Posted by Simguy on 12/20.2002, 11:16 pm.

Before: Blueprint is in place—faith just has to mimic Cameron Diaz for 20 perfect rounds to notch another setback on young Beyonce. Hill with the same basic tool set, but not  nearly as polished overall, but the x-factor might be power. “Hill can sock in spots,” notes one scribe, “she’s not a devastating hitter, but she’s got deceptive power and Beyonce’s there to be hit. Faith might not have to be as slick as Diaz to get things done against Knowles.” Knowles keeping a lid on the trash following her boisterous pre-fight persona for Diaz—kid’s all business this time out. White tankini Hill, green bikini top, yellow hipster bottoms Beyonce.

During R1: First minute, Beyonce tries to run Hill out of the ring. Knowles mounting crashing rushes, heaving in heavy lumber and crouching up on follow through, Faith in wild retreat, often awkwardly off balance as she reels away from lethal leather. Midway point, Hill starting to find Beyonce with the jab, getting legs and stick together to channel Knowles’ fury. Final minute, Hill pre-empting and stunning Knowles with the jab to the face, keeping Beyonce at arms length—Beyonce nibbling her gloves Tyson style, waving uncertainly side to side, keeps trying to walk in. Final 10 seconds, Hill just sets, jabs, drops a banging right hand on the chin and puts Knowles wobbly butt as Beyonce cooperates fully at the bell.

R2: Beyonce getting her hair blown back by her trainer, comes out more focused, less reckless. Knowles working out of her crouch, moving her head consistently, slipping Faith’s jab—that’s job number one. Once she’s past the stick, she’s going to the body, robust lefts and rights off the ribcage—job 2. Only with Hill off her toes, breathing hard, does Knowles wing upstairs, looking to cash in that country and western chin with whistling blasts from either side, Hill covering up and blocking well, gets to Beyonce with a little counter right uppercut as Knowles falls in with her punching momentum in late trade.

R3: Beyonce upping the tempo, attacking with vigor, forcing Hill to the ropes and having long, juicy moments of success at faith’s expense. Hill unable to keep Knowles off, forced to cover up—she’s up and down the torso. Knowles just putting leather on meat, beating the biceps, the shoulders, hammering the flanks. Hill finally clinching head and arm on Beyonce to relieve the pressure—ref issuing breaks, pushing Knowles back—Beyonce just muscling back on in to scrub, Shutout Knowles.

R4: Hill looking listless, sullen with punishment—she’s stampeded to the ropes early and beaten mercilessly as Knowles kicks it into overdrive. Beyonce affecting that Tyson look in close—feet wide. Ripping up into the body with 2 and 3 uppercuts to the body from either side, trying to get Hill to droop forward for a chin shot. Hill wilting, trying to keep the blocking defense intact, but it’s being banged out of shape and she’s shipping haymakers. Hurt early and often, Hill sways and leans against the strands, buckles forward under torment—Knowles just unleashing a brutal non-stop power punching assault to break her woman down. AT the bell, Hill teetering out on her feet, staring dimly I response to the worst 3 minutes of her career as Knowles takes what she wants in the fourth.

R5: Beyonce in charge—Hill’s got nothing left but pride. Faith pushing out a don’t-hurt-me-jab—Knowles banging hard over top with clubbing right jerks blonde a quarters turn right and sends her careening to the ropes. Beyonce head hunting now, standing up and jerking short lefts and rights round Hill’s desperate, outstretched limbs. Faith partially blocking early, then getting rocked—she/s limp, drifting when Beyonce arches her back and gets everything behind a clipping right uppercut that spills Hill senseless to the corner. Faith out, but trapped on the ropes and Beyonce treats blonde to a vicious free-shot pasting—walloping lefts and rights—Hill’s head JAMMING back and forth sickening loose until the ref can haul Knowles off. TKO5 Beyonce Knowles.

After: Beyonce caught and rocked in the last moments of the first, made her adjustments, sharpened up and got back on track with her best win in a long time, Hill following the Diaz plan for the first 6 minutes, but unable to sustain it—she’s beaten unrecognizable in the harsh final 2 stanzas of this fight. Silver lining is Faith’s heart—hurt even after the third, she hung in for a lot more before Knowles was done.

Reposted by Archer 11/6/09.