Natalie Portman Versus Ariel Winter

BEFORE:

Nothing new here for Queen Natalie. Like any good HISC fighter, she sees a new flower blooming in the garden and decides to prune it before it becomes a problem. "Look, we all know these young girls keep coming," says the Queen with the hint of a smile. "And, you just have to get in there and show them all how and to whom to bow."

"She's a Hall of Famer," says Ariel with a shrug. "There's not going to be a lot of money on ME tonight, so, I figure I don't exactly have a lot to lose."

ROUND ONE:

Ah, the Pax Portmanica. Enforced with an iron fist. Enforced in the simplest, yet most complex way possible, via absolute excellence in boxing. It's all about getting you where Natalie wants you, and then punishing you for the impudence of BEING there. And, that's exactly what the Queen does to poor Ariel in the first. Winter has barely gotten off of her stool when she's thrown to the defensive. Portman's jab is landing, and soon Ariel's taking fire from everywhere. The younger woman's spending most of her time covering up, unable to find any time or space to throw punches. Portman, meanwhile, is connecting dots. This flurry, followed by a slip of a couple of rejoinders, then THAT flurry which places Winter THERE, leading to yet another flurry. It's a thing of beauty if you like great boxing, but it's pretty darn ugly for those in the Front Street corner. At the bell, Portman's grabbed it wide to lead 10-9.

ROUND TWO:

Pax being enforced brutally again in the second. Portman simply out-boxing the younger fighter in a big wa...BOOM! Right hand, Winter and NATALIE'S HURT! Out of nowhere, Ariel lands a right hand counter and Portman's all wobbly butt! And, Ariel's shoving all the chips into the center of the table. She's letting the hands go, determined to make the best of a huge opportunity. Portman in orderly if rapid retreat. She's quickly on the ropes, where she's taking heavy fire from, seemingly, everywhere. But, this is the Queen, and, for every punch that lands, one is slipped another is blocked, and a third is rolled with. Still, points are scored and damage is done and the referee's watching very closely the whole time. Unfortunately for the younger brunette, she's unable to do anything to get him to stop things, nor is she able to find Portman's 'off' switch. At the bell, Winter's won it wide, and we're even at 19, but Ariel may live to rue the missed opportunity.

ROUND THREE:

Portman still a little unsteady and Winter right back at her. Ariel closing, banging, working some body, backing Portman up. Natalie managing, playing defense, countering, keeping the damage to a minimum. About half way through the round, the Hall of Famer's legs begin to firm up and she's able to hold her own in the exchanges. Result is several SCINTILLATING flurries in which both fighters land HARD shot and snap back heads. Nobody's hurt, but everyone's attention is grabbed, so to speak. Latter part of the round sees Natalie getting back into rhythm. She's getting her geometry now, getting the jab on, beginning to play ring general again. Winter still landing some hard shot, but it's Portman who's getting the better of things to the bell. When you add it all up, Ariel's done enough early to claim the points close and grab the 29-28 lead.

ROUND FOUR:

Cue return of the Pax Portmanica. Now that she's completely shaken the damage from that big Winter right hand, Natalie's getting back to hauling the youngster to the wood shed. Once again, like in the first, it's Natalie's virtually unmatched boxing skill on full display. She's preempting everything Winter tries to do, keeping her completely at bay, and, oh, by the way, PUNISHING her with flurry after flurry of hard, accurate leather. This is demoralizing stuff, and, if not for that big right hand, the younger brunette might be wondering about lots of stuff right now. As it is, while she keeps working hard and keeps on ticking, there's no question she's taking quite the licking from the Queen, who's becoming more and more dominant as the round goes on. By the bell, it's about as one-sided as it can get, and it's Natalie wide on the cards, to even things at 38.

ROUND FIVE:

Portman rolling early. Winter seemingly with no answers at all, save, perhaps, hoping for another big punch. Slowly, though, problems begin getting solved. Ariel's getting the hands high, moving the feet, finding ways to close and pressure. Portman limiting those opportunities, but, when Winter gets them, she doesn't waste them. Instead, she's working some serious body, thumping the ribs, pounding the midsection, thinking to get some attrition done on the older, lighter fighter. Again, though, Natalie limits these opportunities, and, for the remainder of the round, it's Portman who's getting the better of things. She's not dominating like she did in the first and fourth, but she's piling up points, points that offset those that Ariel is scoring in close, and more. Result is Queen Natalie claiming her second straight round and grabbing a 48-47 lead at the half.

ROUND SIX:

Sixth starts the way the fifth ended, with both fighters working to dictate terms and both doing well when they're able to do so. When Portman gets space to box, she's in charge, scoring, controlling pace. But. When Ariel's able to close, it's a different fight. It's thumping and slugging and working body, and when that's going on, it's the younger woman who's having much the better of things. By mid-round, it's clear the points are going to be in the balance, because both fighters are getting some of what they want, but not nearly enough of it to establish any sort of lead let alone control. Final minute sees the brunettes working hard, with both knowing the round is there for the taking. And, it's Winter who takes them with a pair of late flurries that back up the Hall of Famer and throw her onto the defensive. It's as narrow as can be, but Ariel wins the round and evens the fight at 57.

ROUND SEVEN:

Same again. Both fighters working their plans, neither able to enforce will. BOOM! Right hand, Winter! Thirty seconds into the round, Ariel finds that straight right again and Portman's rumblin' stumblin' fumblin' around the ring. Again, Winter going all in, looking to finish this thing while the finishing is good. Again, Natalie showing great composure and using her defensive skills well. Yes, she's backed into the ropes and taking, but, she's limiting the damage as much as possible and doing just enough to keep the referee at bay. She's also putting the body on sale. And Ariel's buying like there's no tomorrow. She's pouring leather into the Hall of Famer's ribs and midsection, looking to bring that guard down. Not going to happen. Natalie taking terrific punishment, but she's taking it and running clock. Final seconds sees Winter split Portman's guard with a NASTY right hand that wobbles the Queen, but the bell rings before anything can come of it. Shutout, Winter. And Ariel's up 67-66.

ROUND EIGHT:

Winter throwing in all the reserves now. She's gambling it all on finishing now, holding nothing back for the last two (or more) rounds. Instead, she's again pouring fire on a retreating Portman. Natalie still clearly buzzed and wobbly, but, as always, she's slick defensively, using all her skill and experience to frustrate as much of Winter's offense as poss...BOOM! Right hand, Winter! And NATALIE GOES DOWN! A straight right from Ariel drops Portman flat on her back in the sand. Winter SPRINTS to a neutral corner, sand flying as the count begins. Portman rolling to hands and knees quickly, hanging there for a few seconds, then SLUMPING BACK INTO THE SAND, face down! She's not going to beat it! She's not going to beat it! It's OVER! It's OVER! And your winner by KO8 in STUNNING fashion is Ariel 'Dangerous Curves' Winter!

AFTER:

Perhaps not the biggest-ever Front Street win at flyweight...but, it just might be. Either way, it's in the top two with Stewart/Hudgens II. But, if Ariel should be overwhelmed by what she just accomplished, well. The busty one isn't built that way. Post-fight sees her shaking her head and smiling. "Like I said," the brunette says, "I had nothing to lose, and I went in there like I had nothing to lose. And, guess what? I DIDN'T lose. Imagine that!"