Posted by Simguy on Thursday, 03-Feb-2000 08:09:01

(Thanks to FightFan for this repost)

Before: Anna drawing big crowds down under, stays in Melbourne an extra week for her dust up with America's sweetheart Hamill. Critics outraged at Kournikova's ducking of Hingis, Pierce etc, but the young blonde dismisses these attacks with a toss of that blonde mane and a shrug of those broad shoulders. Hamill known for her legendary brawls with Chris Everett back in the late 70s still looks great, but a little soft to be taking on Anna at this point. Kournikova in TIGHT orange cropped T-shirt, black string bikini bottoms, long braid - Hamill in red adidas terrycloth trunks, black sports bra - pudgy around the elastic.

During R1: Dot gets off to a quick start, trapping Anna in her corner and scoring with a flurry to the tummy, but Anna pivots off a cute right uppercut to spin out of the corner, and take the fight to the center of the ring. Kournakova with her hands low and loose, spikes the jab from the waist, flicks out the right hand from a semi-extended position to beat Dorothy with reflexes alone this round.

R2: Anna using her legs gets an angle over Dorothy's left side, and keeps it with good circular movement. Kournikova with her hands very low, slaps jabs at Dorothy's face, leans back to make Hamill miss, and returns serve with a heavy right hand on the mouth that adds up over the round. By the final minute, Dorothy is fielding bombs, and Anna loads up on several crashing right hands, pounding around Hamill's guard to leave her wobbly butt at the bell. Big smile from Anna as she is in cruise control early.

R3: Anna with a big, brawling opening to the round, swings wide lefts and rights to put Dot's back to the ropes, then chugs away with lanky left and right uppercuts up the middle. Dorothy's guard droops as Anna's fists bash into her stomach and chest, and Kournikova hoots in triumph as she punches, watching Dorothy crumble. Still, Hamill won't go down, and Anna lets her off the ropes to slap her around the ring with heavy jabs the rest of the way.

R4: Anna lifting her mitts off her hips to poke straight punches in on Dot, but the lateral movement is missing, and Hamill takes advantage. Slipping the right hand, Dorothy digs a short left hook into Anna's side, and Kournikova's legs dip as the body shot numbs the blonde. Hamill quick to take advantage, pours in hooks to the hurting rib and Anna turns away, taking a knee with tears brimming. Youngster up at 8, but not recovering form, fades to the ropes and is battered as Hamill polishes up the nubile stomach and hips of her opponent.

R5: Anna still looking shaky, but her long, lanky jab and right cross are giving the more compact Hamill fits. Dorothy trying to dip under the jab, but catching it more often than not as Anna is just too quick. Midway through the round, Kournikova clouts a driving right across Dorothy's mouth, putting her wobbly butt again, and exposing her to a series of vicious potshots to the face as Anna finishes with a flourish.

R6: Anna back to the body, huddling Dorothy over with her whipping, almost awkward, but heavy body shots. Anna working without fear, leaning over from side to side to get at Dorothy's ribs in behind her elbows, and Kournikova's fists bash off the torso of the brunette in licking arcs. Shutout Anna as she works on Dorothy like a heavy bag this round, long braid dancing in rhythm.

R7: Still no quit in Hamill, who manages to bob and weave her way in and land some smacking lefts and rights to the jaw to back Anna up early. Kournikova puts out the fire with that loose, open palm jab, then settles into circling, leaning into right hands that crash hard against the side of the brunette's face. Dorothy getting puffy, looking sluggish, has absorbed a lot of leather in this fight.

R8: Hamill's best offense of the fight sees her rush Anna, clinch her up under the arms and muscle the blonde to the ropes. Shove and slug from Hamill as she fights off Anna's chest, turning into short lefts and rights across the teen's taut abdomen, and looking to twist into payoff uppercuts as Anna crumples forward. Down the stretch, Anna using the ropes to bounce back from, then counter the brunette, finally gets the rhythm. A poking lead right, bounce back, then a savage whipping left hook turns Dorothy's head to the side and sends her reeling back to center ring. Anna following up with running, wild right hands, beats Hamill back to her own corner, swiping lefts and rights across the brunette's back as Dorothy slumps over her legs at the bell.

R9, 10: Anna uses her reach, reflexes and endurance to close the show safely, not taking any chances, just poking, slapping, then leaning away from Dorothy, always circling and turning Hamill in the middle of the ring as Dot runs out of petrol. Hamill looking battered, sad as she plods after Anna, only to eat a jab or right hand, and having to turn or reset as Anna dances away. Kournikova UD10.

After: Anna capitalizing on the momentum of her legitimate upset over Kiana, portrays THIS one sided beating as an upset as well, and the euro-fans/teen mags eat it up. Knowledgeable boxing purists roll their eyes as Anna's PR machine spins gold out of the Hamill beating - and Kournikova seems to enjoy pricking the pundits while receiving popular acclaim. Cynical, sad turn of events for once effective Hamill.


Sim Guy