Originally posted by Simguy on Saturday  21-Aug-1999 00:10:36

Before: Probably the most anticipated non title fight on recent memory pitting the classy boxer against the youthful slugger for winner taker all bragging rights at 115. Twain coming up to take on Fishel, but looking fir and strong at the weigh in.

Dani in baby blue push up bra, grey stretch cotton shorts; Shania in red stretch shorts, black push up bra.

During R1-4: Shania embarrasses Dani early with quick fisted flurries and effortless footwork, weaving in and out on the younger brunette and burnishing her face with slick combinations. Twain working the body with whipping left hooks, strays low on occasion, but fighters touch gloves and continue on without histronics. Fishel landing the odd looping hook, but unable to hem twain in or pout punches together.

R5: Shania having taken the measure of Dani, starts looking to hurt her opponent, and midway through the round a whistling left hook/right uppercut jolts Fishel’s head back for the highlight reels. Dani stumbling forward, is minced by Twain’s educated fists on a series of bang-bang-bang combinations. Shania stepping and punching from angles, pounds Fishel’s wide open head as the youngster stumbles around the ring in a lead-footed hazel. Dani sucking it up in the final minute, actually hounds Twain to the ropes and lands her hardest blows of the fight to the older woman’s ribs as the bell.

R6: Twain going for that left eye, drills the lead right directly on it, and beasts Dani raw with a classy string of left hooks to completely break down the brunette’s form. Fishel stumbling after Twain with hands low, face forward, nevertheless walks the older girl to the ropes, and in the final minute, lifts some crunching body shots to beat Twain into a cringing shell, Fishel cut, puffy faced, but Twain wincing and clutching at battered ribs after this brutal stanza.

R7: Tain obviously slowed by the Gattiesque body assault from Dani, and Fishel keeps up the pace this round. Coming forward in her bobbing clutch, pawing with the right and cranking the left, Fishel batters Twain from one last stand to another, finally squaring up on Shania in her corner. Merciless beat down as Dani lifts her punishing hooks into Shania’s taut midsection, drawing gasps of pain from the singer at the bell.

R8: Twain’s legs shot and she lays in with Dani this round for throw back, mouth on shoulder brawling. Two-way action favours the compact Fishel, who pummels Twain into slack jawed stupor with thumping body shots and short left hooks on the side of the head. Twain with her head in close to Dani, trying not to let Fishel extend her punches, survives another dicey round, but gets second wind in her corner.

R9: Shania Twain comes out smoking, putting the icing on a carefully crafted decision with a bell to bell waxing of Dani Fishel. The legs are back, and with them,. Twain’s offense as she lays waste to Dani with sharp 3 punch combinations, speedbagging the youngster’s head, and setting up jarring left hooks that knock Fishel off balance on more than one occasion. Dani’s cut reopens, and Fishel is a mess, battered into a drowsy stupor, pushing pathetically at Twain and taking merciless counters in return.

R10: Dani’s opening right hand lands with authority as she bends down and away to the left on the follow through. Twain hurt, left hand extended, stands straight up and Dani lights her up with comeback left, bending down and away to the right as Twain’s head swivels lazily on her neck. Fishel pounces, recocking her compact body and launching into another crashing hook to Shania’s head, but it’s overkill. Twain out on her feet, crashes to the canvas near the ropes and lies on her face out cold. Dani Fishel, no disrespect intended, leaps for joy, mounting the corner posts to accept the roar of the crowd as Twain lies oblivious to her own humiliation.

After: Twain lies unconscious for many minutes afterward, and Fishel appears as concerned as anyone in the aftermath of the stunning knockout. Dani continues to be  a fighter of destiny, pulling the rabbit out of the hat with a do or die 11^th hour stoppage of the snake-bitten Twain. Shania recovers unhurt, but is bitterly disappointed at the loss, knowing she had Dani in her back pocket on all cards going into the final round.