Originally posted by Simguy on 1/5/2007, 7:06 am

Before: Important positional battle—both beauties hungry to stake tall brunette turf at lightweight. “I think Cobie’s a great young talent,” admits Holmes in prefight, “but I also think that. For whatever reason, she’s gotten too much credit, too soon—she’s a little ahead of herself right now. I’d be lying if I said I didn’t want to take her down a peg or two. The girl is crowding me a little bit—gotta separate myself—make her understand just how much work she’s still got ahead of her.”

Smulders pursing her lips, clearly ill-amused at Katie’s high hand. “Katie’s done a lot with what she has,” Cobie offers with a smirk, “but I look at her up top and don’t see a full-fledged lightweight. She’s tall—and skilled—but pound for pound I think I’m just too much for her. I’ve seen what women have done to Katie downstairs and I just don’t think she can keep me off her: I[‘ll snatch at Holmes’ ribcage until she cries ‘uncle’ in this fight.”

Battle lines are drawn—Cobie in Canadian Maple Leaf motif sport top, thin straps—solid red sport-cut bikini bottoms—two-toned red/white boxing boots with tassels (mid calf)’ red glove with white knuckle bar. Katie with long hair drawn back, very dark tan; cobalt blue bikini with bra style top and white-belted bottoms; white boxing boots with tassels (mid calf); white gloves.

During R1: Sleek, Katie creep-steppin’—right up at her cheek, left tracing menacing little ovals in the air around chest height: she’ll flick the jab out from a semi-extended arm- position, or cuff hooks—pushing off ball of right foot. Katie’s lean, tanned right leg coiled as she keeps weight on it—dragging left foot ion a bucket, threatening Cobie with subtle little feints. Smulders encroaching, stepping out, never taking her eyes off Katie’s—Cobie’s hands up, geeks out as she spits jabs, looking for chopping right hands. Katie works the jab in against Cobie’s pale midriff—doubling it at face to ward Smulders off. Smulders stepping in with a swatting hook, chopping down with her right onto Katie’s chest—she’s hoping to back Holmes up and catch her a hook as Katie’s backpedalling. Classy cut-and-thrust—both girls managing distance well—Holmes sinewy ring generalship seems to have Cobie just a tough off balance in the first.

R2: Similar patient pace—Cobie wary, inching forward, prodding her jab at Katie, looking to place more right hands in the chest and onto flank. Holmes dragging her front (left0 foot, easing to her right with the same loose-limbed, sinuous look—Holmes very relaxed as she flicks her jab, swats her hook, glides back out of range to coax Smulders in. Cobie pursuing, eagerly stepping into the spaces Katie vacates—Holmes starting to time hook leans` in and strokes Smulders a pretty right cross onna chops: Smulders shook, but answering immediately—SHE pours in a right and misses as Holmes fades back onto her right leg. RIGHT UPPERCUT, KATIE! Holmes finally catching Smulders that sneaky counter-right uppie—Cobie sputtering hurt on the spot, trying to reorganize as Holmes takes a little pivot-right. Flicking jabs at Cobie’s face—Katie gets Smulders leaning backward, blinking: Cobie never sees the slinging right hand with 100% Katie bending in behind it. HEAD SWIVEL, COBIE and SMULDERS IS DOWN! Hardest punch—by far—that Katie Holmes has ever landed in professional competition. She treats herself to a strutting stride-by, glancing down with smoldering satisfaction as poor Cobie lies on her back helpless and twitching. Good Lord, KO2 Katie Holmes as Cobie can’t shake off the grand whack.

After: Holmes finally cracking a smile as she mobbed by team-mates and associates—everyone just thrilled at what looks like a breakthrough win for the willowy brunette. “I was setting conie up for that right hand from the weigh-in,” Katie quips in postfight. “She said she wanted my body,  but she was easy to feint and sidestep—I just baited her and waited until I had just the perfect angle on her chin.”

Katie, Katie, would you say you exposed Cobie Smulders in this fight? “Yes, you know—I would. Again, not that she’s not a top-shelf prospect—she definitely is—but I’ve said all along that Cobie hasn’t paid the price to be on my level yet. She did some paying tonight—I’ll give her that—but now she knows what I’m talking about.”

Reposted by Archer 7/24/09.