Posted by Simguy on 10/7/01, 8:36 am.

Before: (Moscow) Highly anticipated, all Russian affair - fight held at an undisclosed posh Moscow mansion - Russian government, sports figures, and mobsters in attendance. Bout harkens back to the golden age of celebrity fighting when only the rich and famous had access - no ring, apartment style fight which some think will favour Anna, who is well used to this environment. Dementieva a rigidly built 6 footer, strong, but tends to fight small, boxing her opponents. Kournakova ironically more of a boxer/puncher, but she's used to having a reach advantage - were it not for HER crowd, HER style of venue, she'd be considered an underdog. Dementieva in pale blue bra and panties, ponytail - Kournakova in pale blue push up, snug white cotton panties, long fighting braid.

During R1: Dementieva jittery, not used to fighting in her undies - she comes out stiff and Anna takes advantage. Kournakova using the room, stooping to belly jab her tall foe, get Elena cringing, then snap-hooking the tall blonde's jaw before she can react. Good stalking lateral movement from Anna - she's a jungle cat - Elena's a startled giraffe.

R2: Anna reaching into Elena's belly with the jab, then whistling over the top with a slinging right hand that misses, but carries her close to the tall blonde - Elena with a reflex left uppercut PUTS ANNA DOWN! Kournakova dropped to one knee by the timing of the thing - she's up quick, but wide eyed - Dementieva showing effortless power. Encouraged by the sight of downed Anna, Elena loosens up and starts to execute. Hands extended at chest level - she'll palm up on Anna's shoulder to keep her at perfect range, then jam away with short, straight punches, lead right hands, straight lefts, punching Anna's drowsy face and backing her up all around the room. Elena robotic, but effective as she works - face punching seems to have Anna stupified, and Dementieva is able to wobble the opposing blonde once again with a push, step-in, and gouging left uppercut to the solar plexus. Kournakova badly beaten this round - Dementieva's punching VERY efficient and hurtful despite the ease of delivery.

R3: Anna's legs trembling, stepping funky - Dementieva walks her down and proceeds to machine-stamp her straight punches into Kournakova's pretty face. Anna's head snapping routinely back - as she buckles and reaches in to clinch, Dementieva steps lightly back, dips her shoulder and digs that left uppercut hard into Kournakova's ribcage. Body shot puts Kournakova on all fours at the end of the first minute - seconds later, Dementieva pokes the lead right on the eye, jams a straight left into the mouth, then catspaw hooks off it to slap Anna to her backside for a quick second knockdown. Kournakova busted up, floundering - she's staggering all around the room as Dementieva patiently steps after her, palms her shoulders to position Anna, then continues to chip away at the blonde's face and chest with the awful, short poking blows and left uppercuts.

R4: Dementieva stuns Anna again with that nifty step back and left uppercut to the sternum - Kournakova sent groaning face first to a wall - Elena able to square up and have a go at Anna's back and kidneys as the blonde slowly turns with tired agony on her face. Kournakova can't get off the wall - Dementieva palming up and pushing the shorter woman against the flat surface, then chopping away - everything short, precise - when Dementieva goes to the body she bends her long legs, getting underneath Anna's limp defenses. Anna beaten senseless this round, face swelling badly, eyes staring and forlorn, but she can't quit in front of this crowd the way she might in Paris or New York.

R5: Elena pushing, propping, walking Anna down and patiently touching her up with the straight punches from chest level. Kournakova seems numb to the punching at this point - she's staggering backwards, sometimes trying to reach in to clinch around the taller girl's waist, but overall she's taking the punches better. Anna shutout, but getting out of the round with fight left in here, left eye swelling shut during the break.

R6: Anna mounting her first offense in 4 rounds, resumes the effective belly jab and lateral movement to get the big woman turning. Kournakova able to snap-hook and pivot to the left as Elena takes a jaw-shot - Elena's punch output dropping as she tracks Anna down but doesn't cut the carpet off properly. Kournakova potshotting, staying alive, takes the round.

R7: Sharp exchange to open, but Elena's biting left uppercut cuts the power off to Anna's legs - Kournakova swooning in to clinch, mouth open as she presses her cheek to Dementieva's breast - girls waltz around for a moment as Elena tries to struggle free. Poor follow up from Elena - she resumes her careful, poking attack, allowing Anna to gather herself and it's Kournakova who does most of the scoring the rest of the way. Anna not hurting Dementieva whose long, strong legs seem able to gobble the best of Kournakova's leather, but Anna extends the fight into the championship rounds with more hit and run.

R8: Anna continues to work to her foe's waist, reaching in the jab, feinting and spearing in the lead right, pivoting sharply to either side rather than letting Elena get off. Dementieva unaffected - she hops forward, trying to position Anna by her shoulders, but the shorter blonde's wise to it - Kournakova's legs buying her space and time in the spacious confines of the room.

R9: Dementieva doubling up on her jab, finally gets Anna going straight back - big girl corners smaller girl and slowly works Anna up against the wall again. Palming the shoulders, dipping and digging her uppercuts into Anna's firm ribcage - Dementieva reasserts control as Kournakova's lips peel back in pain from the push and punch. Kournakova desperately brawling back, she can land wide right hands off the wall on Elena's jaw, but the big girl doesn't budge.

R10: Elena back to the robotic, stamping punches, pounding away on Anna's face as she smaller girl gives ground, seems mesmerized by the constant punishment to her head. No backswing on these punches - Dementieva holds her hands ready to palm up or poke out a punch - Anna can't see them coming and reacts very late most of the time, if at all. Elena D happy to go the route - she's all shiny and happy, beaming at the appreciative crowd - Anna shopworn, puffy and badly beaten, stalks angrilly around the carpet with hands on hips. UD10 Elena Dementieva.

After: Kournakova gives up home town hegemony to rival Dementieva, but showed toughness, heart that she rarely displays on the road. Refusing to buckle under hellish punishment in the first half, Anna finishes a fight with grit that most of her detractors will never get to see. Proposed Dementieva/Hingis bout looks much more interesting now - Elena with small-girl skills in a big-girl body doesn't need to rely on homeruns to win.

Thanks to Apollo for this repost.

Archer 10/20/09.