Posted by Simguy on 8/6/2005, 9:21 am.

Before: Lane fighting more often in conjunction with movie marketing—40-somethuing beauty, not thought of as a title threat any longer, but veteran feels she still has a few tricks for betty-come-latelies like Hilarie. “Definitely, I can show Burton a thing or two,” says classy brunette in prefight. “She’s basically getting by one size—she knows if she moved up where she belongs she’s get eaten alive—so I don’t think she can box with me. I’d love to hang a loss on her—I’m old enough to be her mother for God’s sake!” Burton gushing with admiration for Lane—dream come true for curly-headed blonde to be facing well-respected veteran. “I just love the way she conducts herself, and I always used to cheer for her back in her championship days—she’s everything a celebrity fighter is supposed to be. She showed against Sienna that she’s still got a whole lot to offer—as far as I’m concerned, I’ll be facing vintage Lane, and win, lose, oir draw—that’s a real thrill! Lane in scruffy ponytail, red cotton top, royal blue cotton bottoms—Burton in black cotton two piece, boat neck top. Small gloves both vixens.

During R1: Burton showing her long, rigid jab—Lane dukes at temples, weaving her torso, negotiating blonde stick. Tactical range-management first minute, then Lane jabs her way into  Hilly’s chest, chops her a tidy right hand on the jaw, chops it again to tilt Burton’s weight onto her right foot. Biting left hook/chopping right on the chin and BURTON GOES DOWN! Hilarie right back up at 2, eyes wide, cheeks flushed—flash knockdown a result of Lane’s up-tempo, high volume approach early. Action resumes—Burton trying to punch-with but getting worked over—Lane stub-jabbing her way in and batting away hooks, pesky crosses, working up and down torso to overwhelm Hilly to bell.

R2: Lane mimicking Wayne McCullough: flicking, spitting jabs; rigid lathering hooks; pokey straight rights; herky-jerk head movement. Burton on her heels—pesky attack batting her arms, flanks, chest, skull—she looks like she’s trying to fend of an angry swarm of bees. Burton buffeted off balance, squinting and frowning with effort as she punches back, but Lane’s volume decisive. Left, left, right, left, right—raindrop combinations rake and pester Hilarie, destabilizing her—midway through a series of chopping rights to the head, pair of clipping hooks on the chin and BURTON SCOOTS TO HER BUTT! Hills unhurt, batting the canvas in disappointment and rising for 8--Lane crouching, bobbing and weaving her way back in to continue the attack at the ropes, Burton under siege—gloves up as she slides along the ropes—trying to chop short rights down onto Lane or fend her off with the jab. Di just lathering, chopping, batting—touching Burton hip to head. Bell—Di with a hard working grin, blows hair out of her eyes en route to her corner.

R3: Lane attacking, bobbing, weaving, stepping side to side—she’s pressing the pace, bewildering Hilarie with up tempo bop.  Di reaching in to tug top and trunks, earning stern warnings from the ref: veteran doing anything it takes to unravel her young opponent, Burton slowly getting on track, pumping her jab despite taking head shots, gradually poking Diane a step further outside than she’s been., Down the stretch, Hilly’s jab banging and prodding at Lane, forcing her to block and bob—Burton able step around, get a little breathing room. Break; Syren patiently coaching the kid to get that same distance, start working 40 year-old midsection.

R4: Hilly following instructions to the letter. Long, stiff jab ringing Diane up now, keeping her on the outside. Burton able to come forward with jabs and crosses, putting pretty poke together as Lane retreats. Big banging body shots—Hilarie lapping up underneath with long-armed delivery against Lane’s classy chassis—Di’s lips pursed as she staggers back. Tries to regroup. Burton’s slender arms shiver on hard contact with lane’s ribcage—40 something legs starting to quiver as Burton goes over to offense full time., Softened up to the body, Lane’s head becomes available—she takes several hard, extended right hands and banging hooks from lanky blonde at the bell.

R5: Lane breathing hard: combinations on her own kamikaze early pace, Hilarie’s pounding body attack, and devastating right crosses to end last round. Burton hopping out, eyes bright—she gets back to jabbing, sloping the punch down onto Di’s mouth and chin. Lane backing up—Hilly extending on whistling right hands, now landing with sickening pop on Lane’s left eye/cheek. Spanking shots have Di’s knees unhinged—she’s starting to stagger and reel—punching back mindlessly, nothing on the blows. Hilly –jab startling Di/right hand POUNDING her face back—crowd starting to gasp and wince as Lane starts to soak up unacceptable punishment,. Drilling one-twos force Di to ropes: Hilly stepping-to, shifts hips and RIPS a lashing hook up against Di’s sternum. Shout of pain—Lane sagging into ropes, undone by the body shot—Hilly piles on with long right hands to the top of Di’s head, ripping lefts up underneath until, ref steps in. TKO5 Hilarie Burton as a trembling Diane Lane is cradled to safety.

After: Youth served as Lane’s strategy posts her to a commanding points lead, but cougar brunette can’t maintain the breakneck pace necessary to keep blonde under wraps. No hard feelings in aftermath—Lane with her left arm around Hilly’s waist as girls chat on camera. Di: “I gave it my best. My only shot was to knock this kid out before she knew what hit her and I DID get to her, but she just wouldn’t quit. My hat’s off to her—she kept her composure, rallied and took it to me--lots of young fighters wouldn’t have done that.,” Burton beaming at Lane’s praise—means a lot to a developing talent, “You know, she totally upset our game plan early,” HIlarie admits. “She knocked me down and I’m like ‘what the hell—I thought she was supposed to be the finesse fighter tonight!” I was all at sea in those first two rounds--she was hitting me all over my body, on my arms--I just couldn’t get on track, but that’s why a good corner is so important, Syren kept me focused--it was jab, get to her body, take her legs, take her out—all in that order.

Reposted by Archer 5/27/13