Posted by Simguy on 3/28/2003, 6:41 am.

Before: Important keep-pace fight fotr Portman with other flyweights pairing up--Nat looking to build on an impressive Hayek win with another experienced vet. Ledoyen once a wild all-or-nothing brawler, has taken a lot off the fastball in recent outings to work on her control--she's a much better balanced, cagier fighter at this stage of her career. Natalie in white sports bra, white high waist aerobics trunks, battle braid, white shoes and gloves, Virginie in pale blue bikini from "The Beach", white gloves and shoes.

During R1-3: Ledoyen shows the growth, perplexing, pestering and outboxing Portman in all three heats. Natalie coming forward orthodox, working behind her jab--but Ledoyen boggling her with changes of direction, cuffing decoy ounches to set up sidesteps, pitter-pat but pesky jab and the occasional stinging right hand from a closed stance. Portman taking Virginie's punch no problem, but she's off her rhythm, bundled up in tight clinches and held for breaks as French woman dictates early action.

R4: Nat can't do it with finesse--she sets down and loosesn Ledoyen up with power. Portman ramming whistling right crosses down the middle off her jab, ducking down on follow through, then clipping Virginie the hook out of the crouch off that front foot. Midway through, scooping Portman right stund Virginie to the belly--while she's shook up, clean clouting hook on the chin has Ledoyen stepping in fence post holes.

R5: Ledoyen wiuth that badgering boxing style from the perimeter, sliding around her girl, keeping leather in her--looks like she has it all wrapped up when Portman turns puncher again. Nat timing french jab, jumping inside it and putting a rigid left uppercut bingo on the chin--Virginie slumping into the ropes all helpless--Portman helps herself. Natalie squaring away big-girl, palming her girl to brace, then digging at her ribs and breasts while chugging left/right action to the bell.

R6: Portman banging away with sharp right hand early, once again undoes Ledoyen's knees--French brunette staggering and backpedaling awkwardly while trying to clear her head. Nat walking her girl down, chin tucked, always in good position--jabbing to get her balance and distance, hurtling iun the right hand, mopping up the hook., Ledoyen avoids the shutout late by leaning to either side off the ropes, sweeping big desperate counters to temples of her opponent. Nat wins her third straight, draws even on the cards as this thing becomes a four round fight.

R7: Ledoyen reverting to her old form, showing Natalie she can still punch. Wrap around rights and lefts--Portman turning her shoulders, blocking and slipping punches, but finally a ringing right caroms off her forehead to buckle American legs. Nat's hurt, flat footed, now SHE sets and swings, trying to brawl her way out of trouble. Virginie a past master of creating order out of chaos--steely-eyed, she routinely beats her girl to punches, bouncing her fists off Natalie's shiny face, ducking down on follow through.

R8: Portman goes back to digging right hands to the body, has Virginie folding forward to clinch as action slugging gives way to stop and go. Ledoyen really worn out to the midsection as Natalie steps in fearlessly, bangs her fist off pale abs--Portman keeping that right hand on her cheek, blocks a lot of counter rights as she stands in the pocket to do damage.

R9: More two-way slugging, Portman attacking the body, staying in close and covering up very well--French leather skidding off Natalie's high, tight guard. By the end, Natalie's getting hooks to Virginie's chin, backing her opponent to the ropes and forcing Ledoyen clinches.

R10: Virginie off her stool determined to turn her foe back, has Natalie in reetreat under a free-sewinging barrage of rights and lefts. Second minute, Portman finds her nbearings, starts to step inside the arc of Ledoyen's pounches nto deposit crisp left uppercuts to chin, taging right hands to the mouth. Who wants it more? Down the stretch, then just bang away, slender-bodied brawlers shaking each other with wide, hungry leather upside the head, shivering to flanks. Punching continues on after the bell as neither girl wants to back away. Comes back the Tractorpull Special--a draw,

After: Portman showing variety--stymied early, she turns brawler to get herself back into this fight. Interesting give and take, girls adjusting to each other oin the fly. Ledoyen's chin passing harsh tests throughout the mid rounds--Natalie rightly disgruntled that her harder punching didn;t carry more weight with the judges. "Virginie's an experienced pro," says Natalie, :when she fights to survive, it's very hard to get rid of her, Having said that, only one of us was really making the fight tonight. I really don't think anyone would want to see Willianms/Ledoyen after seeing Virginie stink out the joint tonight."

Reposted by Archer 2/11/12