Fox/Studio Bantamweight Titles

Posted by Simguy on Friday, 24-Dec-1999 13:17:55

Before: twain going after Smith’s prestigious Fox title, puts her own Studio belt on the line as well. Both beauties looking lean, hard and fit for this one. Smith talking about fighting “big” in this one, taking Shania’s legs way with rough body punching she says Twain has never experienced before. Twain unfazed by the rhetoric, Shania in black push up, red cotton stretch shorts, Courtney in grey cotton stretch sports bra, grey stretch shorts.

During R1: Twain looking to counter punch exclusively, hands at her chest, palms down. Courtney making the fight, the busier girl, but Twain adept at moving her head side to side and shooting straight counters with either hand depending on what Smith does. Midway through the round, bang bang one-two on Courtney’s teeth rattles the blonde, Shania flitting away and bouncing hooks off Court’s head to consolidate--it’s enough to steal an otherwise productive Smith round.

R2,3: Shutout Twain as she decides to lead, stepping in and out on Smith to flash compact punches in bunches. Shania embarrassing Courtney with hand speed--Smith looking surprised that Twain can hit her so easily. Most impressive, the Twain defense--Smith simply can’t get set to punch, and when she does, the blows glance harmlessly off glove or shoulder, when they don’t miss altogether. Vintage Twain  hit and run.

R4,5: More competitive rounds and Smith goes shoulder to shoulder at times, but the quick-fisted little brunette willing to trade hooks, wins most of the exchanges. Court getting discouraged, beaten up around the eyes and mouth, and starting to take desperate chances as her punches get wider, face gets more exposed. Twain working off a stiff, scraping jab from an extended left, works it in on  Courtney’s mouth whenever she’s not working Smith over with combinations.

R6: best Smith round in a while, but still disheartening that Shania can’t be hurt. Twain soaking up good one-twos to her taut abs, but hooking hard off the jab upstairs, and in the final  minute, a chopping double left hook on the jaw has Smith wobbly-butt. Court covering up, is taken apart at the bell as Twain rips away with rising lefts and rights.

R7: Shutout Courtney Thorne-Smith as she makes a big to win this thing. Twain faltering slightly as Smith strides forward, bringing booming lefts and rights underhand up into Twain’s midsection.  Final minute sees Court working Shania over along the ropes--Twain bending at the waist, slips most of the head shots, but Courtney does business on Shania’s hips and ribs.

R8,9: Shania just too classy, continues to stay close to Courtney and simply outboxes her. Twain getting off 2 and 3 punches, then putting a hand on Court’s hip or arm to spin the blonde and set her up for another beating. Shania’s jab pestering and screening, the jarring right hands chopping up Smith’s pretty face--it’s all very discouraging and Courtney goes back to her corner on the verge of tears in the 9th.

R10: Shania twain closes the show like a champ, She goes to work early with that Tapia-esque chipping jab, steering Court and getting her off balance. Then it’s in with the murderous combinations, and Shania has plenty left in the tank. Smith thinks she’s blocked the action when the 3rd, 4th, even 5th punch will crash home to her face or tummy, driving her back on her back on her heels as her defense crumbles. Shania stepping with Courtney all over the ring, staying at an oblique angle, chopping down over Smith’s shoulder or whipping the hook up into her mouth--it’s a dazzling display of power boxing. In the final minute, with Smith swooning, cut in the mouth, and looking panicky, Shania goes on a vicious tear, spanking lefts and rights off Courtney’s tummy, then working her way upstairs to bang away on both sides of Smith’s square jaw. Court can’t run, can’t defend, and she is machine gunned to her knees with under a minute left on the clock. Dazed and battered, Courtney Thorne Smith rests on one knees, waving off the ref and sobbing quietly as she surrenders her title to Shania Twain

After: one of Twain’s best, most merciless performances takes a very good blonde and makes her quit with some of the best pure boxing seen in recent weeks. Shania just too much in every category, completely outclassing the normally very game, very competitive Smith, Courtney heartbroken with the loss, can’t bear to look at Shania as Twain accepts the accolades in the ring afterwards.

Reposted by Archer 10/14/11.