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Before: Guest commentator Cat Bell sizes up the comp. "Look - I favour Jessica just like everyone else - she SHOULD win this fight, maybe easily, but you always have to give Debbe a puncher's chance. Dunning isn't like other sluggers - it's not that she hits hard - I doubt she hits any 'harder' than Biel. But Deb's 100% commited to getting you out of there - she never stops tossing, and she throws punches from weird angles, at weird times and she's ESPECIALLY dangerous when she's hurt. Deb has COUNTLESS KO wins over girls who were in the process of cleaning her up - you think she's helpless, she SHOULD be helpless and bingo - you're on your back. That's what Biel has to guard against - overconfidence. She knows she's the better fighter tonight, stay professional, make Debbe move her feet, don't get careless." Biel in pink tank top, twist-tied at the breasts, bare midriff, hot pink bikini bottoms, white shoes and socks, ponytail - Debbe in pale blue tshirt, twist-tied at the breasts, silver bikini bottoms, white shoes and socks.
During R1: Debbe with early surprises - reaching WAY back in her career and dusting off the jab to take the initiative. Biel unable to work her in-and-out attack against a firm stick early - fight settles into conventional set piece battles - girls outside, sorting each other out with jabs - bit of a chessmatch. Final minute, Debbe in with a right hand that misses - Biel leaning back and Dunning hops into a rising hook on the chin and SPRAWLS BIEL ROPESIDE! Debbe pouncing, just extended her right hand to touch and stabilize, CRANKING the hook to get Biel out of there - Jessica desperately bending at the waist and turning her shoulders to slip punches at the bell. Crowd roaring - Deb such a sentimental and fan favourite - she's soaking up the love as Biel clears cobwebs during the break.
R2: Jess with the left hand low, right hand at her chin, left shoulder pointed at Deb - champ's bending at the waist, trying to slide inside for potshotting rights, but Debbe's intercepting jab making things problematic. Debbe standing tall, dukes up, nothing fancy about the stick, just banging it out there - not always connecting, but fouling up Jessica's timing. Deb Dunning BOXING for points this round, effectively managing her agile foe midring, keeping Biel at arm's length, confusing the young champion early.
R3: Jess gets it going - still in the closed stance, stooping to jab at Debbe's tummy, then hopping out, walking right to see if the old gal can still move to her left, stopping and trying for the potshot right as Deb moves to cut off the ring. Not a lot of serious contact - Biel just getting Deb to chase, move her feet more - Dunning forced to contend with Jessica's effortless mobility this round.
R4: Debbe jabbing - knows it's key - now she's mixing in the hook to pile up points. Dunning stepping in the stick then banging those ribs, looking for a rising right hand clean-up shot as Biel dips, slips and retreats. Jessica under pressure, doing a good job of keeping her back clear of the ropes, but her output's down to almost nothing - she's running, not moving her hands - showing a little too much respect to the old girl in the first half of this fight.
R5: Jessica jumping in lead right hands, jumping back out with the sweeping hook - she's getting clout on Debbe's chin in the first minute, looks to finally being asserting champion's rights in there when Deb LIGHTS HER UP! Dunning timing the jumps, takes a half step back herself as Jess bops forward, jabs Biel in the forehead, drops a jackhammer right down onto jaw, twists into that clanging hook on the temple and BIEL'S ROCKED! Debbe grinning, bunting her guard into Jessica's shoulders, getting the champ to baby-step backwards - Biel hits ropes and Debbe bellies up to the bar! Deb with a rich, strapping lashing of rights and lefts, swinging away wide n' lusty to flanks, jugs, and skull - poor Jessica soaking up a slobberknocking issues the fight's first desperate clinches. Biel open-mouthed, glassy-eyed - she tries to wrap up tight but takes a veteran shoulder-butt in the mouth as Deb works free, keeps her hands moving. Thumping beat down to the bell, Deb mauling Jessica on the ropes, shoving and slugging with abandon to take a monster lead into the second half of this contest.
Dunning/Biel conc.
Posted by simguy on 7/9/2004, 10:04 pm.
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R6: Jess adjusting on the fly - needs to start turning things around. Biel looking to edge in and engage Deb on the inside - Dunning delighted, loves to lay in and work - it's good beefy two way tanning. Dunning upright, prepping Jess by palming her elbows, then digging into torso. Biel grinding her left shoulder in Deb's chest, lower, more supple - she's swatting and clouting - raking Debbe's toned ribcage, picking up chin tidy right uppies in close, then bending and slipping receipts. Toe to toe - Biel surprisingly elusive, getting after Dunning the way she did O'Dell and it's equally effective.
R7: Jessica easing inside again - Debbe allowing it because she thinks of herself as the better brawler, but Biel's efficiency, slick D shoulder to shoulder really separating her this round. Dunning backed up as Biel routinely checks her chin those sneaky little right uppercuts, works ear and flank that snatching hook - Biel always bringing her hands back in tight to her body, bending after punching - she's not getting caught clean in return. Toe to toe, both girls licking it up strong, but Jessica's putting wobble in Debbe's proud trunks, beating the bulging back of that t-shirt with constant slip and counter.
R8: Oh those crunching body shots. Debbe really hurting now, hips back, hands reaching for Biel's elbows to stop her from punching, mouth open - Jessica staying consistent - stroking her hooks, wedging in a slutty right hand up into the sternum and DEBBE GOES DOWN! Sickening, slow-mo knockdown - Deb stepping back in agony and sinking to one knee - she's breathing out through pursed lips as Biel struts past. Deb takes a risky 9 and-a-half - Biel right back on that body with those snatching, swiping, tidy rights and lefts. Jess so fluid and sweet in there, turning her shoulders and dipping on follow through, never leaving her head in one spot - meanwhile cleaning up on Debbe's taut torso. DEBBE GOES DOWN! Another agonizing, slow wilt to one knee, Dunning sobbing for breath - Biel just gutting Debbe and loving it. Rest of the way - Dunning sucks it up like a champ - she digs in at the ropes - she's crippled, unable to punch back and Biel just takes whatever she wants - but Dunning won't go. Debbe wincing, stiff and achy as she slouches to her corner - bright smile Biel as she gets all OVER her challenger this round.
R9: Debbe broken down in her body, shying away, elbows in, hands under her chin - Biel puts combos together up top like a pro. Jessica tapping jabs to the forehead, kissing her right hand off Deb's face as Dunning stares into punishment, then cleaning up with popping left uppercut action to split the mitts. Debbe staggering one foot to the other, taking crowd-pleasing wallops on her skull, always looking to be one punch away from oblivion, but somehow refusing to go down. Jessica stepping to either side, touching Debbe with jabs and turning her, then leaning into her combinations - she's got Dunning's head on a swivel. Biel shells the target bell to bell, busting Debbe up, beating her at the stagger all around the ring - crowd loving every moment as Dunning lives up to her Gatti-esque rep this round.
R10: Jessica a little winded - she's punched Debbe relentlessly in the last 6 minutes, looks to run the clock. Dunning stalking - jabbing to the chest to find Biel. Jess near the ropes, scooting to her right - Deb raking hooks to gather her in - Dunning leans into a pulverizing right on the jaw, pulls a tight hook in on the face and BIEL'S STUNNED! Jessica wide eyed, lolling on the ropes - Dunning misses a right over the top as Biel ducks down - Deb CLEANS UP that hip, right flank with hooks - drawing a breathless clinch around her waist as Biel's legs QUAKE. Ref's break - in comes Deb - pawing the jab in, leaning into a sizzling right, back with the hook - Biel rolling and slipping, tieing up again. Clock ticking down - ref issuing breaks - Debbe intense as she keeps wading back in, throwing hurt at Jessica - Biel with that supple upperbody, swivelling and bending, then clinching, hearing some boos from the Dunning contingent. All Debbe D to the bell, but she can't find Jessica's chin - fight ends with a sturdy Biel clinch tight around Debbe's ribcage. Comes back UD10 for the winner and STILL lightweight champ - Jessica Biel.
After: Who'd a thunk it? Jessica edges Debbe with a narrow decision on the strength of a second half adjustment and sensational, gut wrenching body work to turn the tide. Girls engaging in a warm hug, riding arms around one another while they chat - nothing but good feelings surrounding a tough, tough dime of lightweight boxing.
"I'm impressed," says Cat Bell, "Jessica Biel's as fine a lightweight champion as we've ever had - very versatile. Debbe actually came out boxing and giving Jessica problems early - Biel recognized it, came inside and took Dunning apart. A lot of critics have ridden her for not facing me or Charlize on this run, but I don't see any weaknesses there - her handlers aren't babying her. This Jessica Biel can beat anyone, anytime."
Debbe in accordance in post fight, arm around Jessica's shoulders as she addresses the cameras. "This kid can flat out fight," Deb says, pointing to Jessi's midsection. "Seriously - Jessica Biel's for real. I hit her some good shots, I caught her late, but she was just too nifty. And DAMN, girl - what were you doing to my body, baby? I'm old enough to be your mother - where's the respect?"
Biel laughing, obviously respecting the gracious words. "I passed my Debbe Dunning test," says Jess simply, "thank GOD that's over!"
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