become a boxing sensation in two fights. A lot of gals think their broad-shoulderedness and strong punching is going to make them welter champ with ease, but I’ve always wanted to make people realize that the welter division is about more than that. Brutality ain’t taking you anywhere.”

R1: Big girls testing the waters early, Amanda looking to figure out dark horse Abbie’s style while cooly controlling the action behind her powerful jab. Cornish upbeat, relaxed, unnerved by the big occasion: nothing-to-lose attitude has her fearlessly marching forward, engaging Amanda in toe-to-toe. Righetti impressed by Abbie’s approach, actually drifting towards the ropes before upping her effort to move Abbie back. Cornish all confident big-girl, trusting her strength, feeling good about her body to compete, broad shoulders rotating into strong punches – she’s just a little out-foxed by Amanda when it comes to the actual target-hitting. Then a sudden whack-whack: RIGHETTI GOES DOWN! Amanda moving forward, just gently stroking Abbie with jabs – Aussie rams strong and sudden counter rights into Amanda’s stomach, redhead walking to her left to free herself, while Abbie gambles and walks her into her fist – redhead going down with a funny look in shock. Righetti on her knees, stumbling up, shaking her head while Cornish’s following up in joyfully pressing her redhead to ropes, all giddy. Amanda’s able to defend herself properly until the bell - but Abbie takes the early lead – Amanda’s been warned.

R2: Abbie sensing her chance for something huge, but calm, experienced Amanda rights the ship - works strong Cornish to ropes, thick punches pinning Abbie as Amanda settles into beat-down mode. Strong Aussie resistance ensues, though, then – Abbie punching-with, muscular right hands catching redhead tuff. Grim look on Amanda’s face as Cornish muscle-reverses her position, battering Righetti to the ropes to work HER over. Strong bodies in competitive slug-out, but Righetti very relentless in reversing position again! Cornish unable to counter, slightly outpunched as strong rights hit bodies with thick whacks, allowing Righetti to get back on track. Last minute sees her pinning Abbie at the ropes with sharp crosses and stroking jabs, deciding a hotly contested second round.

R3: Amanda stubby-jabbing Abbie's mouth, splitting lower lip in aggressive march-forward style. Girls in shoulder to shoulder fighting, step-to, then step-away in circles. Cornish tuff, but unable to get good position on Righetti or force her back – cool redhead in tough action, but slightly more active/clever, smartly using her experience and ring generalship to contain Abbie, taking the round.

R4: Hard slugging back and forth in the fourth: Abbie willing to swap shoulder to shoulder, very much willing to get into tough leather, taking and handling punches well, obviously anxious to prove her toughness and welter durability. No doubts about that: impressive broad-bodied Aussie getting respect from redhead, often circling away out of props for strong Cornish body. Righetti nonetheless succeeds in doing just the right things to convince the judges to rule the round, if scantly, in her favour.

R5: Stubby jabbing and hard punching in spots, followed by step-outs and walk-arounds to regroup. Righetti a little slow this round, possibly apprehensive about Abbie’s big-girl power to the body, by now obviously respecting Abbie’s chances in this battle, trying to keep her chin away. Cornish turns out to be a little more active as a response - keeping her back clear of ropes and thus winning a close round. Tough competitive welter battle after 5!

R6: Righetti doubles up the jab to mouth, edging inside with authority: redhead won’t allow Cornish to take charge after last round again. Redhead walks Cornish back, beating her body, getting blonde girl breathing hard. Strong legs on both gals circling around the ring, brutally whacking each other, though redhead’s more effective, pinning an outfoxed Abbie for continuous stretches at the ropes.

R7: Cornish accepts terms and bangs back: Abbie pounds out a tuff toe to toe round with Righetti. Thumping stuff – girls taking punishment all over the ring, occasionally settling into wild all-out punch-out sessions, to the delight of the crowd. Knees bend, chins gets rattled, bodies stumbling around, trying to absorb all the firepower. Welter shootout going two-way – Cornish slightly more effective late in the round, possibly stealing away a close round from redhead.

R8: Righetti upping the tempo again, refusing to let Abbie gain momentum - jab-jabbing her way into range, then working. Abbie taking steady body blows, then rung up to head: she's fighting back, but slowly giving ground, starting to get worked over ropeside. Cornish tough and resilient, but obviously suffering at the hands of Righetti’s ever-durable, late strength. Abbie’s legs are strong – she’s not taking any particularly dangerous shots here but unable to get initiative on her foe. Amanda content at the bell, feels right on track to handle her frustrated blonde.

R9: Redhead marching forward tuff – taking her body to Cornish and reduces her. Proud and strong-minded Cornish bitterly giving ground, has to retreat/escape from Amanda’s power. Abbie in bitter ropeside stands, working hard to stand her way, not shying away from the action and responding with tough, strong counters but by and large, Righetti’s got her blonde under control. Frustrated Aussie not bending to Amanda’s will – still hammering out ‘You won’t break me’ jabs – but her back’s on the ropes. Righetti in the lead after 9.

R10: Same again: Cornish remains unbroken, but also unable to get off ropes, reverse field or have anything her own way. Righetti working hard, taking some shots, but staying on top to secure game. Abbie just getting frustrated, impatient – desperately wants to hurt Amanda: redhead in smart offensive, doing enough to have Cornish busy while not risking her lead for a late surprise. Cornish at the end of her wits, finally accepts her fortune – relegated to defending herself off the ropes. Redhead staying on top until the bell - comes back UD10 Amanda Righetti!

AFTER: Cornish with a good showing - body and face in remarkably fine shape, legs unbroken: blonde disappointed but not contesting the result – knows she didn’t use her early knockdown to its full advantage. She accepts Righetti’s superiority now, but making restraints already. “At this point, I’m going to have to admit that she’s got the experience and cleverness to beat me. But hey, don’t forget: in terms of knockdowns, that’s Abbie Cornish 1, Amanda Righetti 0. She was trying to get me to go down all night, but she friggin’ couldn’t. Why? Because I’m too strong for her. Give me ten fights more experience and I’ll punch her sleepy”. Righetti praising Cornish’s strong body – but obviously a little annoyed at not breaking Cornish’s will – and goes on to say that “unfortunately Abbie’s got bull-ish strength, but as of now, she’s using the ring smarts of a bull, too. Is that going to change in the future? Don’t know.”