Posted by Simguy on 11.5.2004, 6:49 am.

Before:  Katie’s first foray in the ring since getting whitewashed by HISC—Holmes focused on the future. “I don’t want to talk about HISC, what they did to me, or all that stuff that happened afterwards. The bottom line is, I’ve wanted to fight Emily for a long time, but HBO said it couldn’t happen until I raised my profile. Well, if getting trounced by tramps is what it took, I’m thankful: I’m getting the fights I need now to really grow in this sport.” Vancamp a lithe young dancer without pro experience—would be write-off except for the fact that she’s a WB girl. “At the WB, you fight—not ‘spar’: fight,” says Emily very serious at the mic. “I’m no cupcake,” Emily in pale blue and white tartan print bikini, bra straps, white shoes and gloves, battle bun—Katie in pink bikini, bra straps, black shoes and gloves, battle bun.

During R1: Nasty shock for Holmes early—Emily can move. Vancamp walking smartly around Katie, stopping o lean in with gloves at her temples, then stepping back the way she came. Fluttering jabs from Em, opportunistic right hands straight to midriff or face—Vancamp not punching through the target, but she’s got switchblade quick hands—touching Katie early. Holmes hanging back, assessing, dukes up, weight on right leg as she pivots, just keeping Emily I front of her. Round: Vancamp.

R2: Emily dictating with her feet—scowling over her shoulder at Katie when well out of range an walking briskly to the right., Em stopped suddenly to reach a left in on tanned Katie gut, fluttering lefts up at Katie’s face—Holmes tentative, blocking shots upstairs, turning. Towards round’s end, Emily growing in confidence, releasing her hands in scrubbing shoe-shining combinations, then turning either Katie flank to escape. Holmes drops a shutout—unhurt, but perplexed through 2.

R3: Katie contests midring with her jab, discovers that Emily can either move or punch, but she’s not able to do both. Vancamp popped in the mouth as she’s outjabbed, goes to the bicycled and now Katie’s stalking, Holmes not landing much, but she’s clearly the aggressor, walking Emily down, tapping out clawing left hands in series against Vancamp’s pale right flank.

R4: Em’s legs a difference-maker: spring, tireless—she’s undressing Katie with footwork. Midway through, Emily shears in off Katie’s left shoulder, feathers two jabs to the forehead and bites down on a humming right cross to the chin—pins and needles in Katie’s backside as she soaks up sock. Holmes’ butt back, head forward, dukes at her temples—she’s stunned long enough for Emily to claw away hooks to the extended flank—Vancamp baring her teeth as she gets after Holmes. Katie able to recover late, punchig right hands down the middle and backing Vancamp up—Emily not a puncher, has to give way.

R5: Katie adjusting out of respect for Emily’s balletic footwork. Holmes thrusting the jab, laying it over Em’s right shoulder and tugging Vancamp behind the head—Katie able to shove right hands to taut breadbasket, cram away to Emily’s tidy rack, and jam righty to jaw, all while pulling, spinning Vancamp off balance, Emily completely flummoxed—can’t fight inside at all—not Katie’s forte either but she correctly reads the situation and  acts accordingly. Att he bell, discouraged Emily asks red “Can she do that?”, gesturing to the back of her head—the guy just shrugs. Katie all business in her corner—hard eyed.

R6: Katie has a plan—pounding away jabs to discourage Emily’s leggy rushes, riding the left around Vancamp’s head to anchor, then scuffing her up holding and hitting. Emily tugged forward and around to her right, constantly off balance as Holmes lugs home body shots, jug mug and chin music—constant scraping, plugging, mauling assault. Katie gets Emily ropeside and bullies her: left hand cupping Em’s ear, right scraping away tight uppercuts inside.

R7: Katie pouring herself at Emily—Vancamp’s early lead disintegrating as she can’t answer Holmes’ aggression. Katie busting Emily up with early jabs, exposing another Vancamp weakness: Em’s defence is 100% legs—no head movement. Then it’s holding and hitting, Katie the stronger vixen, but more importantly, finding ways to USE that strength—tugging and pulling while punching Emily all around the ring. HISV lessons well learned: Katie’s going body, reaming away downstairs with either hand while holding Emily around the neck—Vancamp grimacing, just sick about it. Emily wobbly butt en route to her corner—that’s three straight rounds of being b###h-slapped by Katie.

R8: More Katie, Holmes cruising now—she’s solved the early problems, made the correct reads, now she’s executing well to clean up. Emily can’t handle that pounding jab on her pretty face, half turning away from it, scattering to the ropes. Katie walking her don, reaching the left to take control around the head, then jamming away righty. Vancamp’s rack comes under heavy attack this round as Holmes mauls E, along the ropes—smudging right hands and forearms smear across jug as Vancamp whimpers in protest Katie pouring it on, glorying in her strength: she’s finally got someone under foot and she’s not letting up one bit.

R9: Eighth round broke Emily, you can see it in her eyes: psychologically, she’s quit—body and limbs alone want to keep on fighting: always a mistake, Holmes jabbing, getting Emily backing straight up and CRASHING righty to jaw to spill Vancamp woozy ropeside. Emily a tragic sight, head lolling, eyes unfocused, hands up in  a limp parody of defence and Katie goes to town. Holmes like we’ve never seen her , batting away fearless to the waist and flanks, butting her guard tuff into Emily’s shoulders to prop her up, putting rigid long armed combinations together body, body, head, Ringsiders start screaming for fight to be stopped in the first minute—ref taking a close look, lets it go on. And on. And on. Holmes sweating freely, all frothed up, but fitness is good—she keep[s strapping on the hurt, Emily defenceless, just staring into punches and taking them: right hands in the ribs have her crippled, hooks and rights to the head have her lumping up. Final minute—Katie’s just propping Emily up an extended left in the chest, clinging her up for drifting right hands I the mouth—Em’s head jerking back, then lolling forward, eyes hollow. Katie heartless, pouring the punishment to Emily and FINALLY the ref steps in. Vancamp collapsing fast asleep in the man’s arms—Holmes thrusting mitts high and stomping away the TKO9 victor.

After: Katie’s best showing as a pro—clearly hard rounds vs HISC and quality sparring at BSE has gotten the Holmes Express on track. “I wanted to be tall and box her,” explains Katie in post fight, “but it just wasn’t working—I had to get on her and take her legs out of the fight,. My corner reminded me of cat Bell so I started riding the left on Emily to control her, went to her body to leech away her energy and I just wore her down.” Tractorpull cub reminding Katie that holding and hitting’s not strictly legal. “And it’s not strictly illegal either,” glares Holmes. “If you’re asking me to feel sorry for Emily—don’t. No way was I going to let her bear me tonight. No way.”

Reposted by Archer 12/13/09.