Posted by simguy on 2/22/2008, 6:36 am,

Before: "I don't respect Rachel," Anne says apologetically, shrugging her shoulders. "I'm sorry - she's just not one of the great fighting actresses, and I don't feel like I need to treat her that way. I'm putting pressure on myself to beat Nichols - badly if possible, and hopeful by stoppage - because I think a fighter on my level should be handling this kind of opponent. There's no excuse for me to let her be competitive in this match."

Nichols justifiably stunned - nothing in Anne's approach to this point gave any hint of this sort of belligerence. "I don't deserve this from Anne Hathaway," Rachel says - body rigid at podium. "She may think she's 'sorry' now, but I'll have respect from her when I'm finished. Respect, and then some. What she said about me - goes double for her! Oh, and her swimsuit? Hideous!"

Anne in sturdy blue bikini with bra strap top; battle-bunned hair; white gloves. Rache in scarlet bikini, white-belted bottoms; white gloves. Ring instrux: Anne extends gloves to touch - Rachel spurns her - blonde eyes blazing with contempt at the make-nice attempt.

During R1: Fierce face-jabbing both women. Nichols chopping her left hand in doubles - hacking at Annie's mug. Anne spluttering at face-spank, but bravely enduring, jabbing back stiff and heavy to Rachel's mouth. Anne flat-footed - right hand out to the side/palm down as she jams rigid poke up the middle. Nichols doubling up poke, then pivot-stepping left - turning brunette midring and gnawing at her. Tough to score - Anne very sturdy, moving Rachel with the odd stiff poke. Nichols unable to shift Anne, but clearly touching her more, scuffing Hathaway up nicely in trade.

R2: Anne stiff-legged as she slow-pivots left, throwing her hook in counter to Rachel's jabbing. Nichols legging out, eyes narrowed - she's calming down, being more selective. Rachel: hands up, palms out - jab from the shoulder very brisk, doubling up on Annie's face. Hathaway's hooks heavy when they land - moving Rachel even when spanking off blonde shoulder.

R3,4: Rachel starting to separate herself. Brisk double -jabbing from the Muay Thai hand position; quick-pivot left while executing the jab is keeping Nichols safe from reprisal. Anne shifting her feet, turning, following, but a full beat too slow: she's not in position to harm Nichols. Rache with a steering, palm down hook off the jab - scraping at Anne's cheek, biting at her jaw - good crisp contact from blonde as Rachel keeps dukes up, feet moving in painting a couple of shutout rounds.

R5: Anne more forceful up the middle, jabbing at Rachel's chest to fix position then looking to carry heavy right hands into Nichols' stomach. Rachel grunting on contact, but not shying away: she's standing in with Anne, digging back with chugging, busy lefts and rights underneath. Hathaway started it - but she's the one covers up and backing out: Rachel gritting her teeth, slugging her hardest at Anne's pale ribs and sturdy tummy. Not a lot back from Anne - she's strong on her feet, panting and wincing as she absorbs furious body punching from Nichols - but no sign of brunette collapse by the bell. Rachel nostrils flaring, colour high as she marches back to her corner: she's riled up and has a slight touch of slugger's fever through 5.

R6: Rache mixing it up nice on Anne. Outside - Nichols with the hands up/palms out look, chipping in the double jab and pivoting swiftly left around the poke. Inside, Nichols spirited - willing to stand in mouth on shoulder with Anne and chug: blonde rotating her shoulders digging resolute lefts and rights at firm brunette tummy. Anne grunting, frowning - she's palming at Rachel - pushing at her, then slugging her hooks to the body. Good beefy contact, but Anne finding herself outworked as Nichols refuses to be intimidated.

R7: Anne busting up some: she's taking too many chopping jabs from Rachel. Nichols stepping in as she pleases, cleaning up savagely on gut and rib. It's the hardest we've seen Rachel consistently hit a woman: blonde head lowered, teeth bared, arms thrashing back and forth as fists beat at stubborn torso meat. Hathaway's legs sturdy, holding ground - but volley-fire from Rachel has Anne confused and overwhelmed. Long stretches of Anne just standing in front of Rachel, dukes at temples, giving up tummy and ribs to blonde's chugging work. Nichols smart - never overstaying her welcome: she'll hang in there to pound at Anne, then jab face to step away and regroup outside.

R8,9,10: Rachel Nichols salts it away. Nothing fancy - Nichols just being first, staying busy, showing great fitness as she takes it to Anne Hathaway inside and out. Hathaway sullen - covering up earmuff, or crossing wrists at her chest - she's constantly pushing forward, but rarely getting off as Rachel maintains initiative. Nichols working insanely hard - jabbing Anne to ribbons, outhusting her inside - the stepping away to circle and look things over. At the bell to end the 8th - Rachel raises her eyebrows and gesture with her head, telling Anne: "Nose is bleeding." Nichols smiling smug to her corner that round, well pleased with herself. No-nonsense boxing goes to the cards - comes back UD10 wide n' classy, Rachel Nichols.

After: Nichols grinning, ramming Anne's words down her throat with a very professional, hard hitting display tonight. Rachel's found a way to snap that jab - she used to push it and be a little girly with her punches: clear development of snappier offensive form as Nichols records one of her best wins. "I'm satisfied," Nichols says in postfight - positively glowing. "I beat Anne Hathaway seven ways from Sunday in this fight. She was tired, but I just kept giving it to her - so I'm proud of that."