FCBA NON-TITLE LIGHTWEIGHT TOURNAMENT

ROUND I: SWEET SIXTEEN

Originally posted by Simguy on 5/23/2003, 7:11 am.

Befrore: maybe the classiest match up of the first round—2 technical boxers, one likes to lead, one likes to counter—Hurley lost a similar confrontation with Diaz not 6 weeks previous. “It could happen again,” notes one commentator. “Liz wants desperately to beat a big name American, but Jennifer’s arguably harder, stronger and faster than Cameron—it’s going to be an uphill climb for Hurley.”

Hurley admitting Diaz is on her mind for this fight. “I’m not saying that loss to Cameron haunts me—I’m definitely over it—but I learned a great deal in that fight. Jennifer’s not equipped to fight a boxer like me. I’ll be through in a shout.”

Liz in yellow sport bikini, white bordering, Jennifer in baby blue bra style sport bikini.

During R1: Jen very sharp, and she’s studied tape of Diaz/Hurley too, evidently. Garner dating jabs to set up a shooting straight right hand up the middle—the very punch Diaz used to demoralizing effect against Liz. Hurley looking to bend left, lick right hooks against Garner’s ribs, weave under the American’s punches. Even tactical round till late—Jenny finally gets a firm poke onto Liz’ chin, sending Hurley clattering back on her heels. Jen hops forward, jabbing to the mouth—she stoops and drops a straight right hand loud off the body to yank the first away from Hurley late.

R2: Shutout Jennifer Garner, though Hurley puts on a slipping clinic along the ropes. Southpaw Liz laying easy on the strands showing Jen that lead right shoulder, rolling punches parrying the jab, bending at the waist—Garner’s landing nothing flush. Garner’s VERY busy however—just standing off that right shoulder, chop-chopping down with both hands, just putting pesky leather all over the Brit. Nothing back from Hurley—hard to win a round that way.

R3: Hurley more constructive off the ropes—obvious to shrewd fans that the second round was in effect “training” Jen to fight a certain way. Liz sliding along the ropes, rolling punches, but now she’s coming back with sharp, slinging clouts head and body on Garner. Jen ships shots, gets tentative—she’s right there in front of Liz, slightly bewildered as she gets a cuffing—Garner second guessing herselfm not letting her hands go as required.

R4: Hurley pulling heavy, slinging shit into Jen’s body as Brit leans and sways side to side. Slick punishment adding up—Garner’s flat footed, often stepping out to breath deep, regroup—Hurley bright eyed, weaving her web. Brit clearly looking to wick the strength out of Garner’s legs through 4.

R5: More sneaky Hurley making Jen miss up top, making her pay with heavy, stroking blows about the hips and ribs, Hurley bending to one side and swinging the punch into Jennifer’s hard torso—Brit’s head always out of the way, safe from American retribution. Hurley adept at clinching whenever Jennifer negotiates her into a corner—Liz bodying up, walking her girl back for breaks, fighting very confidently through 5.

R6: Garner giving her head a shake—ups the punch output, good things result. Jen missing a lot of punches, but she’s chopping her strokes, touching Hurley in the shoulders and chest, occasionally finding a temple or cheek with glancing blows. Hurley dipping side to side at the ropes, coming back at Jennifer’s body, but Garner’s the effective aggressor, outworking her girl this round.

R7: Hurley fading to the ropes, elbows in, chin tucked—she’s covering up Michael Nunn style, letting Garner square up and get off. Liz leaning, slipping punches, suddenly twists to the right, plowing a slick left counter onto Jen’s unsuspecting mouth. Garner steps in a pot hole, straightens, then HOPS TO ONE KNEE! Jennifer cursing in disappointment, up immediately, but ref wipes her gloves and gives her 8. Jenny anxious to erase the 10-8—storming in to Liz, loading up shots. Liz Hurley slick against the ropes, turning her shoulders to blunt Jen’s aggression, twisting to tag Jen over and over with insolent strokes belly, breasts and chin. Garner huffing and puffing—can’t even FIND the door much less blow it down—Hurley taking advantage of her girl’s over-eager slugging. In the corner—Jennifer getting the “Yer blowin’ it kid” speech: “stay disciplined kid—don’t spray your shots, get after this girl’s body. I ain’t gonna kid you—you need a KO Jenny.”

R8: Good comeback round for Garner—she’s jabbing stiff to the ribs and shoulder of her opponent, keeping Liz covered up, then placing the right hand. Hurley left hand at her mouth, chin tucked behind the right shoulder, right hand low, she’s bobbing and slouching, taking sting off Garner’s shots, but once again lets American work for the points.

R9: Garner using the jab smart, stepping to the right to get a little angle—she’s landing stout hooks to the jugs and tummy, jamming a stubby little right hand up the middle as Liz takes clean clouts this round. Hurley forced to slug off the ropes—some spirited two way this round as the girls abandon cat-and-mouse to let their hands go. Another Jenny G round—it’s close.

R10: First minute—Hurley lures Jen to the ropes, slips and weaves, gets Garner missing. Second minute—Hurley starts to counter off the defence, really stroking Jenny’s midsection and flanks—end of the minute, Garner stops punching, gutshot and hurt. Final minute: Hurley unleashes. Liz with the right hand at her side, cuff Garner upside the head a series of swatting left hands—Jenny tilting onto her left foot, beaten in a semi circle to end up on the ropes, Hurley bodying up, then bending right to pull in that withering left—she’s catching Jen’s jaw flush, swiveling pretty brunette head and GARNER’S HURT! Liz staying on her, putting supple power strokes repeatedly on the chin—Jenny at sea—staring, hands useless at her chest as the punishment piles up, Bell sounds—Garner swaying, battered on the spot—Hurley chest heaving, straightens to make eye contact chest to chest, Comes back 1 point duke: Liz Hurley.

After: Pre tournament favourite Garner joins Theron on the sidelines courtesy a classic bamboozling effort from Liz Hurley, All even in rounds—knockdown the difference—Garner, jaw clenched, body rigid with regret as her gloves at removed.

Hurley talkative, upbeat in postfight. “I got Jen’s body very well, cleaned her downstairs—she didn’t have much jump in the second half. She played into my hands all night long—I think she underestimated me, Badly.”

Reposted bt Archer 5/3/09.