Posted by Simguy on 1/24/2002, 6:56 am.

Before: This is a fight that shows Beyonce is serious about becoming a fighter. “You don’t sell any more records by fighting Krakowski,” notes one HBO blowhard, “Beyonce’s maybe going to make half of what she did against Shakira. But you don’t get any better fighting Shakira—Jane Krakowski will take Beyonce places she hasn’t been in the ring and that’s what the kid needs most at this point.” Beyonce in yellow bikini, conservative cut, Jane in orange sports bra, red bikini bottoms.

During R1: Krakowski enrolls Beyonce in “Counter Punching 101”, slipping and rolling with Knowles’ ponderous strokes, depositing sickening lefts and rights into the singer’s cuddly belly—Knowles gut shot and suffering early. Beyonce unraveling badly after the first minute, stops pressing—Jane takes over the lead with a pounding jab to the left eye, stepping right and bouncing it off Beyonce’s skull with methodical precision. East, breezy shutout Krakowski sends Beyonce to her corner in rags.

R2: Krakowski fades to the ropes, sets up shop by rolling, blocking, slipping punches, getting the big kid breathing hard, then answering back with decisive single shot counters to the breadbasket. Knowles giving ground as Jane makes her miss, makes her pay, and down the stretch it’s all Krakowski. Jane putting punches together as Beyonce falters back on her heels—Krakowski swatting at the ear to dig into that belly has Knowles wobbly butt at the break.

R3: Jane continues to outclass, outhustle, and outpunch the bigger, younger girl. Beyonce tentative this round—she’s been hurt and hurt often by Krakowski’s vicious counters,  but when Knowles hangs back, doesn’t come forward—she’s completely ineffective, Mission accomplished by Krakowski as she works off her jab, hammers Beyonce up and down with splashy combinations and finally switches focus from the beat-up midsection to wide open jaw. Banging hooks, often doubled or tripled up pay off late as Knowles swoons to all fours with a shellshocked expression. Jane struts away at the bell as a demoralized youngster takes her 8.

R4: Jane getting shoulder to shoulder, looking to hook with Beyonce—Knowles lands some thudding strokes to the blonde’s flanks that have Krakowski wincing. Jane takes it outside to poke out the points with her jaw—Beyonce still crazy strong if you stand right in front of her.

R5: Veteran slowing down visibly—Knowles beaten black and blue, but coming forward, she starts to have good long moments against Jane as Krakowski goes defensive, but doesn’t move her hands this round. Knowles able to body up, manipulate Jane with her hands on the blonde’s hips or under Krakowski’s arms—Janey can’t hold her ground as Beyonce walks her back and starts to jam away with ugly right hands to the body.

R6: All Beyonce Knowles, Jane covering up, slick as she rolls her shoulder, dips at the waist to slip punches, but when Knowles gets her hands and chest on Krakowski, it’s a different ball game. Corralling Krakowski, holding her with the left around the ribcage, cudgeling her with wedging right hands to the midsection—Knowles imposes her strength effectively this round, walking Jane to the ropes and bludgeoning her for points.

Krakowski shaken, flushed after the lengthy beating—Beyonce’s eating into that early lead.

R7: Beyonce taking it to Jane, bodying up, walking the blonde back, working her over at the ropes, Krakowski able to defend herself fairly well—Knowles can jam away to the tummy, but most shots are glancing, muffled by Jane inside—but nothing’s coming back from the veteran, Jane’s surviving, not much else through 7 workmanlike rounds.

R8: Krakowski’s been saving herself for the stretch run and starts to kick it in this round. Doubling up on the jab, stepping around Beyonce’s shoulders—Jane’s making sure she scores some points outside before Knowles can crowd her, then it’s a swampy clinch for a referee’s break. Jane’s a believer inside—she wants no part of the kid cheek to cheek—Knowles struggling to get her body back onto her opponent this round.

R9: Krakowski has one-way Beyonce walking onto the jab this round—blonde laying it out there, then sidestepping beautifully to matador Knowles all around the ring. Jane able to slide her left hand into Knowles’ sweet gut as she steps around Beyonce’s left shoulder—drowsy look of pain on Knowles’ face as she takes these calling-card punches, stiffly turns and tries to close ground. Shutout Jane K.

R10: Jane polishes up her trophy—fine boxing 20^th to minimize Knowles’ opportunities, run the clock and preserve the win. Beyonce coming forward, unable to land with any authority as Jane rolls, slips lands a potshotting counter, then clinches for the break. Knowles used, abused, and sullen at the bell—comes back UD10 Jane Krakowski.

After: Jane coming away impressed by the raw, but determined Knowles: “She’s unbelievably strong downstairs,” says Jane, “if she gets under you, you’re not going to hold your ground—she can walk any lightweight back if she can get position inside. I saw she was slow and defensive pretty basic early so I busted up on her, but she just wouldn’t go down! I had to shut it down, let her spend some money so I could take it away from her down the stretch. You know, she reminds me of jewel a little bit, when Kilcher was getting started. I think the names in this division better lump up on this kid before she learned how to fight!”

Reposted by Archer on 9/11/09