Posted by Simguy on 1/2/2001, 8:36 am

Before: UPN looking to be a player, developing its own talent up upload into PPV ranks, “Level 9’s” Hodge fairly polished coming out of the mills, respected as a well-schooled prospect coming in. For Haiduk--Kate representing a barbarian at the gate: “I can’t let Kate get by me,” says matter of fact Stacy in preflight, “It’s so competitive now, there are so many girls scrambling for position, that you can’t afford to lose any ground. Nothing personal Katie--hope you realize that.” Kate in pea green sports bra, grey stretch pants to the ankle, Haiduk in red cotton tank top, jockey bottoms.

During R1: Girl touch ‘em up and get down to it. Rotating clockwise midring, sticking out meaningful jabs, looking for cluster punching opportunities. Midway through, Haiduk welcomes  Hodge to the sport, scoring a clean right cross on the teeth, left hook on the jaw to send Kate reeling. Hodge recovering well, dances out the clock to clear her head. Round to Stacy.

R2,3: Hodge sticks with the program, hurt in the first, but showing no signs if it afterward. Katie’s out jabbing Stacy, mixing up her punches to the body and head--Haiduk falling into the role of follower as Hodge works efficiently if unspectacularly--both rounds to Kate on volume.

R4: Katie gets the punch she was looking for: digging at Stacy’s midriff with curling hooks, Hodge suddenly turns on a chopping right hand to the temple--Haiduk grimacing, staggering away with her hands at her eyebrows--she’s hurt. Kate swarms Stacy at the ropes, but Haiduk very composed, covers up, rolls and bobs defensively, and scores plenty of slapping counter shots out of the weave. Hodge shaking her head at the bell as Haiduk slips through the net.

R5: Kate backing off, letting Stacy head--Haiduk attempting and going after the brunette with solid whacks to the waist, ending up with a biting hook on the ear, Hodges baiting the trap, falling back, dukes up and midway through she plants, walks Stacy into another chopping right hand high on the head and prompts the funky chicken out of Haiduk’s tapered legs. Once again, Kate on to finish, swarms Haiduk to the ropes--Stacy sliding along the perimeter, covering up to take punishment, Down the stretch, Haiduk countering masterfully off the ropes--girls trade hooks and HODGE’S LEGS  BUCKLE! Kate swooning, reaches in to clinch--round ends with Haiduk laying on the ropes, Hodges in her arms, just stuffing mean right hands into Katie’s flat stomach.

R6: Kate showing great resilience once again, disconcerting Haiduk with fresh legs, clear eyes, good execution this round. Shutout for Hodge as she snaps her jab off Stacy’s elegant features, goes to the body with straight right hands, finishes upstairs with the hook.

R7: Katie starting to bury Stacy with pace--Haiduk starting to get caught clean, not seeing the hook, slipping the jab only to get nailed with straight right hands--Stacy on her heels throughout the round. Hodge walking Haiduk down, punching in clusters, keeping something on the brunette as they traverse the ring. Down the stretch, both backside, Stacy gets up quick, but as she steps forward, a little tell-tale stumble betrays her. Hodge with jolting lead right sets up another beautiful left hook on the point of the chin--DOWN GOES HAIDUK AGAIN! Stacy dropped to her butt almost exactly the same way, flounders in the ropes, beats the count glassy-eyed as the bell sounds.

R8,9: Kate Hodge puts it to Stacy Haiduk this round, beating down the gates, plundering the city, exacting tribute with her fists, Haiduk forced into hurting retreat around the ring--she’s firing back, but Hodge is answering back 2 and 3 for every one--Stacy lumping up, looking shopworn, clinching wearily and getting pushed around inside. Nice consolidation for Kate Hodge--showing good patience as Haiduk still too solid to be stopped.

R10: Katie finishes like a showman, lowering her fists, chasing Haiduk around the ring, trying to end in spectacular fashion. Haiduk busting up around the eyes, bleeding from the lower lip, retreats, flicking out the don’t-hurt-me jab and getting clocked in return as Hodges lands running right hands. Midway through, Kate puts wobble in Stacey’s trunks with a nice hook to the sternum, right cross finisher--Haiduk hanging on with clenched teeth. Final minute Hodge polishing off the veteran with pursuit--Stacy still has the legs to run, recognizing she’s been beaten and choosing to fight another day. Unanimous duke Kate Hodge.

After: Happy Kate Hodge beaming, waving to her family ringside--it’s a very thorough debut. Haiduk durable, skilled--she got dismantled tonight and sits discouraged on her stool recognizing she was treated like a journeywoman tonight--truth hurt, Great showcase for an up and comer with HBO vulture…er, executives in the audience.

Reposted by Archer 7/31/11