31 DECEMBER 2007 REIKO AYLESWORTH VS HILARIE BURTON

(BOXING AFTER DARK)

Originally posted by Simguy on 12/31/2007, 9:08 am

BEFORE: “I’m excited to be fighting bantam,” says a glowing Hilarie in prefight. “I’ve wanted this for some time, and I’m anxious to start mowing girls down. Jennifer Connelly’s definitely where I’m headed, but I want to test the water first. Reiko’s done a lot of Connelly-mimickry for Jen Aniston and others, so I’m expecting good rounds out of her.” Aylesworth a bit of a mystery woman—former lightweight during her “24” stint, she slimmed down to a hard 118 for her Oscar-calibre turn on Alien vs Predator 2 and hasn’t looked back. “I’m thrilled to be showcasing with Hilarie and I think I’ve got a great chance to turn her back,” says the erudite, thinking man’s brunette. “I’ve been getting Jennifer Aniston in shape for Connelly, so I’m in fighting shape—I’m definitely going to give Burton all she wants.”

Burton in black lace push up; leopard print, boy cut bottoms; small black gloves; soft blonde curls. Reiko in maroon cotton jockey two piece undies—small black gloves; black curls done up.

During R1,2: Girls touch glove midring, then settle into conventional, textbook stances. Well-schooled beauties—right hands cheek high, left hands chin high, poised to jab—elbows in. Feet shoulder length apart, but both stepping into the jab, then sliding the lead (left) foor to pivot or retreat—very classy, relaxed. First round patient, tactical boxing—Reiko gradually outboxing Hilarie and maneuvering her to the ring perimeters. Second round, Burton tentative—Reiko really outshining her, digging hooks to the body off one-twos up top.

R3: Hilarie gets on track, stepping and jabbing stiff with Reiko for two minutes, then taking over from the brunette right with some stirring right crosses. Aylesworth backing away, eyes narrowed—just getting a sense of how much pop Hilarie brought up from 110.

R4: Hilarie forward behind that heavy jab off the shoulder, leaning into elastic rights—footwork economical, sliding as she maintains balance. Aylesworth blocking shots, moving her head well, but output dropping: Hilarie starting to impose her will, taking canvas away from the brunette in the fourth.

R5: Burton’s jab all dialed in now, pounding back Reiko’s pretty face with authority. Where jab leads, right hands follow: Burton connecting to chin with satisfying small-glove crack at the minute mark. Reiko grimacing, retreating in good order: she’s purely defensive now, just trying to buy time with her legs. Hilarie walking her girl down, but not rushing—everything flows off the jab. Burton collecting workmanlike hooks to Reiko’s flat tummy touching the body for the first time: it’s helping to set up the lanky right cross. Down the stretch, Aylesworth punched hard in her tummy, lowers her guard just a smidge, eats the Burton right hand flush to teeth. DOWN GOES REIKO! Aylesworth punched to the seat of her trunks at the ropes—blinking and stunned—bell sounds to save pretty brunette from a sudden dismissal.

R6: Reiko tucking her chin, covering up—she’s slipping Burton’s right hands well, blocking a lot of shots on her gloves and arms. Hilarie still the busier—controlling and steering Reiko with the jab, hooking the body well off the front (left) leg. Hilarie indulging in a little small-glove top-tugging—grabbing Reiko’s strap and using it to pull her forward/spin her around: ref barks warnings.

R7: Reiko not having it from Hilarie: brunette rallies, catches second wind, takes initiative. Burton facing into jabs, getting spanked—Aylesworth advancing, hooking tummy off her jabs up top. Reiko placing choosy right hands in between Burton’s mitts: blonde head kicking back violently as Aylesowrth threads the needle.

R8: Aylesworth rally continues: Burton backing up in good order, hands up, eyes narrowed in concern. Aylesworth very disciplined and textbook in approach—one-twos sharp up top, followed by clean-up hooks in Hilarie’s flat waist. Reiko tugging Hilarie’s trunks by the waistband-front, pulling- and –spinning her blonde—Burton getting a little ragdolled as brunette roughens the play. Down the stretch, spanking one-two splits Burton’s mitts, scoring to her face: she’s already hurt when a biting hook clean up her jaw, buckling her knees at bell.

R9: Burton rallies, wonderful two way action round results. Both girls with that dukes-up. Tidy space—pinging out jabs, dropping right hands, cleaning up hooks—all on calm, sliding feet.  In and out movement, nice little head-bobs, then each getting off in slick combinations—very professional. Hilarie a little rangier in her delivery—elasticity to her work: Reiko crisper, more compact, but not as heavy handed.

R10: Hilarie wants it, goes out and gets it: she shuts Reiko out in a hard-boxing tenth. Aylesworth grimacing discouraged as Burton’s jab scores repeatedly to cheeks and brows: Hilarie tough to beat when she’s getting that much punch. Burton doing it with the left hand, but leaning in the od right cross to spook Reiko: firm clean up hooks to stomach proving discouraging to brunette as well. Goes to bell—workmanlike UD10 Hilarie Burton.

After: Good sportsmanship as girls hug, chat a bit in postfight—classy bout comes to classy end. “Now I know what they mean about bantam being the deepest division in boxing,” says a wide-eyed Hilarie. “As far as I know, Reiko’s never had an FCBA fight and she gave me all I could handle tonight. Good hard rounds are what I need if I’m going to uproot Jen Connelly, so this was definitely a wonderful building block fight for me!”