Originally posted by Simguy on 10/26/02 , 7:57 am.

Before: Daniel ON Britney every moment of the promotion, crowding her during weigh-in, posing in front of her at conferences, needling and taunting at every turn. Leads to an ugly shoving incident with Spears finally rubbed raw, “she’s like a sore tooth!” Britney complains—Daniel grinning, mission accomplished. Ploy is obvious, get Britney into an angry shooutout rather than a tactical boxing match—but others have tried and paid the price.

“If I had to do it all over again,” says Jessica Biel, “I’d probably suck up to Britney, butter her up, then ambush her. She’s better when she’s angry—Daniel can’t take her for granted.”

Daniel in tan snake skin print bikini, short tousle, Spears in black velvet sports bra, boy cut trunks.

During R1: Bell to bell Spears, flashy, fast and dominant. Spears roaming around either Daniel shoulder—Britney hands down when she’s outside talking a walk, she gets more compact when she scoots in. Britney making a series of slashing runs at Daniel, flurrying in, gets out. Daniel squaring up, dukes at her cheeks, elbows in—she’s adjusting to the speed, not getting hurt as Spears paints away for points. Brits bumping chests and jawing at the bell as ref intercedes.

R2: Britney continues the run and gun, ranging around the ring, bringing it loose and supple to Daniel. Second minute, Daniel turns the tide—a single bashing hook catches Britney on her way out, right between the eyes—Delayed reaction as Brit walks to her tight, suddenly stumbles, eyes welling up hurt. Daniel takes over, attacking off Spears’ left shoulder, hooking jug with tight snapping strokes—Spears banged to the ropes and trying to cover up. Daniel beats her big-girl: knuckling up on Britney’s shoulders, swabbing away at either ear, trying to split the mitts with uppercuts, then dropping back down with hooks in the belly. Masterful clubbing to the bell—Spears badly shaken—Daniel with that saucy smirk as she sashays back to her corner.

R3: Spears still swooning—Daniel crowd her, makes it about attention inside. Girls temple to temple, scrounging and digging at one another’s ribcages and bellies, shouldering and elbowing for room in tight. Daniel loving it in there—she’s rubbing her sweaty, short-cropped mane against Britney’s bruised face, she’s getting sharp spank off Britney’s midriff and she’s pancaking away with furious clips against Spears’ bra. Singer giving ground, grinding away with Daniel, but getting chewed up—Britney’s backl to the ropes for the entire final minute. Daniel pouring it on, methodically beating her girl down. Brittany taunting after bell, refusing to make room—Spears with an exhausted, frustrated shove gets the warning from the ref as Daniel turns away all happy with herself.

R4: Spears keeping her distance, looking Daniel over, walking in circles, well outside with her hands down as Daniel patiently cuts the ring off, hands up at her face. End og the first minute, Spars suddenly reverses field, jumps in a hook around Daniel’s guard, bends low under Daniel’s straight right, comes back with another clouting hook to swivel Brittany’s head, Spears bending low, making Daniel miss over top, then coming up with power—booming right hand clocks the mouthpiece off Daniel’s teeth, deep duck, crashing left out of the crouch has Daniel backpedalling. Spears hounding her girl to then ropes, putting punches together in a dazzling display of pocket boxing. Daniel getting routed, pushing back punches, but misses—Spears just has her timed. Britney nailing Brittany, singer just can’t miss actress’ face as Daniel gets shredded, her own punches flailing weak. Corner screaming at Daniel to clinch over cover up, but she keeps punching—Spears keeps ducking and countering at a brisk clip. Girls trade hooks, Soars wins the race to the chin and DOWN GOES BRITTANY! Brittany crumbling straight down, actually sits on the bottom rope so BRITNEY KEEPS HAMMERING HER! Daniel helpless, propped up, taking lows off her face as she palms Spears’ straining thighs—ref jumps in, and it’s OVER—TKO4 Britney Spears.

After: Spears bounding away in triumph, giddy with victory—Daniel helped to her stool wide-eyed, disbelieving. Against her corner’s instructions, Spears brazenly struts to Daniel’s corner and pulls the stricken blonde to her feet by her under-arms—blonde on blonde walk of shame results. Spears dazzling with her smile, glistening gold curls and regal wave. Daniel shabby as she wipes away tears, frets at Spears’ hand around her waist. Daniel’s plan backfires: an angry, focused Britney Spears just had that killer instinct, pouncing when she got her girl hurt and unforgiving in the aftermath. Huge win for Britney sees her go Dushku, Daniel—who’s had better back to back wins recently?