Reebok Bantamweight Title

Posted by Simguy on 11/9/2001, 6:25 am

Before: Campbell catching experts and contenders by surprise, nabbing the plum assignment of rocking Dani’s world while other bantams cry foul. Fishel turning the criticism back on the attackers in pre-fight, “Where were all the people who wanted to fight me? Girls were backed up 6 deep to get a shot at Denise---I never heard a peep from anyone until Neve was announced. Bottom line is: Campbell’s getting the shot because she’s got the guts to take it. Simple.” Dani in teal sports bra, grey cotton stretch shorts, Neve sporty in red and white Maple Leaf motif sports bra and boy cut trunks

During R1: Dani advancing on Neve with a grin, bobbing and weaving her way ala Joe Frazier, coming out of her crouch with hellish hooks along the waistline, Neve with a high guard, giving up the body as she leans forward, letting Fishel get off, then answering back with crisp hooks to the ear and right side of Dani’s face. Two-way bang fest favours Fishel--by the bell she’s got Campbell up against the ropes, shoving and slugging the brunette for a systematic pounding.

R2: Neve waiting behind her guard, allowing Dani to close without paying a toll--it’s a mistake and Fishel cashes in early. Dani hard on that gut, putting Campbell on her heels--Neve steps straight back and takes a sweeping hook on her chin that has her doing the mashed potato for a moment. Fishel eager to pounce, bodying Campbell into he ropes, squaring away on wide spread feet and unleashing hell--lefts and rights up jamming in around Campbell’s over-worked guard as well, Shutout Fishel.

R3: Campbell shows some heart--shaking off the Dani Hurt and scoring with some nice tight left uppercuts as she leans in behind her guard. Fishel answering back with the same insistent hook--she’s taking what she wants on that right side. Once again, Fishel’s leverage and punching power prove decisive--steady beat down drives Campbell to the ropes where she stoops forward, covered up and taking a cudgeling to reddened ribs and achy arms. Dying seconds, Fishel twisting her hips into a series of sucking-wound hooks up beneath the ribcage finally breaks Neve’s composure--brunette sobs aloud and sinks to one knee to relieve the awful pressure. 120-8 Fishel.

R4: Dani pouring it on--she’s winning the war for hand position inside. Neve forced to clinch around Dani’s head and shoulders, allowing Fishel to get underneath and work. Dani fighting off Neve’s chest, bludgeoning happily away as Campbell starts to drift off. Pounding shutout Dani Fishel leaves Neve in shambles at the ropes--Campbell staggering slightly en route to her corner, face shiny, puffy, ribs achy.

R5: Campbell won’t go away. Shaking off 4 rounds of prime Fishel, Neve meets her foe midring and lights Dani up with short, alternating uppercuts out of the high guard. Fishel’s forward momentum finally broken--clean punching to her chin has Dani straightening up and backpedaling. After the halfway pint--Neve gets big on Fishel, pressing up with her guard on  Dani at the ropes, then banging away with free swinging lefts and rights, putting some mileage on the champ. At the bell, Dani bats glove with Neve and nods acknowledgement--shutout Neve Campbell.

R6: Dani raises the bar. Bobbing and weaving accompanied by the stubby jab--Fishel effectively touching Neve and pre-empting the brunette, literally walking inside to set up shop. Campbell waiting too much, not moving her hands--Dani has a blank cheque to batter body with both hands, reaching up under Neve’s arm to push the brunette back. By the final minute--Campbell’s groggy with punishment, guard drooping--Dani’s harming her to the waist and clocking her viciously across the chin with a non-stop barrage of power punches. Final moments, Fishel twists into a gobsmacking left hook on the chin that rocks Neve woozy into the ropes--brunette out on her feet as the crowd squeals in discomfort at the horrible looks and sound of the shot. Dani in awe as Campbell sways, but won’t topple at the bell. Physicians taking a close look during the break--Campbell stubbornly demanding to be allowed to continue.

R7: Dani mounts the grim task of breaking Neve down, hoping now t end the brunette’s night as quickly and mercifully as possible.. Badly busted up Campbell digs in, abandoning patches of canvas only after suffering savage abuse--Fishel able to work side to side on the torso, then cash in chin with either hand with withering haymakers. Neve wobbly butt, but laying in, occasionally nudging an uppercut into Dani’s chin to prevent the ref from stopping the action.

R8: Neve out with some of her hardest punching--trading hooks and uppercuts shoulder to shoulder with Dani midring as the crows goes wild. Campbell fighting on instinct--beaten unrecognizable at this point, shaken repeatedly and stumbling after clean connects from Fishel, but scoring heavily on occasion as Dani gets reckless. Down the stretch, girls trade concussive rights and lefts and NEVE GOES DOWN! Campbell’s legs give way dreamily t the canvas as she melts to her back--agonizing to watch Neve crawl to her belly, and claw her way back to a boozy stance.

R9: Dani wading in, smashing away at the rubble, but Campbell just won’t quit. Neve routinely getting belted onto one foot or the other, soaking up 5 or 6 punches, head swiveling dangerously, only to answer back with a clipping little uppercut or slapping hook that backs the ref off. Eventually Fishel succeeds in battering her foe to the ropes and clubbing Neve into a helpless stupor, but the brunette’s still standing after 9.

R10: Dani Fishel wades back in, looking concerned, but holding nothing back as she heas on the damage, Neve hammered into the ropes, tilting forward, gloves at her face, eyes shut--she answers back with reflex uppercuts from both hands, meanwhile Dani’s slamming hooks and clubbing right hands over and over to either cheek. Bad, bad  beating rolls on and on--Campbell trembling as she sits on the ropes, curvy legs holding her up as Dani mindlessly clobbers away. At the bell, Dani graciously gives Neve a congratulatory hug--Campbell horribly beaten, barely aware of her surroundings, UD10 Dani Fishel by a wide margin.

After: Comprehensive beat down doesn’t do justice to the consistent effort out forth by Dani Fishel in defense of her title on the evening. Output not as high as in years oast, but Dani’s setting down on almost every punch, making every stroke count, and she ruined a very game Neve Campbell tonight in round after round of meat grinding action. Shaky Campbell taken to hospital for routine observation--time will tell whether the beatings made her a better fighter, or shattered her spirit for good. Pundits in agreement: if Neve had quit in the sixth, nobody would have blamed her--brunette showed tons and tons of heart in going the route.

Reposted by Archer 7/22/11.