Dove Cameron versus Natalie Portman

BEFORE:

To quote Ringo Starr, "Oh, My My." HISC is offering one of it's periodic intra-stable clashes, and this one has absolutely everything. Here you have a pair of brunettes who went from struggling ingenue to champion, a pair of top contenders, a pair of fighters who have proven they can beat anyone in the flyweight division. The biggest difference between the two? Fourteen years.

In one corner is Queen Natalie Portman, eleven time champion and Hall of Famer, who, at 41, continues to beat elite competition. In the other? Dove Cameron, the Consortium's latest successful project, taken from the scrap heap to wearing gold thanks in no small part to the work of HISC and Michelle Williams. So, who's getting her hand raised tonight, the brilliant veteran whose tactical wiles have enabled her to defy father time, or the recently-minted champion, champing at the bit to get that gold back around her waist? As you might imagine, opinions are mixed.

"Dove is quite good," Natalie admits. "And, Michelle has taught her everything she knows. What Ms. Cameron is about to find out, however, is that Michelle hasn't taught her everything I know."

"Natalie is in the Hall," says Dove with a nod, "And, she belongs there. But. Her time has passed. My time is NOW."

ROUND ONE:

Both fighters have their advantages, and Dove puts hers center stage in the first. The younger brunette is quicker, more athletic, and she immediately makes with the legs. She's bouncing and jabbing, sticking and moving, never in one place for any length of time. Natalie's trying to box with, looking to locate with the left, then follow on with rights, but, she's having a LOT of trouble finding. Because, Cameron's just not THERE. Oh, she WAS there, but now she's HERE. And, then she's gone again. It's brilliant stuff from the younger woman, who's clearly got a fantastic fight plan and has the ability to execute it. Final seconds see Dove doing the Ali shuffle in the middle of the ring, bringing fire to her rival's eyes. When the bell rings, there's zero doubt about the points. It's Cameron wide to lead 10-9.

ROUND TWO:

Of course, fight plan or no, that's NATALIE FREAKIN' PORTMAN in the other corner. You've got a plan? So did Custer. Natalie has an answer. It involves high gloves and more movement. Portman's keeping the guard up, getting the feet going, working to cut the ring while blocking those jabs from the younger woman, and, when she can, countering back effectively. All of a sudden, Dove can't range around the ring boxin' and misbehavin' anymore and it makes a difference. Instead of Cameron taking control of the round and running away with it, we've got good, two-way stuff here, with Portman giving as good as she gets. Into the final thirty seconds, everything is in doubt, and, that's when Natalie, like the crafty veteran she is, puts together three good combinations to steal the points narrowly and even things at 19.

ROUND THREE:

More of the same. Two way stuff with Dove trying to find open canvas and Portman working to limit her opportunities to range around the ring. It's great tactical stuff on both sides, and, while Natalie's again, giving as good as she gets, it's actually Dove who's impressing. Cameron's playing the tactical game with a technician as good as there is in the FCBA, and she's playing it on very even terms. This is NOT the Dove Cameron who joined HISC. This is a different animal altogether, one who looks every bit like a girl who's going to become a regular with the belts...much like the woman on the other end of her punches. Again, it's very, very close into the final seconds, and, this time, both women get busy late. When the bell rings, it's even closer than round two, but Portman takes the points again and leads 29-28.

ROUND FOUR:

And, still more. Tactical boxing at the highest level now, cat and mouse stuff. It's all about getting your girl where you want her. Feints, slips, dips, quick combinations. Movement of head, hands, feet. All in the service of creating an opening for leather to bang into face. And, while both women do that very well, the majority of the fire is still slipped or blocked. The defense being played here is fantastic, but if either brunette is frustrated by seeing so much good shot go to waste, you can't tell by the effort. They just keep working, hard but smart, keep moving, keep looking to wrong foot or slip and counter. And, once again, there's very, very little in it the entire way. This time, though, when the bell rings, it's Dove who's taking the points narrowly, and, after four, we're all even.

ROUND FIVE:

Right back to tactical stuff to start the fifth. Again, we're on even terms, boxing with Dove moving and Natalie cutting and nothing in it...BOOM! Right hand, PORTMAN! Natalie keyholes a beauty and DOVE IS HURT! Cameron stumbling backward and Portman all in, letting the hands go, battering her rival back into the ropes and then GOING BODY in a big way! Dove in that tight earmuff and Natalie making her pay. Portman upstairs here and there, but right back down, where she ravages ribs and tenderizes tummy. GOOD right by Natalie with thirty seconds to go sends Dove stumbling along the ropes. Ref on a hair-trigger now as Cameron clinches, literally holding on to try to run clock. Portman shoves off, stacks, gets back to work. But, before she can finish, the bell sounds. It's a big round for Portman, who takes it very wide and pulls into the 48-47 lead at the half. But. Dove is still standing.

ROUND SIX:

Natalie pushing forward, pushing the pace. She's working Dove to head and body. Younger woman giving ground, playing for time, looking to get the legs back under he...BOOM! Right hand, CAMERON! Dove with a SCINTILLATING counter and now NATALIE is hurt! Portman's all wobbly-butt as Dove goes over to the offensive, backing up the older woman and trapping her on the cables for a little payback. Nat's got the body on sale this time, but the younger woman's not buying at any price. She's ALL about the upstairs, banging punches off Natalie's guard and managing to break through with more than a few of them. Ref again on high alert as Cameron looks to finish, but, like Portman was in the fifth, Dove is frustrated on that account. The bell rings with Natalie still on her feet, and, while Cameron takes it wide to even things at 57, well. She may regret letting the Hall of Famer off the hook.

ROUND SEVEN:

Cameron now the one coming forward. She's walking Natalie down behind the jab, but showing plenty of respect for the Hall of Famer. She's well aware of Portman's ability to turn this thing on a dime, just like Dove herself did in the previous round. So, it's aggression, but SOUND aggression, and it's very effective. Natalie's able to stay off the ropes, but she's taking a thumping from the younger woman, being backed up and touched up for the first two minutes. Then. BOOM! Right hand, CAMERON and Natalie is in deep trouble. Portman nearly goes down and Dove OPENS UP with everything she has. And, it's all too much. Natalie's head snapped with a right hook and she BONELESSLY noses in at Dove's feet! Cameron throwing her hands over her head in victory as she heads to a neutral corner. She knows what she's done. The ref will count, but it's a formality. Natalie is down and OUT and it's OVER! And your winner by KO7 is Dove Cameron!

AFTER:

Dove scuffed but smiling in the post-fight. It's a huge win for her, and she's not hiding that fact. "I knew I'd get her," the brunette says with a smile. "But. A lot of OTHER people DIDN'T know that. I've been hearing this 'flash in the pan' stuff long enough. I'm legit. This is REAL. I'm as good as it gets at flyweight. Get used to it."