PPV on SKY/BRITAIN:

Posted by simguy on 12/2/2001, 11:20 am

Before: Any Spears bout a money making proposition, usually drawing non traditional fans to the arena - Halliwell/Spears II a much bigger event in Britain than Stateside, opportunity for Britney to get super-fight experience without quite so much pressure at home. Halliwell excited at the prospect of 'stretching' Britney on both sides of the Atlantic - Spears had all kinds of trouble handling Geri's work rate and pressure last time out. Geri in black two piece dance/aerobics togs (Raining Men video), Britney in pink tube top, bikini bottoms.

During R1: Geri out very fast - jamming a lead right into Britney's chest to help cut off the ring while simultaneously setting up Geri's biting left hook - Spears beaten back to the ropes in the opening seconds. Geri swarming Britney, pressing up hard with her shoulder, hammering away to the sweet pudge of Britney's belly with both hands, coming off the body with right uppercuts or cramming left hooks as Spears slides wide-eyed into a corner. All Geri the rest of the way, palming up on Britney's hips to position her butt perfectly on a turnbuckle, then heaving in the hurt with non-stop chugging arms, pumping and driving legs. Halliwell finishing up the scrumptuous round in Britney's tits, scrubbing puppy with side to side swishing punches at the bell. Halliwell prancing back to her corner with a sweaty grin of satisfaction - Spears vibrating from the beating, slouching on her stool during the break.

R2: Spears makes adjustments. Hands at her sides, she falls off to the left, catching Geri by surprise by lifting the left hand into the tits, lifting it to the mouth - Halliwell turning, can't get the forward momentum she craves. Middle minute, Britney lures Geri to the ropes, sets up to counter with her left across her belly, right at her mouth - she rolls with Geri's side to side punches, fitting her left hook and chopping right in between Halliwell's swipes. Geri stubborn, won't back off, and she's getting scuffed up as Britney does a nice job blocking and countering - shining Halliwell up. Down the stretch, Britney reaches a left hand down into Geri's rightside ribs as the blonde looks to club a right - punch seems to sap the life of Halliwell for a second as she fans on the punch, falls into Britney to recover. Shutout for Spears - Halliwell's turn to hurt.

R3: Spears using her legs again to establish the agenda in the first minute, hands at her side, loose and easy outside, just lifting the left off her thigh to surprise Geri with pokes to the teeth and tits. Middle minute, Britney settles, down, slidestepping back to draw Geri forward, walking the British blonde into firm right hands to the belly, cuffing left hooks to the ear - Spears doing a nice job moving her upperbody with her punches to avoid the receipts. By the time Geri has Britney's back to the ropes, Halliwell's been touched plenty, looking a little ragged and a shattering exchange of hooks goes Britney's way by a split second: DOWN GOES GERI! Halliwell sinking to one knee - staring out at the audience as Britney walks away to allow the count. Halliwell up at 8, lips trembling, legs quaking - Spears wades in with the left at her side, right cocked at her chest. Britney feinting with her upperbody as Geri wilts into the ropes, hands high - Spears closing up her stance, then twisting to lash the right hand hard against Geri's flat stomach, closing up again with a licking left hook from the thigh. Hard, whip action punches and THE REF STOPS THE FIGHT! Halliwell dazed, but alert enough to be outraged as Britney Spears lifts her mitts, walks away in triumph! TKO3 Britney Spears.

After: What's with the refs tonight? First Rachel, now Geri gets the rug pulled out from under her as scared officials move in just a little too quick for the public's liking. Halliwell being taken apart, but still functioning at the time of the stoppage: "I don't mean to complain," says Geri, "but this was a championship calibre bout and I'm a championship calibre fighter - one doesn't just stop a fight of this importance at the first hint of difficulty. I understand the need to protect fighters, but I feel I had every chance to turn things around on Britney with so much time left in the fight." Spears naturally with a different interpretation: "I'm glad he stepped in when he did," Brit says somberly, "My punching was tearing her up and Geri has a huge heart - she would have kept taking punishment until serious damage was done. People pay to see a fight, not an execution."

Thanks to Apollo for this repost.

Archer 10/21/09.