PHOTOS COURTESY BI PHOTO LAB

Posted by Simguy on 5/1/2004, 11:16 am.

Before: Styles and physique saw so wildly opposite, girls succeeded in negating each other for a 10 round draw last time out. “I think the draw looked better on Keira than t did me,” says Dani “Even if she goes the distance with me, it looks like she’s scrappy and competitive, so I have to knock her out to really get it across to people that this girl isn’t on my level, The only thing is--she’s a difficult style for me--it’s very hard to impose your will on Keira.” Knightley taking away slightly different lessons from the first fight. “There’s been altogether too much emphasis put upon Dani’s power and hw that’s the decisive factor between us,” says an earnest Keira. “Fact of the matter is--I hurt Dani in the last fight and people aren’t recognizing that. There will be shock in the boxing world when I lather Dani into a stupor and stop HER with sheer class.” Jaunty cropped peasant-girl top, navy with baby blue lacing up the front, navy boy cut trunks with similar lacing, white shoes Keira--teal sports bra, gray stretch cotton boy cut trunks, white shoes Dani.

During R1: Keira hopping and skirting the perimeter--Dani in scooting pursuit. Fishel with a shutout by default, but she’s making glancing contact only against the loping, elusive Brit in the first.

R2: Similar stuff--Keira making it a track meet, bouncing ‘round the perimeter--forcing shorter-legged Dani to practically run after her. Fishel reduced to reaching hooks as Keira dancing away, or leading with right hands in an effort to startle Knightley, Still no offence back from Keira--she’s giving away points to set tactical tone with her legs.

R3: First minute--Keira willing to scrub Dani’s face with brisk criss-cross--rangy rubdown fixing Fishel’s position long enough for Keira to slide out to the side. Dani still getting her touches to the ribcage, but still reaching--she’s dangerously exposed as she gambles to get leather on wiry meat. Down the stretch it costs Fishel: Keira able to fade Dani’s hook, lean back in with a pulverizing right on the eye--shattering blow puts little dynamo wobbly butt! Keira following up strong--licking rising lefts, sweeping rights to belt Dani ropeside. Fishel crossing arms, biobbing at the waist to ride it out--Keira putting tidy biting lefts together with whippy, lanky rights to hammer out points in the third.

R4: Dani spitting out stubby jabs to chest, negotiates Keira to ropes, has a vintage Fishel round at the expense of Knightley’s torso. Not where Keira wants to be--jammed up against the ropes, stooped forward, elbows in, dukes up, getting herself thumped. Dani squared away strong, breaks out the baseball bat--she’s tanning her girl’s hips, arms and flanks, then budging up on Keira with muscular shoulder bumps, elbow props. Fishel loving it--Keira suffering, but Knightley won’t punk. British girl keeps her chin tucked, sacrifices ribcage to keep her head fairly well protected--Dani bashes away at whatever’s for sale. Big grin at the bell Dani--quality miles put on lean young legs this round.

R5: Keira snarling, hands low--she feints in, steps right, feints, then drops a blistering hesitation right off her hip onto Dani’s jaw, getting lanky leverage on the blast and shaking Fishel to her core. Dani covering up hurt after the shock--Keira arches her back to lick the left uppercut, then leans in with a wallop right on the ear, staggering Fishel to her left. Keira stepping with, teeth bared, slugging from the hips, lifting punches up into Dani or swinging down on her--poor Fishel in a world of trouble early. Dani rides it out behind a tight guard and good head movement--by the second minute she’s able to punch out of the crouch rotating her torso to blend offense with defence and score to Knightley’s tender ribs. Keira backing up, getting torso-bludgeoned, but she grimly sticks to the “hurt Dani at all costs” plan. Pitched battle continues down the stretch, but Knightley being worn down--she’s arm punching now, looking worn and a little trembled-legged--Dani coming forward with mustard on every punch. Fishel steps in with a grazing bayonet right near the chin, straightening a startled Knightley up and back: perfect receiving position for the hook. Dani jerking into the devastating left, torquing her compact frame, swiveling Keira’s head on its long neck--British girl is out before her long back hit’s the canvas. KO5 Dani Fishel--she’s beaming as she steps through the tangle of Keira’s legs, looking down on the slumbering ruin.

After: “Took me fifteen rounds,: gushes Dani in post fight, “but I finally got to that snooty chin of hers! Really, it was just a matter of time, but I give her credit--she strung things out as long as she could. I was really afraid she’d fight the whole fight the way she did the first two rounds, but she needed to punch to score points and that’s when I nailed her.” Keira downcast in her corner--in her mind, she’s the swan, Dani’s the ugly duckling--it’s just not supposed to turn out this way. “All credit to Dani,” Keira says quietly, unable to look directly at the camera. “I shook her, and I got greedy. A few more strong blows and I would have gotten her out of there, but I should have stepped away, boxed her. It’s my mistake--I can’t say Fishel beat me so much as I beat myself--not to take anything away from her of course.”

Reposted by Archer 8/14/12