Posted  by Simguy on 5/22/2004, 9:21 am.

Before: When Natalie or Kelly need a big, credible win to get traction, they often call on each other--it's one of boxing's best clinical showdowns. "It's interesting,": says one Celebrity Ring staffer. "They're so closely matched and each is SO convinced she's superior--they have no problem facing each other. The truth is, it's a dangerous fight for both girls--you'd think they'd be more hesitant." Kelly in pink and white floral print bikini, white shoes, Natalie in white sports bra, white high waist aerobics bottoms, white shoes, battle braid.

During R1: Kelly nimble to her left, spreading Natalie with jabs--Portman bouncing outside, circling clockwise--it's a battle of footwork and positioning rearly, Girls ranging the ring, darting at each other, feinting, then fading out. Portman releasing her hands more--bats away at kelly's flank on a couple of occasion--blonde well-protected, but forfeiting points to busier brunette.

R2: Kelly hooking the jab, staying on her front foot to mix in a jagged little left uppercut, then sliding out, dragging her frint to stay in punching position. Portman a little sloppy--she's covering up to accept Packard's splattering assault to her flanks, blocking up top, then attacvking as Packard fades back--blonde able to lure brunette into tasty right hands on the mouth. Midway through, Kelly dressing Natalie up with combos, then fading to collect counter right hands--Portman nailed a beauty on the chin TAKES A KNEE! Packard lifting her mitts and strutting--Portman shaking her head--realizes brazen attitude just made Packard into a puncher--Natalie takes an alert 8, immediately takes to her bicycle--Packard attacking behind her ja but can't put finishing wallop on the moving target.

R3: Natalie shows no ill effects--posts a hard-banging shutout third. Natalie fixing Kelly's position with hard spearing jabs, then going body with limber right/lefts--digging blows biting at Kelly's rigid ribs and taut underbelly as she covers up top. Portman stepping 'round her girl, edging in and out--very methodical the way jab sets up the body work--Packard just turning, accepting, unable to get off.

R4: Natalie in control--job of work to whittle away on Kelly Packard. Portman getting Packard to block and cover upstairs, then scoring on the midriff--slender arms getting digging soank off Kelly's tight belly. Final minute--Packard sliding back, dragging that back foot--she times a Portman rush, turns into a quick left hook, ducks low to bump her shoulder into Natalie's midsection, unsettling Portman's feet and a sweeping right hand pounds hard off Portman's left eye. Natalie put wobbly butt--her turn to cover up--Kelly greasily over to offence as she steps-to, lathers at the gut, coming off the body with curling uppercuts skidding across Nat's guard, Portman in a fog, beaten to the ropes--she's earmuffed up, stooping at the waist, looking drop right hands into any openings. Bell sounds, Nat relaxes--Kelly lands a cheap left uppercut on the chin to prompt a little mayhem during the break.

R5: Kelly picks up where she left off--now firmly on the attack as Portman gives ground. Natalie running, bounding along the perimeter--Kelly using jabs and hooks to gather her brunette in, cutting off the ring and attacking with slinging rights and lefts to the body. Portman not caught often at the ropes, but when she is, she's rung up tasty to gut and ribcage--little Kelly not sparing the lash when she gets a chance to move her mitts.

R6: Portman with a stinging right hand over Kelly's jab, puts a quick hook to chin-tip, doubles with a whippy hook across waist and slicing right down on the eye--crowd-pleasing combos shake Packard's legs, force her to reel backwards to the ropes. Natalie staying on her, eyes keen--peppering jabs up the middle to draw the guard up, then strapping in the rights/lefts on stubborn belly meat. Kel droops forward--Nat straightens, tucking her uppercuts into tender Packard jugs or trying for the teeth. Kelly hurt, under pressure--but staying poised--she's moving her head well behind a stiff guard, spinning off the ropes and buying time with her legs--Portman can;t finish what she started this round.

R7: KELLY gets the right hand over Nat's jab--instant magic in Portman's legs as she hops hurt, staggers on the spot, covering up to regroup as packard unleashes, Kelly strafing Natalie hooks and crosses--Portman bending, dipping and faltering backwards--brunette butt hits ropes as blonde lets mitts go. Pic-pac-pec hips flanks and tummy, Kelly trying to dig Portman out of her guard with uppercuts, but Portman's blocking the head shots. Midway through, Natalie masterful off the ropes, starting to collect clean counter-hooks body and chin, fitting 'em in between Kelly's chewing assault--blonde's starting to feel it, Girls exchange sudden hooks and crosses--Kelly startled--Nat able to sidestep and spin Kelly's back to the ropes with a hand at blonde's hip. NATALIE'S TURN! Portman letting her mitts go--tearing up the Packard midsection, stooping her forward hurt and working her way up-torso to club and clout the ears. Kelly in trouble, just hunched over and taking--Natalie digs up and in with a series of carving right uppercuts on the jugs, causing Packard to cry out, clinch around Nat's sleek hips for a desperate break.

R8: Is that discouragement in Kelly's eyes? A little doubt? Packard's shying away, changing directions abruptly to try and shake the pursuit--Portman's walking her down. Natalie in a groove, jabbing heartlessly to the face, moving her woman into position, shellacking the body with slender-limbed fury--good busy pressure being applied.

R9: Kelly still legging to spots, but getting back to dragging her front foot, walking Natalie in better--Packard's getting sneaky lead right hands and hesitation hooks--scoring on Nat, then slipping low and away on the pivot. Portman missing, kept off balance by blonde's timing and buttery torso weaves--Packard with a classy touch-and-go shutout proves she's still game.

R10: Natalie with heartbreaking jab, cutting off the ring, touching Kelly hard on the waist, both mitts, then curling uppercuts to cash in that chin. Middle minute--Kelly adjusting with her feet, just changing the distance a little, pivoting to the side and latheriung her own combinations--saucy two-way sparking both slender beauties in digging sequences. Down the stretch, entire fight may may turn on one event--girls taking turns raking each other, trying to time counters off the block and Portman's hook tugs hard on Kelly's chin. Packard's legs give a shimmy--she's shook, trying to clinch--Natalie fights her off with a robust sequence on the gut, All Portman late--going to town as Kelly folds against the ropes--blonde's just turtling, soaking up a beating as Portman goes hard to the bell. Comes back single point duke--Natalie Portman.

After: Portman with that winsome smile, glowing in triumph--battered Packard lumpy and sullen--losing to Portman never sits well. Good welcome back for Nat--re-establishing herself as a classy boxer to beat--she's as attractive as anyone for a Doherty challenge.

Reposted by Archer 2/13/12.