Natalie Portman versus Millie Bobby Brown

BEFORE:

Very intriguing flyweight battle sees Hall of Famer and seemingly permanent top-level contender Natalie battling this years wunderkind, Millie Bobby Brown. And, it's clear to see that the younger woman isn't at all intimidated by the task that awaits her. "Obviously, she's a top flyweight," says the British beauty. "But. There's a reason I've never lost in the FCBA. And, Natalie's about to know that reason."

"Popping cherries," says Portman with a smile. "That's what I'm all about."

ROUND ONE:

Lots of recon here, making it immediately clear how much the always-aggressive Millie respects Natalie. This isn't the "go get her" Ms. Brown we so often see. She's boxing clever now, moving the head, hands, and feet, probing, showing plenty of caution. For her part, Natalie getting the lay of the land. She's using the jab, playing the angles, judging her rival's speed, even trying to get a sense of her power, all while scoring some points. British beauty is playing that exact same game. She's gathering information for future use, and getting some work done while she does it. Result is a two-way round in which no one is able to gain much of an edge. Thus, when the bell sounds ending the first stanza, it's very, very close...but it's Millie, who moves out to the 10-9 lead.

ROUND TWO:

Same again, as far as the two-way round is concerned, but now the recon is complete, so both fighters are beginning to implement their battle plans. For Millie, is forward motion behind the jab, looking to step to middle distances, hook head and body. For Natalie? All about boxing. She's putting the jab in Brown's lovely face, then tossing right hands off it, mostly to the head, but, on occasion, and always punishingly, to the ribs or belly. Those are purpose punches, and they are serving a purpose. They've got the British beauty worrying about body shots, and that's a good thing for Portman, as it's helping her work upstairs. Once again, there's very, very little in it, and, when the bell rings, it's Brown who manages to grab the points by the slimmest of margins to lead 20-18.

ROUND THREE:

A little more aggression from Brown. Younger brunette continues to show proper respect for Natalie's abilities, but she's looking to press the offensive a bit more now. Until a sharp little hook to the belly stops her cold. Brown nearly doubles over and PORTMAN ROCKS HER WITH A RIGHT HOOK TO THE CHIN! Mille all wobbly butt and Queen Natalie begins pouring on the punishment and DOWN GOES BROWN! Millie dropped to her back after a NASTY flurry by Portman and Natalie heads to a neutral corner. Millie staring up at the ref, eyes all aflutter. Manages to six up at seven and baaaarrreeeelly beat the count. Ref thinks about it during the mandatory but waves on Portman! Natalie letting the hands go in a MAJOR way, backing the younger woman into the ropes and letting her have it. Ref watching closely, but Brown does juuusssttt enough to keep him at bay to the bell. It's a huge 10-8 round for Natalie, though, and we're even at 28.

ROUND FOUR:

Clinical. That's the term for Natalie's fourth round destruction of Millie. Brown's on wobbly legs and Portman knows it. She also knows how to take FULL advantage of it. She walks the younger brunette down behind that jab and punishes her with hard right hands. She works mostly upstairs, but she doesn't forget about those nasty body shots, working ribs and tummy with those short, sharp hooks. It's desperate stuff for Brown. She's just trying to stay alive here and taking a terrific beating doing it. There are times when it looks like the ref may step in to end it, but he doesn't. And, there are times when it looks like Brown is ready to go. But she doesn't. Thus, when the bell rings, the Brit is still on her feet, but Natalie's pitched a shutout and now leads 38-37.

ROUND FIVE:

Portman in control early. Brown still feeling the effects of the punishment of the last two rounds. About midway through, though, Millie begins to stabilize her front and fight back on more even terms. Second half of the round looks a lot like the first two rounds, as the younger woman gets back in rhythm, moves to those middle distances, lands some hooks to head and body, scores some points. For her part, Natalie manages. She works the left hand, drops in the rights, always looking to put that jab in the British beauty's face. Second half looks, on the cards, just like the first two rounds, very close, but with Millie doing just a bit more. But, that first half makes all the difference in the fifth. The work that Natalie got done there plays and Portman takes the points to extend her lead to 48-46.

ROUND SIX:

More two-way stuff with Millie doing a bit more early on. As the round progresses, however, Portman makes a slight adjustment. She's doubling the jab now, and it makes a difference. She gets Brown out of rhythm, keeps her at bay for the most part. Millie can't penetrate to middle distances, can't get to spots like she wants. As a result, the geometry is all wrong for the younger woman, all right for Queen Natalie. Portman gets rolling in the final minute, putting together punches and tossing the British beauty to the back foot. Brown lands some nice counters in spots, but that's all she can do as Natalie, behind a bit on the cards at the midway point, makes up the stagger and pulls into the lead by the time the bell rings. Portman's now taken four straight stanzas to lead 58-55.

ROUND SEVEN:

Millie adjusting to the double-tap jab with a higher guard and more movement. She's angling, slipping, dipping, working hard to get to spots and managing to do that. Result is Brown slowly beginning to take control of the round, forcing Natalie onto the defensive with hard, accurate combinations. About two minutes in...BOOM! Right hand MILLIE and Natalie is HURT! Portman wobbles, nearly goes down, and Brown goes all in looking to finish this thing. She's POURING fire on her rival, driving the Hall of Famer into the ropes and working her over with both hands. She's digging a little body, but mostly firing away upstairs looking to finish this thing. Nat forms the tight ear muff, blocks, rolls, hangs on to the bell. When it rings, Brown's taken the round wide, but still trails 67-65.

ROUND EIGHT:

Brown looking to finish now. She's walking in behind the left, backing Natalie up with hard right hands. Portman giving ground, snapping out the jab, looking to slow the younger woman, but having little success doing it. Instead, it's Millie who's in command, landing punches in bunches, looking for the finisher, and, two minutes in, BOOM! A right hand and DOWN GOES NATALIE! Portman dropped to her back by a NASTY straight right! Brown quickly to a neutral corner to watch and wait. Portman rolls to hands and knees at six, to her feet at eight. Ref gives her the mandatory, waves on Brown. Millie a house afire, driving all before her, pinning Portman to the ropes and just RIPPING punches at her. Ref looking in closely...and HE'S SEEN ENOUGH! He bundles Natalie to safety and it's OVER! And your winner by TKO8 and winner of her eleventh straight is Millie Bobby Brown!

AFTER: