Laura Pausini versus Natasha Liu Bordizzo

BEFORE:

Bordizzo, having won four of her first five, looking like a comer, but the story tonight isn't Natasha, it's her opponent, Laura Pausini, who comes into the bout lugging a Mike Boyette-like 41 consecutive FCBA losses. "I'm SICK," says Laura, "Of talking about this losing streak. But, I guess the one way to stop talking about it is to END it. And, that's JUST what I'm going to do tonight."

"I'm not sure," says Natasha with a smile, "Why I got saddled with this JOBBER tonight, but, whatever. I'll take her out of there and move on to bigger things."


ROUND ONE:

Pausini the proverbial woman with nothing to lose. Italian goes right after the younger woman, coming straight at her, backing her up with hard right hands. Natasha not going to play this game. She's not getting into a slugfest with a heavy dog in the first round. So, she moves, circles, jabs, tries to manage the older woman's aggression...and does it pretty well. But, Pausini's accurate with hard shot. She's getting work done, even if she isn't able to hurt Bordizzo. Result is a competitive round that sees both the older and younger woman have moments, but neither able to take control of things. At the bell, it's close, but it's Pausini who leads 10-9.

ROUND TWO:

Pausini still determined to force the pace. She's stepping forward, mostly behind the jab, forcing Bordizzo back. Natasha still not willing to play this game, to trade against a girl who can hit this early in the fight. Instead, she conducts an impressive, especially considering her relative lack of experience, fighting retreat, scoring in the counter and making the Italian pay a price for every inch of canvas she takes. Plenty of hard shot is exchanged in the round, but nobody's hurt. Instead, both fighters score well and, at the bell, it's a very near thing indeed. This time, it's Bordizzo who gets the points and evens things at 19 a piece.

ROUND THREE:

Pattern now set. It's Laura coming forward, looking to bring her power to bear, and Natasha retreating, countering, not willing to get into a hammer-and-tongs situation with the Italian beauty. And, again, the result is both fighters getting work done and no one really taking contr...BOOM! Right hand, BORDIZZO! Natasha lands a BRILLIANT right hand counter, and Laura's all WOBBLY BUTT! And, NOW Natasha's going to commit. She's sitting down on punches, banging away at the retreating Italian and DOWN GOES LAURA! Pausini crashing to her back after a three-punch combination! Bordizzo to a neutral corner, but she needn't have hurried. Laura's both down and OUT and it's OVER! And your winner by KO3 is Natasha Liu Bordizzo!

AFTER:

Bordizzo all smiles in the post. "I knew this wouldn't last long," the Aussie beauty says. "It was just a matter of time. Now, it's on to bigger and better things for me!"