Posted by Simguy 4/2/2004, 7:18 am.

Before: Biggest style contrast in the division, maybe in boxing--these two have absolutely nothing in common. Bad blood before hand--Knightley refusing to acknowledge Dani’s pedigree as bantam elite, promising to torture the American pug for as long as Dani wants it. “I don’t know where Keira gets off,” says a bewildered Fishel. “She’ll have to fight the perfect fight to go the distance with me--and I mean perfect. One mistake and it’s over for her--she must know that. To listen to her, you’d think I was about 80 years old and unable to cut off a ring. This could be a heartbreaking night for Keira if she’s really as misguided as she sounds.” Dani in teal sports bra, gray stretch cotton boy cut trunks, white shoes--Keira in navy nautical top, laced up the front, short baby-doll sleeves, navy boy cut trunks, pale blue laces up the front, white shoes, pretty ponytail. pale blue bow.

During R1: Knightley needs to get respect--she comes out unleashing her hardest slashing rights and whip-arm hooks and BACKING DANI UP! Fishel simply unprepared for hurricane weather--beaten back under a torrent of slinging lefts and rights to the face--shorter girl lathered to the ropes and being belted as crowd roars to its feet. Knightley never better--widespread stance so she can lean in and out on Dani--limber-limbed wallop, lanky combinations stroking and clocking Dani’s jaw lines, chin, cheeks, Fishel arms crossed, trying to slide along the ropes--Keira stepping with and keeping up the torrid pace, long arms just licking and lashing as Fishel dips and bends, just trying to weather it. Bell to bell Keira--Brit’s cut in the mouth, bleeding from the nostril and humming from abuse, but plucky as she grins, nods her head in acknowledgement at job well done from Keira. Knightley given 10-8 for total dominance and flush, cracking contact--Fishel’s legs holding firm under Keira’s most determined leather.

R2,3: They flip flop rounds--Keira taking the third, Dan I the second. Keira has to make a razor-fine judgement--too much movement and she’s running, not enough and she’s getting hit by the veteran slugger--real cat and mouse rounds develop as a result. Fishel unable to corner or rope her girl just yet, but Dani the clear aggressor, coming forward with a Frazier-esque bob and creep, stepping over to cut off the ring, using her own stubby jab to interrupt the longer girl’s rhythm.

R4: Dani settling in--surprising Knightley with the ability to cut off the ring and come up punching--Keira feeling the heat to her ribs and chest as Fishel gets there with straight bang/bang one-twos , then dips and digs hooks to the right flank. Keira stepping along the perimeter, minimizing Dani’s chances, but shorter gal pounding away brisk with 3 punch rat-tat--Fishel showing much improved hand speed and straighter punches of late.

R5: Dani mixing it up--stepping over and sometimes leading with stubby straight rights, finding Keira’s chin--sometimes driving righty to the body, coming back upstairs the hook--sometimes spanking the one-two up top, then hanging around to get the sharp left uppercut off the front foot. Midway through it all adds up--Dani pounding away short and straight up top in rapid sequences, stabilizing Keira against the ropes, then sinking a gorgeous left hook to the liver, sweet above the trunk-line: KEIRA GOES DOWN! Knightley turning away, sinking to her knees with a sob--she’s gut shot, badly hurt, but gets to her feet for woozy 8. Fishel wades in all grins, ready to finish--Keira to Dani: “DENIED!” Knightley with a squall of rising, licking lefts and rights, beats back one Fishel assault after another--Dani simply unable to storm the gates, gets lathered for her efforts as Knightly won’t be rolled. Fishel grinning, slapping mitts with Keira--Dani’s respect being earned tonight by the willowy Brit.

R6,7: Cue comeback--Keira starts to get it together, Knightley using every inch of ring, jabbing like a madwoman, ringing Dani up with straight right hands and scrubbing straight lefts in combination--anything to keep the little pug at bay. Fishel coming forward, but getting scoured--she’s being beaten to punches as Double K scrubs, steps to the side and moves to a new position. Knightley using her height--limiting Dani to one or two reaching blows at a time--Fishel walking through every Knightley punch, but still getting touched uo as Keira puiles up points through 7.

R8: Great Keira Knightley round ruined by a savage Fishel hook on the chops late--Dani relentlessly narrowing the gap, finally getting to the chin and spilling a dazed Keira to the ropes. Gut check Knightley as she puts face in gloves, leans forward elbows in and soaks up a dreadful beating in the final minute. Dani just palming the tall girl’s hips back, twisting her torso and laying in heartstopping Frazier left hooks to the waist. Keira muffling screams behind her mitts, but toughs it out--Dani shaking her head in admiration as long limbed gal refuses to go down at the bell.

R9: Shutout Dani Fishel--mostly a result of Keira running, but a few sequences see Fishel trap Knightley ropeside and work her over. Dani pushing her head between Keira’s mitts, fighting off her chest in spots and savaging that beltline--Fishel in her element, beatig the stuffing out if the taller woman’s midsection.

R10: Keira just won’t go away. British lips pulled back in a hard working snarl--she lopes, steps and pivits around Dani, luring her forward, jabbing her, potshot ting her, then spins out of harm’s way. Keira with nice moves along the ropes, bouncing left then right then left, walking Dani into lead right uppercuts or looping right hands on the ear before sidestepping to fresh canvas. Fishel can’t pin Keira down, can’t line her up--this thing goes to the cards. Comes back as well received draw.

After: Fishel chagrined, but immediately hugging and congratulating young Keira for a brilliant effort--Knightley surviving, doing damage, and boxing her heart ot to earn a scrappy ie with the former champ. “I think the judges were a little generous to Keira tonight,” says Dani with a rueful smile, “but I gotta give her credit. I knew she’d be mobile and tricky, but this girl is wiry-tough too. I got into her with some vicious licks, and I could hear her screaming from my body blows, but she refused to quit andf I really admire that. I’d give her the first round no doubt--she ambushed me good--but after that, I think I pretty much carried the action, but hey--them’s the breaks.” Knightley with a slightly different perspective: “Dani came forward as expected, but she was not as expected as even I though she’d be. I expected to outbox her, which I did, but I didn’t know I could hurt her as badly as I did. I consistently rocked Danielle Fishel tonight, embarrassed her with my hand speed and long legs--I don’t know what else I have to do to get a nod from these American judges who seem overly impressed by a girl’s willingness to take punches.” Ouch, sounds like somebody’s still not convinced.

Reposted by Archer 8/14/12.