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30 May 2015 Claire Danes vs Alyson Michalka

Page history last edited by Vassago 8 years, 7 months ago

OFFICIAL SSB PPV

Posted by Lookout! Boxing on May 30, 2015, 10:22 am

Claire Danes vs. Alyson Michalka
Words: Front Street / Results: Lookout!)

BEFORE:

Both girls clearly remember their first fight, and for different reasons. For Claire, the UD10 loss to Michalka was her first at bantam after running off six consecutive wins upon stepping up to the weight. "I underestimated her a little the first time," Claire admits. "I'd been knocking the bantams down like bowling pins, and I knew some of the girls I'd beaten, Wilde, McAdams, were better than her. But, I've seen her act now, and the result will be different this time around."

Michalka remembers the first fight, too. The win propelled her to her first title shot, and she used that shot to defeat Grace Park and claim the belts for the first, and, so far, only time in her career. She also remembers that when Danes held the belts last year, the name "Aly Michalka" was, conveniently, not mentioned when it came time to defend the titles. "Here's the thing," Aly says with a smile, "I'm better than her. I proved it once. I'll prove it again."

ROUND ONE:

Danes right to work with her left hand, double popping her jab, seizing the initiative right off the bell. Michalka patient. She's seen this act before. Claire jabs, jabs, waits for counters, ducks and slips, then returns fire in combination. Danes forcing Aly to turn, keeping her a half-step behind, and always keeping up the annoying fire from the left hand. The younger woman mostly holds her fire. She's working geometry here, figuring angles, working to time what Danes is doing. When there's an opening, Michalka drops in right hands, looking to land something big and get Danes' attention, but Claire too slick for that. Danes is in rhythm, and that's not where you want her to be. She's putting punches together, keeping Michalka on her back foot and on the defensive, tightening her control as the round goes on until, by the bell, it's all Claire claiming an easy, breezy first and the 10-9 lead.

ROUND TWO:

Claire back to work on the same terms. That left jab the key to everything. Constantly in Michalka's face. Pop. Pop. Pop. Danes patient with the right. Only bringing it to bear when she's created the opening she's looking for. Michalka content, again, to play defense, to turn with, to look for an opening for the big right hand. But, again, Claire not providing same. She's careful and aggressive at the same time, piling up points, keeping Aly off balance, playing defense with her offense and offense with her defense. Michalka getting touched quite a bit, responding in spots, even putting some punches together pretty well down the stretch, but unable to really get her offense going or to land any power shots. It's Claire's round again, and the lead is now 20-18.

ROUND THREE:

Danes executing her fight plan to perfection, jab, jab, turn. Slipping responses, keeping Michalka slightly behind the curve. Aly stays patient. Keeps working counters. Not willing to open herself up and take chances. Sooner or later. Sooner. BOOM! A scintillating right hand through a key hole from the younger woman changes things immediately. Danes is GOBSMACKED! Claire staggers, nearly goes down, and is immediately driven into full retreat. Michalka gets the big guns firing, gets them on target, sends Claire into the ropes and keeps her there with barrage after barrage of heavy shell. Danes' legs are shaken again and again, but the former champion ships the damage and stays afloat. When the bell rings, Michalka's taken the round wide, but Danes has survived the onslaught and still has a 29-28 lead.

ROUND FOUR:

The fact that Claire does not try to immediately restore order tells you all you need to know about where she is to begin the round. Still buzzed and playing for time. And, don't think Michalka doesn't know that. She also knows that Danes will expect her to double down at this point, meaning that is the exact wrong thing to do. So, Michalka takes no chances. Instead of shoving chips to the middle of the table looking for an early stoppage, she consolidates. She works the jab, takes canvas from a retreating Claire, bangs in as many rights as she can find room for. She takes everything Claire gives her and creates even more. Danes can only fight a rearguard action in response. taking a lot more than she's giving, but giving enough to prevent Aly from going on a rampage. At the bell, it's a clean win for Michalka, who's evened things at 38.

ROUND FIVE:

Michalka back to work. Long jab in Claire's face, forward motion behind it. Danes again giving canvas, fighting defensively. Allowing Michalka to fight lead. Hang on a minute. Why is... BLAM! A short, overhand right from Danes answers all questions. Claire's baited a perfect trap and the younger fighter has walked into it. The legs shimmy and Michalka starts down but grabs her opponent to stay on her feet. The older woman then goes to work punishing the younger for that decision, ripping body then backing her up with flurries to the head. Michalka's unsteady, retreating, looking as if a stiff breeze will send her to the canvas. But, the long legs hold her up. And they may be doing her no favor, because, unable to do much more than stay on her feet, Aly's an easy target for a rampaging Claire, who takes back everything she gave up in the previous two rounds and then exacts some interest. Michalka spends two minutes taking a beating, the last 30 along the ropes. When the bell rings, Danes is seething and Aly reeling and Claire has a 48-47 lead.

ROUND SIX:

Now it's the Hall of Famer looking to consolidate. Claire after Aly right off the bell, but finds the younger blonde capable of spirited resistance. The legs may not be all the way back, but Michalka has enough under her to fire back with some power. Claire quickly realizes she's not going to run over her rival and changes tactics, back to the jab and turn. She's popping that left, looking to slip receipts, then coming back with right hands. Aly countering well, however, getting her own back in some spirited exchanges that see both women land heavy leather. Danes turns up the heat a bit late in the round, gets Aly over to the defensive for a spell, and piles up some key points with the left hand. Those last 30 seconds are the difference in a fairly close round that goes to Danes and expands her lead to 58-56.

ROUND SEVEN:

Claire's found something she likes. Not good, Jobu. Not good. Danes is combining accuracy, volume, and slick movement to force Michalka to a defensive posture and reduce her to the odd solid counter. But, while Aly's landing good punches, they're all one offs. Claire's putting together flurries and getting leather home, scoring points and keeping Michalka from getting much going. Aly's getting both out boxed and out foxed. Until she ends all that noise with ANOTHER keyhole right hand counter. Danes wobbles, stumbles, nearly goes down. Michalka pours into the breach and batters Claire into the ropes, where she pounds her both to the head and body for the next 90 seconds. Danes keeps the guard high, does enough to keep the referee at bay, but takes quite the pounding. But, again, she's still standing at the end of the round...and still leading 67-66.

ROUND EIGHT:

NOW is the time to double down, and that's exactly what Michalka does. She doesn't throw caution to the wind. She uses sound tactics. But, she's clearly making an effort to end this right now. Danes knows it, and Danes manages it well. She gives ground. She plays defense. She plays for time. Michalka's doing most of the scoring, and Claire knows it. She's also OK with it. She knows the younger fighter's using a ton of energy, using up key reserves. She knows if she can survive this onslaught, avoid any big punches, she'll have the advantage down the stretch. And Claire avoids the big punches. For a little over two minutes. This one isn't a keyhole right, it's the last punch of a heavy flurry, a right hook that rocks Danes and sends her staggering stumbling to her right. Michalka virtually LEAPS forward after the stricken Hall of Famer and wobbles her with a left hook before DROPPING her with a straight right hand! Danes goes flat on her back with 30 seconds left in the round! Danes lays with eyes open, staring up at the lights, until the count reaches five. She then rolls to her belly and pushes to hands and knees. But she can get no further! The count passes her by with her head down, staring at the mat, and your winner by KO8 is Alyson Michalka!

AFTER:

Aly all smiles in the post-fight. "I don't want to say I told you so," she says with a grin, "But, I told you so. She's great and all, a Hall of Famer, a champion at two weights. But, like I said, I'm better than her. I proved it before. And, tonight, I proved it again. And, Anna and Olivia? I'm better than both of you. You know my number. Give me a call and I'll prove THAT, too."