PARAMOUNT BANTAMWEIGHT TITLE

Posted by simguy on 12/28/2001, 7:24 am

Before: Interesting test for women who's biggest battle has been against public perception. Denise has won that battle by focusing on fundamentals, staying inside herself and beating girls with heart and determination. No longer the little ingenue that could, Richards is a legitimate champion. Spears has yet to match the prodigious potential of her body with consistent, disciplined ring smarts. Pundits actually like Spears' chances against an ultra-orthodox fighter like denise, but few install Britney as any kind of favourite - it's a 'show me' fight for Spears. Denise in teal bikini, Britney in pink bikini with silver patterning.

During R1: Denise imposes her size and strength, maximizing her advantages in those areas. The stiff Richards jab sets the tempo, but then Denise jumps in with headlocks, armlocks, roughing Britney up, spinning her off balance in rough clinches - referee warns the champ for attempting to pop Spears elbow, but Richards is unrepentant. Brunette runs blonde out of the ring this round - Spears being bullied, intimidated early.

R2: Britney gets a lecture - responds. Much more leggy, ranging around the ring, staying well outside the Richards jab. End of the first minute, Spears jumps in and down, spanking her right hand off Denise's body and RICHARDS GOES DOWN! Denise rolling to her back - circus punch from Britney not in any of the tapes - improv catches Denise by surprise. Richards up in good shape, but gunshy - she's uncertain about how to proceed as Spears continues to roam outside, mounting slash and turn attacks on the more stationary brunette. Potshotting shutout Britney, and important psychological round for the blonde.

R3,4: Very close rounds, both girls lathering up as they spend long moments toe to toe, trading - but it's Spears with the initiative. They'll take turns with 2 and 3 punch combos, then Britney will step out, walk around her girl, reset the action to her liking. Girls with wheels tend to under utilize the jab, but Britney's remembering her stick, using it to help her get in and out on Denise, steering the brunette midring as Richards remains covered up in a tight guard, waiting for Britney to come back into range rather than creating the opportunities. Spears takes both rounds by narrow margins, but the overall picture on the cards is blonde.

R5: Denise carves out one of these tight rounds. She's jabbing with Britney this round, not waiting her

turn, backing the blonde up. Britney forced to be defensive more often this round, doing a nice supple job with her upperbody as she bends low, bobs side to side. Richards the clear aggressor, lands the louder leather, appears to have things back under control as she keeps the fight largely in Britney's corner.

R6: ANOTHER very close, busy round - crowd pleasing stuff as both girls look to punk the other without success. Brisk trade, leather bashing crisp off shoulders and guard, occasionally connecting with skull or midriff - good professional stuff, but Britney with a couple of important edges. First, she's got enough distance that Richards can't impose her body - Denise is close, but not smothering like she wants to be. Second, Britney's not standing in one place the entire time - Richards can get off, but can't sustain heat as Britney pivots around her, fights off either of the brunette's shoulders. Still, at the bell, both girls are smiling, shiny and upbeat - both think they're breaking the other down through 6.

R7: Britney shatters the detente with a blistering overhand right, diving in to spank face and leaping out as Richards wobbles pathetically on the spot. HUGE potshot leaves brunette helpless, Britney immediately sees the hurt and goes to work. Spears allowing Denise to stumble forward, picks the brunette up with loving touches to the ribs and face - slicing lefts and rights as the blonde steps back in good order. Richards dazed, numb, falls in to clinch, but Britney won't have it, sidestepping and keeping the pressure on with accurate combinations. Shutout Spears - champion busted up, broken down for the first time in the fight as Britney flashes that sacharinne grin.

R8: Denise digs down - she's hurt, but she's made a career of responding to adversity. Spears grits her teeth and clamps down, but she's clamping down smart - outclassing Denise from the waist down, turning the brunette, jabbing the brunette, putting punches together then stepping to the side. Another very close, hard fought round but Britney once again simply out-executes the brunette - Spears showing tremendous concentration and consistency in this title bout.

R9: MORE competitive action - both girls are shiny and lumping up nice around the eyes despite good defensive action from both - the consistent work rates are wearing down both combatants. Denise ramming her jab up the middle has Britney faltering somewhat - Richards able to walk Britney straight down for a change, put punches together - Spears spending more time covered up and bending forward than she is looking for chances to get off. Nice hooks to the waisline aren't doing Britney any good either - she finishes up the round wincing, stretching her torso in pain.

R10: Denise out with the stiffest jab of the fight, really stepping it into Britney's defense and hounding the blonde to the ropes. Richards walking in with a stuffing right to the breadbasket, then holding and hitting - it's the brawling, roughouse brunette who was so effective in the first round. Spears getting banged up, can't get her bubble-butt off the ropes as Richards holds left, cranks right, holds right, cranks left with thudding determination. Britney's belly spanked, breasts pancaked as Richards works her over. SPEARS TAKES A KNEE! Badly bludgeoned by the midway point, Brit does the veteran thing and goes down to relieve the pressure - Denise anxious to resume jumps right back in after 8. All Richards to the bell, Britney just doubling forward to give up her back, or reaching in to clinch under Denise's arms - brunette squirming to free herself to heap that extra punch onto her foe. Bell sounds - Britney's survived and the decision comes back: UD10 for the winner and NEW bantam champ, Britney Spears!

After: Shock and disappointment on Denise Richards face - in her mind, she won all the close rounds and really dominated, "She caught me with one lucky shot," Denise whines in post fight, "One punch and they give it all to her. Let me ask you this: who was fading and going out in the 10th? Not me, that's for damn sure." Spears grinning, thanking God and her upbringing for giving her the strength to 'batter' Denise, but this was a close fight won basically by superior positioning - both girls throwing about the same, but Britney landing a higher percentage and importantly, rolling Richards to her back in the second to make it convincing.

Thanks to Apollo for this repost.

Archer 10/21/09.