Posted by Simguy 12/14/2002, 8:12 am.

Before: Knowles blunt about her fight plan: “Break the b###h up! Y’all know with Cameron it’s going to the fights and a track meet breaks out, but I’ll get her fellahs—don’t you worry.” Diaz, amused, recalling the Angel connection between the two fighters, “during the video shoot for the title track, we talked a little boxing, Beyonce was really anxious to fight me back then and I just said to her, you know, don’t rush into the big leagues—I’m bad medicine for a kid like you. Now she’s talking about ‘breaking’ me and I see somebody wasn’t listening very carefully.” Smashing sledgehammer vs slashing rapier—high contrast boxing match. Feathered blonde hair for Beyonce, green retro bikini top, loop connection between the breasts, yellow full coverage retro cut bikini bottoms—Cameron in gold glittery Angels bikini.

During R1,2: Knowles steaming forward, gloves at lips, bobbing side to side, Diaz showing a couple of looks: hands up, palms out cats-paw style, evolving into a closed stance when she slides back or to the left—nice and smooth. Diaz retreating behind her jab, shooting a quick counter right as she nears the ropes, then sidestepping Beyonce, pushing the kid in the shoulder, palming the forehead, turning her with balletic grace. Cam always returning to the middle of the ring, using her legs and rangy goodness to keep Knowles at arm’s reach. Cam wide in the first, Cam with the shutout second—Beyonce huffing, puffing, cant even find the house, much less blow it down.

R3: Cam with another effective minute of boxing, but Knowles shows why there’s intrigue in this fight. Diaz pivoting at the ropes, pointing the left shoulder at Knowles and trying to slide out of trouble, but Beyonce lunges, lands a cleaving right over Cameron’s low left and drops the blonde like a sandbag at the ropes! Cameron’s legs shoot out stiff, spasming—eyes wide—she props herself up with an arm on the bottom strand and barely beats the count. Now it’s a shabby, tottering Cam Diaz jamming her butt into the ropes, digging in and covering up—Knowles gets an at-bat. Thumping good time had in Diaz’ ribcage as Knowles shows a young Tyson look, twisting her torso up and underneath to hoist vicious left and right uppercuts into the body from a squared stance. Cameron shaken up, woozy at the bell—Beyonce hooting, strutting back to her corner.

R4: Critical round—Diaz’ legs aren’t back—Beyonce with a chance to roll up and the veteran shuts her down. Absolutely brilliant display of counter punching and clinching off the ropes—Diaz stationary, but getting her arms up, blocking shots, poking in little jamming right hands to the jaw and quick swatting hooks as she bends side to side. She’s tieing up head and arm on Beyonce, bogging the kid down, frustrating her. Knowles backing out, assessing, wading back in, and getting bamboozled—Diaz calm, professional as she gets her bearings, shuts Beyonce out and gets back on track.

R5: Beyonce reduced to lunging, gambling single strokes against Diaz’ ribcage as the blonde gets on her toes and uses the ring. Cameron makes it look effortless, not putting much hurt on Beyonce, but slapping, stinging, and effectively keeping the kid off balance. Cameron mostly left handed, swift jabs, cuffing or slapping hooks, but when she shoots the bright hand—that’s when she’ll sidestep i=or tie up, landing it, and never paying for it.

R6: Beyonce consistent this round—issuing stubby jab to find Cameron’s chest, right round punches to the waist and mop up hooks that have Diaz’ respect. Beyonce also cutting off the ring for the first time, basically just tackling Diaz as blonde tries to execute her spinning sidestep, jamming the matador into the ropes. Beyonce getting her head on Diaz’ chest and plundering the flat tummy with hamhanded bludgeoning this round—Cameron just tying up head and arm, not doing much of anything else.

R7: Just when it looks like Beyonce’s found something, Cameron takes it away. More leggy class from Diaz and she’s changing gears on offense. Shocking lead rights land flush on the face, startling Beyonce, followed by slapping wide hook, then the right hand push as Diaz sidesteps free of charge. She’s shoving and turning beautifully, always one step ahead of Knowles tactically. Crowd doesn’t much like it as boos cascade down—Beyonce snorting, stomping, SHE  doesn’t like it, but can’t do much about it as Cam paints away for points.

R8: Pretty, long armed combinations, stinging lead rights, swatting slapping hooks, stiff jabs—all head hunting from Cameron as she continues to shine up Knowles’ available face. Beyonce trudging through it, but slowing—she’s bobbing, crossing her arms, but clearly has no clue how to use her strength and power in this situation. Midway through, Diaz gets gangly leverage on a drilling right hand between the eyes—Beyonce baby stepping back momentarily wobbly butt for the fuirst time in the fight.

R9: Cam is charge. She’s got the range, timing, tempo—everything she wants, Knowles face shiny and punished but she’s physically fine—she’s just demoralized by Diaz’ class, blonde having her way with sheer ring generalship—you can see it on Cameron’s face, the satisfaction and control.

R10: Boos from the crowds, ineffectual plowing forward from Knowles and lanky, slick boxing from an effervescent Cam Diaz. Cam just taking it home, no risks allowed—slapping and turning her foe at the ropes, spinning out and heading back to midring to start it all over again. Beyonce still trying, still has a lot in the tank, but she’s psychologically numb—missing nearly 80% of your punches will do that to you. Come back UD10 wide, Cam Diaz.

After: Cameron Diaz cracking that million dollar smile, white towel around her neck, water bottle—she’s the victorious diva once again, and milking it. “I’d better see my name back in the top ten tomorrow!” quips Ca,. “People forget—I BROUGHT boxing to this sport, I’m the one who made this thing credible and scientific by wiping up girls like Knowles years ago. I told this kid she had no business being in the ring with me, but some people learn by doing, I guess.” Knowles emotional, discouraged by the loss—she’s young and set backs seem like mountains at this point. She’ll learn you don’t piss away a round like the  4^th when you’ve got Diaz vulnerable: you pile on loike there’s no tomorrow.

Reposted by Archer 10/31/09.