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13 December 2011 Julie Benz vs Evan Rachel Wood

Page history last edited by Archer844 12 years, 1 month ago

Julie Benz 03.jpg Evan Rachel Wood 01.jpg

BOXING AFTER DARK: PRELIMINARY BOUT

Posted by Ginny on 12/13/2011, 6:11 pm

Julie Benz (5'4", 39 y/o) vs. Evan Rachel Wood (5'6", 24 y/o) by simgrrl 12-13-11 (result by random number generator)

The Academy isn't one of those stables who intentionally try tricks to fire up their fighters, but it's a tried and true technique in sports, business and love, so why not? Academy trainers Halle Berry (Benz) and Kim Basinger (Wood) have been assigned to work this bout while head trainer Cat Bell is preparing Charlize Theron for an up-coming event against Blake Lively. There've been rumors, that no one has even bothered to try to deny, of jealousy - if not outright antagonism - from Reese Witherspoon, Penelope Cruz and Julie Benz about Ginny meeting with a "hot young redhead" who fights at their weight, so it's no surprise to see Emma Stone is with Basinger in Wood's corner. It's a problem as old as boxing itself: older fighters feeling threatened by younger up-and-coming talent. Reports are that Benz, Witherspoon and Cruz drew straws to see who'd get the first crack at Stone. Benz won - but then Ginny stepped in and refused to permit it; instead she hurriedly arranged for Evan Rachel Wood to be Benz' opponent. Benz hopes her coin flip 'win' doesn't turn out to be unfortunate - only time will tell.

Big step up for young independent Evan Rachel Wood, facing a tough, wily, veteran in Julie Benz - who is also taking a big risk! Benz is a highly ranked bantam and in Wood she's facing a hungry, young, fighter 15 years younger, with nothing to lose. It's a high risk, low reward, situation with a potential for disaster for Benz. Wood has expressed her gratitude for "the opportunity" while getting valuable "face time" in front of a dozen or so managers who might be willing to add a talented young fighter to their stable on the off chance she shows them something worthwhile.

Wood's corner is in Kim Basinger's capable hands and she's being seconded by Wood's 'True Blood' costars, Deborah Ann Woll and Anna Paquin lending morale support, as well as handling the towels. Woll telling everyone who'll give her the time of day what a great 'cut woman' she is and even brought some 'True Blood' publicity stills of herself with blood running from her mouth as "proof."

One notable in the audience is Melissa Leo - Oscar nominated for 'The Wrestler' where she and Wood first met. But it's Kate Winslet, who's credited with having encouraged Wood to try celebrity boxing after the two of them worked out on the set of "Mildred Pierce."

Network analysts were of two minds in prefight, one saying, "Benz, enjoying something of a renaissance in the FCBA, was rescued from obscurity by 'The Academy' who brought her in on a trial basis and she seems to have caught lightening in a bottle. She's now ranked #14 at bantam. Physically, seeing them side by side at weigh-in, you have to give Benz the edge. Julie is a mature woman, and it's obvious she works hard to keep 'father time' at bay. She's got a solid, sturdy, build and her upper body shows how religiously she's worked out, having muscle definition that's unusual in actresses of any age.

"Wood, on the other hand, looks like a pre-pubescent teenager. Her most prominent anatomical feature is her ribs; her breasts look like they've yet to develop...if they ever will. She reminds me of a young Nicole Kidman rather than the woman of 24 she claims is her age. Still, her legs appear capable of carrying her through ten rounds - although with Benz' upper body advantages, Wood's legs may not get that chance!"
Her announcing partner, however, was backing Wood: "As I see it, Evan is going to have to 'out quick' Julie. Once she gets the old gal softened up and worn out from all that exertion, she can take her out. My only worry is, the tactic can backfire because of Wood's inexperience. Julie might be able to use her experience and a definate edge in punching power to get the job done. What we all wonder is, how much does Benz have left at this stage of her career? It's a question Wood can go a good way toward answering for us, but it's risky. Still, you know that's what youth is all about, taking risks and getting away with it... or not!"

Wood, a natural blond, has 'True Blood' red hair for the fight; wearing a white bra and panties, no stockings, white trainers; hair in a saucy auburn pony tail. Benz, working recently highlighted golden locks reminiscent of stablemate Charlize Theron, is in soft, baby blue, lace bra/panties with a garter belt/white stockings and white trainers; hair in a French twist. Blood red gloves on both women's fists.

During Rd1: Both fighters on their feet before the bell; Benz' foot pawing nervously at the canvas as Halle removes her stool; Wood slapping her gloves together, steps out only to be called back to her corner so Basinger can put in the mouthpiece ERW forgot in her eagerness. Evan hopping to Julie who slip-slides to her left, popping the jab in Evan's eager face with surprising vigor. Wood's knees buckle momentarily - more in surprise than hurt - and she hops back to gather herself. Benz coming forward in a crouch, turning into a sweeping overhand right that claps off Wood's left shoulder as the redhead turns/ducks to her right. Benz cracks Wood in the face with a snapping left hook and ERW stutter-steps backward, her butt sinking into the ropes above her own corner. Basinger barking at Wood who grabs Benz, spinning out of the corner and slamming Julie back against the turnbuckles! Wood pounds away at her body with both hands but Benz takes most on elbows/forearms, fighting handily off the ropes, then sliding away to mid-ring to gain space. Leggy young Wood scampers with; leaping into a right that sends Benz reeling back off balance. Evan in pursuit: auburn ponytail flowing, a confusing kaleidoscope of flapping skinny arms and pumping limber legs. Benz ear-muffing behind a sturdy defense, letting Wood expend her energy crashing like a Tsunami against a rocky shore with a spray of sweat flying from both women's moist hair. Benz weathers the storm, coming up out of her crouch to drive a withering left hook into Wood's mid-section, doubling her over. Evan clinching to catch her breath; letting Benz work the body while she gathers herself. Final thirty seconds all exciting action as both women throw non-stop punches; many landing. Benz connecting to either flank with hooking action while ERW goes head-hunting. At the bell, both breathing hard; Benz cheeks pinking up from Wood's gloves while there's a bright red rosy hue to Evan's left side ribs. Good action from both, but Wood's aggression may give her the narrowest of edges on the scoresheets.

Rd2: Benz eager again as she skips across the ring to get at Benz, closing in she opens up with a huge right, looking to hurt and would have but Julie reads it, dips as the glove sails catching nothing but air, Evan's open and Julie quickly rips an uppercut that lands solid on ERW's taut young tummy, and then hammers in with both hands, Evan gasps and drops her guard, Benz, the pro clips the pretty girls chin and plants her feet, Evan recovers enough to fire back, they swing away, toe to toe, Evan is giving it her best but Julie's punches seem to carry more and she's being belted back, a good right send that mouth piece flying and Evan's hurt, she covers and Benz meanly goes for Evan's chest, Wood folds up driven into the ropes. but she firms and starts swinging back, but Julie is hammering hard and Evan is beaten down the ropes. At the bell she's crumpled in the corner as Julie continues blasting away, ref has to pull her off. Evan is defiant as Benz yells in her face, but clearly going toe-to-toe with 'the Old Woman' - as she referred to Julie at the weigh-in - isn't working out

Rd3: Between rounds, Basinger berating ERW, shaking her shoulders, telling her she's gotta get her head in the game and follow instructions. Wood nodding as if she understands. Benz still on her stool catching her breath after laying it all on the line in the second round, just on her feet as the echo of the bell fades. Wood charging out, catching Benz in her corner, landing a hard right lead, followed by a short left that rocks Benz back against the ropes! Wood laying into Benz with both hands, propping her forehead up with the left, than BANGING the right in with malevolent intent and BENZ IS HURT! Julie's knees buckle and she grabs Wood around the shoulders to clinch. Wood struggling to free herself, wastes valuable seconds. Evan shoves Julie back, winds up and drives a left hook/right cross combo to Julie's head. DOWN GOES BENZ! Blonde head snaps to the side, then she tumbles ass over teakettle to the canvas and rolls onto her back, her left ankle over the bottom rope. Wood stands over Julie, wide-eyed, staring down at what she's wrought; then looks down at her hands as if to say "I did that?" Referee pushing and pulling Evan Rachel Wood, trying to get her to a neutral corner....but ERW goes to the nearest one, requiring the referee to take her elbow and escort her to the farthest. Precious seconds wasted before the count prove providential to Julie Benz who struggles to get to her knees, then rises wobbly at 'EIGHT'. Referee checks, asks if she's OK and Julie raises her gloves and nods. Ref, after checking her eyes, waves them back together. Benz rubber-legged, fades back to the ropes and goes into a 'peek-a-boo' crouch behind her gloves. Evan Rachel spends too much time trying to can opener Julie's gloves before realizing she can do more damage 'down below' and starts to hammer away at Benz' aging but still bikini-worthy body. Wood buffets Benz from side to side along the ropes, battering her into a corner where Julie is able to turtle protectively, but Wood has the key now and comes up from her knees with uppercuts into (and perhaps just below) Benz' pantyline! Julie doubled over gulping air, slow to react to another uppercut that catches her FULL on the face! BENZ' KNEES UNHINGE AND SHE SITS DOWN ON HER BUTT, HER HEAD SUPPORTED BY THE MIDDLE ROPE. This time Evan Rachel Wood knows what to do and she hurries to a neutral corner where she leans on the ropes grinning proudly. Benz again just beats the count, but she's a shabby wreck and only Wood's inexperience allows Benz to survive. The two women spend the remainder of the round groping, grabbing and waltzing around the ring as Benz is too battered, and Wood too arm-weary, to accomplish much. Big 10-8 round for Wood who has surprised a lot of people with her unexpected power.

Rd4: You have to hand it to Benz, she's nothing if not tough, and resilient. Julie comes out looking to take the fight back to Wood, who frankly seems a bit arm weary as she slaps out some jabs as Julie closes in with her own, which again seem to carry more authority, it two up top and then a ram-rod right to Evan's chest that cause the her to back away . the jabs she's throwing Julie is blocking, dodging or just walking through, and she's soon got Wood on the ropes where she seems to want her. Evan seems to panic and accepts the challange again, bombing back trying to move Benz off, but Julie's not giving her the room she needs, Julie's punchs are carrying the day, as Evan start to cover and try to escape down the ropes, Julie uses good foot work to stay on top and keeps throwing hard hard shots. Evan's doing her best but time and again, she's having to shut down and try to get more room, not working Benz has her in that corner again, and plants herself, going at all things Wood. who seems to realize she can't get away, and tries to match up.. she's coming up a bit short though as Benz goes down stairs too. at the bell, ERW is fighting for her life.... ref pulls them apart as either is willing to break things off.

Rd 5: Both girls exhausted after a hammer and tongs fourth round that had the fans on their feet the whole way but if anyone thought they'd take a round off they were mistaken. Both fighters took up right where they left off the previous round, standing in toe-to-toe and exchanging broadsides like a couple of heavyweight ships-of-the-line! First Benz rocked Wood with a right, then Wood answered back with a left hook that almost put Benz back on her butt again! Each landing in her turn; both hanging on after being hurt; neither backing off an inch! Twice Julie Benz looked like she was about to go down, then she would land a big punch of her own and it appeared Wood was ready to go down. "Boxing" fans may not have appreciated the back-and-forth, defense-be-dammed, action, but aficionados of "fighting" were on their feet cheering their appreciation of the 'all-in' nature of the contest between two bantams. Then suddenly, it was over! It began when ERW buckled Julie's knees with another good left hook, then as she reared back to put out Julie's lights with a big right...Benz came up the middle with an uppercut that, literally, lifted Wood off her feet and deposited her flat on her back; her legs spread in a limp V and her arms flung out to the sides. She never moved as the count passed EIGHT to NINE and then TEN! Julie Benz heaved a thankful sigh as Halle Berry came running across the ring, lifted her in her arms and held her up as Julie raised her arms in triumph. Kim Basinger hurried to Wood, arriving as the referee was removing her mouthpiece. Together, they lifted Evan onto her stool where Basinger worked to bring her around. At ringside, Witherspoon and Cruz leaped from their seats and hurried up to congratulate their stablemate on her victory. Julie Benz by a KO5.

After: Wood facing the press, grimacing as she holds her ribs, "Once you commit, you commit; you can't hold back. We all knew that the only way we would pull this off was to give everything we had. I couldn't hold back." She continued, "It was a little weird, and I did feel a little bit disoriented at times. I'm usually pretty shy and private, so yeah; it was a little weird all of a sudden to look up at the screen and see yourself flat on your back with your tongue hanging out!
"But whenever something bad happens, I always tell myself, 'This is happening for a reason' and 'I have to be learning something from this and take something away from it.' You have to think about the big picture and remember just how small you are in the grand scheme of things. In the long run, I'm going to be okay. That's all I kept thinking about...just trying to make the best of it."

Julie Benz looked only slightly better than Wood facing the press, but both women stood shoulder to shoulder and didn't show any of the rancor one might expect after a hard-fought contest. "It was a mistake for Woodie to try and punch with me," Julie said. "She should've moved more. She hasn't learned yet, but you saw how well she did with what she's absorbed so far. But if she keeps fighting like that, we'll be calling her "ER" Wood (for 'emergency room) because that's where she'll be waking up. Her chin was there all night, I just had trouble getting do it 'cause I was spending so much time ducking..."

"...and getting up. Don't forget the time you spent trying to get up," Wood interjected with a hint of a smile.

"Yeah, and that," Benz acknowledged the truth with a wry smile and curt warning nod toward her stablemates in the audience who were all grinning at having dodged the "Wood" bullet...at least for tonight.