Posted by simguy on 8/10/2007, 7:14 am

(Thanks to FightFan for this repost)


Before: Rachel living and fighting out of Los Angeles these days - young British former-phenom committed to learning her craft on the beach and fighting her way back into contention. "It makes a huge difference," Rachel says of her decision to base herself in the Mecca of celebrity boxing. "I go to the same gym as Cameron Diaz - I get to see girls like that working out every day. I saw the pathetic effort Hannah put forth in her last fight against Virginie - I see Lucy (Pinder) struggling - and I just want to be better than that. I knew I still had it when I came back on Hayden Panettiere and almost put her out late in our fight - that's when I knew how close I was to being a great, great small-weight fighter." Ledoyen smug, dismissive of Rachel - French girl sees herself as hunter, Stevens as prey in this one. "First Hannah," Virginie says at the podium, "then Rachel. Stevens is the stronger, but the lesser of the two. I will send her back to the sand where she belongs." Virginie in vivid electric blue bikini, white gloves. Rachel in taupe bikini top, bright, summery bottoms (white with multi coloured abstract sun-disk type print); white gloves; shoulder length blonde scrapper's tousle.
During R1: Ledoyen scowling as she steps in a hard jab, really sticking Rachel, then stepping left to turn her. Stevens dukes up, bobbing and weaving forward, hurling hard leather at Virginie's ribcage. Good early thump from Rachel convinces Virginie to bop it outside - Ledoyen using her legs, pounding out a nice firm jab, controls Rachel in a feeling-out first.

R2: Stevens more effective - spitting her own stubby jab, bending forward to pull a vicious, Panettiere-busting right hand over the top, then she's inside and working. Ledoyen frowning, feeling Rachel's strength - guaging it: Virginie tucked in behind her gloves, bumping shoulders with Rache - intent on blocking and smothering Rachel's work. Stevens setting a nice healthy pace, working hard with both hands against Ledoyen's ribcage, then pushing Virginie back one step at a time. Virginie's interior defence quite good - no clean head shots catch her flush - but her body takes a drumming in the second.

R3: Stevens all-ahead-full - plowing into 'virginie, backing her up with determined rights and lefts wide to ribs. Ledoyen grimacing, but composed - she retreats to apron (but not to ropes) - staying low, keeping elbows in - diligently blocking Rachel's wide swings, then clipping back counters. Midway through - Virginie absorbs banging blows on her arms as she twists and rolls in the pocket, then answers back a slick left uppercut clean to Rachel's chin. Stevens startled, staring - she's open for a quick follow up hook to cheek and RACHEL GOES DOWN! Stevens woozy, bitterly disappointed - she punches the canvas, gets up shaky as Ledoyen's jogging to neutral corner all grins. Virginie over to offence after 8: pushing Rachel into ropes, squaring away on her, working her over supple. Ledoyen relaxed - left hand pulling Rachel's head down or pushiing Rachel back into ropes as Virginie applies a limber-limbed shellacking to bell.

R4: Ledoyen jabbing early, getting on top, turning Rache midring. Second minute - Virginie's walking Rachel onto uppercuts - French vixen getting 'em supple off either foot - swivel pivoting around to either side after landing flush. Final minute - scoring uppercuts to chin have Rachel stumbling forward groggy: she takes another wicked left uppercut/left hook combo tic-toc. Ledoyen scoots to her left off the ropes: poor stunned Rachel stumbles forward to hands and knees - left arm through the ropes as she stares out at ringside deeply discouraged.

R5: Plucky Stevens all banged up and shabby - thighs quivering as she stands - but she's still picking her dukes up, tucking her chin and trudging into Virginie. Ledoyen too fresh, too leggy - French lass lopes away from stubborn Stevens pursuit early, walking Rache into jabs, then targetting her for those limber, licking uppercuts off either foot. Stevens' pretty face popping up from flush contact - eyelashes fluttering, swollen lips parted - she's really taking a pasting. Virginie pretty as we've ever seen her - sidestepping rangy, licking accurate uppercuts, occasionally strapping sexy body shots across Rachel's trembling waist - Ledoyen equally proficient with either hand as Stevens blunders into punishment. Late the round - Rache walks into a cute right uppercut - stumbles past as Virginie sidesteps: Stevens face-first, tangled in ropes. Virginie hopping to the attack - smart right hand takes Rache in her lower back, buckling her knees - follow-up lathering beats Stevens in stupor to her back. Virginie brightening, chest heaving happily with exertion - she jogs away as Rachel groans, sprawled on her back and unable to rise. KO5 Virginie Ledoyen.

After: Stevens in tatters - looked great coming in, all reports off the beach very positive - but she gets under the bright lights of the FCBA and just doesn't perform. Ledoyen chatting with French media - frequently looking over at poor distraught Rachel blubbering on her stool: it's the frank cruelty of one starlet to another as Ledoyen doesn't disguise her glee at Rachel's misfortune.


Simguy



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