UNIFIED LIGHTWEIGHT TITLE

Posted by Simguy on 10/6/01, 10:46 am.

Before: Popular opinion holds that Diaz had been put out to pasture by Charlize Theron in failed bids to unseat the blonde strongwoman, but Cameron supporters insist she still has pound for pound stuff in her legs that has just been waiting for the right opponent. "My style will give Shannon fits," Diaz confidently reveals, "She hasn't seen the movement, the quick hands at lightweight that I possess. I'm the right woman at the right time." Meanwhile, Shannon seems barely aware of her opponent's pedigree. Every press conference, every open training session becomes just another proclamation of greatness as Elizabeth's ego continues to rampage out of control. Could boil down to Cameron's ability to take a shot, "She's not as elusive as she once was," Charlize observes of Diaz in a Maxim interview, "She's going to have to suck it up when Elizabeth catches her and we'll definitely see what Cameron's made of." Cameron in gold spangly bikini from Charlie's Angels, Shannon in leopard print push up and panties.

R1: Cameron with hands down, bouncing gently, changing directions, looks like the dancing master of old as Shannon tracks her down early. Midway through however, young brunette surprises older blonde lioness, cutting off the ring, sweeping wide lefts and rights to the ribcage and forcing Diaz to the ropes. Cameron rope-a-doping with hands up, loose, pulling down on Shannon's head, pushing at her shoulders, leaning back into the ropes etc. But Elizabeth's doing all the punching and it's explosive stuff - big banging shots to either side, wide swinging rights on the jaw around Cameron's gloves - by the final minute it's more than apparent Diaz is hurt. Clubbing, slinging two fisted assault mauls Cameron relentlessly and finally, blonde takes a tactical knee, face clearly showing the shock of Elizabeth's whip armed attack.

R2: Diaz shrugs it off and puts on her lanky boxing clinic this round. bouncing left and right, hands down at her stomach, leaning away from Elizabeth's brawling right hands, and keeping that flicking, backhand jab in Shannon's face all round long. Cam cuffing Shannon's jawline with the heel of her left hand, then pushing on Shannon's face to step to the right - Champ visibly frustrated as she can't get leather on meat this round while Diaz has her breezy way.

R3: Brilliant footwork from Cameron in the first minute, totally bewildering Elizabeth who storms in, loads up and throws at air as the blonde bends away with a maddening bounce in her step. Once legs have established command of the ring, Diaz starts to reach into Shannon's face, feinting, leaning in with lead rights from the stomach, bounding away after scorching the brunette's mouth. Beautiful sequence midway through: Diaz bounces in, fades out, counters with a slick right hand over a reaching Elizabeth left and puts the champ wobbly butt with the exquisite timing of the exchange.

R4: Cameron back out bouncing, making Elizabeth flinch with feints, and continuing to foul with the heel of her left hand with swatting, cuffing hooks as Elizabeth blunders forward. Midway through however, Cameron comes down off her toes, trading conventionally with Shannon midring and the brunette is able to land convincingly to the shoulders and torso of the blonde. Down the stretch, Cameron's faded to the ropes to once again play cat and mouse - Elizabeth scoring heavily to the waist, using her elbow and forearms to push the blonde back for more at the bell.

R5: Diaz leaning in and out, lashing her punches - Elizabeth swaying side to side and slinging lefts and rights - wild back and forth lanky flurry ends with a shivering Shannon hook on the teeth that PUTS CAMERON DOWN! Diaz to her butt, drowsy disappointment on her face as her legs feel the sudden power in Shannon's fully extended punching. Cameron up but clearly not the same woman - she fades to the ropes once again and Elizabeth administers a chilling beat down - Cam covered up, leaning sideways into the ropes, going numb as Shannon slams away with both fists. Cameron reeling at the bell, staggers to her corner in terrible shape as Elizabeth looks on in delight.

R6: Cameron on her heels, hands still down, relying on anticipation and reflexes that she no longer has. Elizabeth missing her first few wide swings, but she's coming on like a freight train and soon starts to clout chin as Diaz totters backwards. Cameron cloudy eyed up against the ropes - Shannon wading in and whipping it up, slinging punches from side to side, bending left and right as she pulls fists into the hurting blonde challenger. Diaz breaks down, head starts to roll disasterously on her neck as her legs give way and she sinks to a seat on the ropes. Shannon feels it, starts to pour it on and gives the ref enough: fight is stopped - Cameron Diaz lolling insensate on the ropes has no idea she's a TKO6 loser.

After: Triumphant walk of shame as Shannon lives up to her word, Diaz shaky, miserable on display - another legendary lightweight name falling to the seemingly irresistable might of the brunette hammer. Krakowski up next as Shannon brazenly seeks out all comers in a ruthless quest to grind all resistance out of the division. Doubters remain, but they're getting quieter as Elizabeth's boasts start to take on all the substance of a monstrous ice sculpture.

Thanks to Apollo for this repost.

Archer 10/20/09