Post by Lookout! Boxing on Jun 28, 2019 22:27:56 GMT -6
Laura Pausini vs. Rachele Brooke Smith
(Words: Front Street / Results: Lookout!)
BEFORE:
Between the two of them, these brunette lightweights have ONE FCBA win. It came in March, 2018. When Smith beat...Pausini. In four other fights, Smith is 0-4. In nine other fights, Pausini is 0-9. But, Laura isn't thinking about those other nine opponents right now, just Smith. "I got sloppy and she got lucky," the Italian beauty says with a shake of the head. "This time, it will be different."
"This time," says Smith. "It will NOT be different. Know why? I was better THEN and I'm better NOW."
ROUND ONE:
No surprise that the style conflict we saw in March, 2018 resurfaces immediately. The athletic Smith wants to dance, snap jabs, play the game in open canvas. The sturdy, power-hitting Italian wants to close and bang. And, just like in that first contest, the rounds will be decided in favor of whichever fighter gets more of what she wants. And, in round one, that issue is in doubt from the opening seconds. Because, while Smith has her moments bouncin' and misbehavin', Pausini has hers, cutting the ring and crowding the American, working her to head and body. It's close throughout, with neither fighter being able to get established what they want to get established. Final 30 seconds decide it, and those 30 seconds are spent with Rachele circling and snapping jabs in Laura's face. At the bell, Smith's won the stanza close to lead 10-9.
ROUND TWO:
Smith on the move again. She's showing all that quickness and athleticism we've seen before, using the left jab to parry Pausini, keep her at range. Laura, though, has seen this act before. She moves, the feet, closes, works some body, and ROCKS RACHELE WITH A RIGHT HOOK! Smith GOBSMACKED, staggers backward and nearly goes down. Pausini immediately begins calling in artillery strikes, hammering away at the dazed American with both hands, backing her to the ropes, then absolutely ABUSING her to the body in an effort to bring the guard down. To her credit, Smith takes the punishment and keeps the hands high, riding out the storm as the Italian gets off lusty right to the bell. When it rings, Pausini has the points wide, and we're even at 19.
ROUND THREE:
Pausini rampant. She's got Smith hurt and stationary, and that's not at ALL where Rachele wants to be. On the other hand, that's EXACTLY where the Italian beauty wants her. To her credit. Smith shows she can take punishment. To Pausini's, the older woman is MORE than willing to dish out as much as the American can take. It's grim stuff for Smith, who finds herself battered around the ring as her rival gets off lusty to both head and body. Rachele fires back here and there, tries to hold a little ground and make the older woman pay at least a small price for all the aggression, but, it's mostly all Laura all the time, at least for the first two and a half minutes. The last 30 are better for Smith, probably from a combination of Laura slowing a bit and Rachele getting some leg underneath her. But, at the bell, it's Pausini wide and up 29-28.
ROUND FOUR:
Laura's used a lot of energy the last two rounds and it shows in the fourth. She's not punched herself out, but she DOES need a respite from "full forward" mode, and that gives Rachele, who's shaking off more and more of the damage, space and time to get rolling. NOW we're back to the circling, jabbing, legging Smith who can be so effective. Laura's trying to cut and close, but she's a step slow, and, as a result, the American's allowed to roam and pillage, ranging around the ring, stopping to pop, then ranging around some more. Pausini's never hurt, but she's taking a lot of leather to face and body, and, late in the round, Smith touches up some Italian jug, infuriating Laura. The older woman, though, can't find the younger to make her pay, and, at the bell, it's Smith wide to even things at 38.
ROUND FIVE:
Smith dancing. Laura pursuing. With a bit more vigor. She's cutting and closing effectively now, bringing Rachele to battle at times, while, at others, it's Smith ranging around the ring working the jab and the feet. It's good two way stuff. Until it isn't. BOOM! Perfectly-placed right hand from Smith and LAURA IS HURT! Pausini wobbles, nearly goes down, and Rachele is ALL IN, tossing everything she has at the unsteady Italian. Laura forced back toward the ropes and then DROPPED WITH A RIGHT HAND! Another blistering right from Rachele and Pausini is blown to her back! Smith quickly to a neutral corner. Laura shaking her head as the referee counts down at her. Italian rolls to belly at six, rises at seven and crumples back to the canvas! It's OVER! And your winner by KO5 is Rachele Brooke Smith!
AFTER:
Rachele all smiles in the post-fight. "I got a little sick of her talking about me getting lucky, you know?", the brunette beauty asks rhetorically. "I DID get lucky. I was just better. Then. And now."
(Words: Front Street / Results: Lookout!)
BEFORE:
Between the two of them, these brunette lightweights have ONE FCBA win. It came in March, 2018. When Smith beat...Pausini. In four other fights, Smith is 0-4. In nine other fights, Pausini is 0-9. But, Laura isn't thinking about those other nine opponents right now, just Smith. "I got sloppy and she got lucky," the Italian beauty says with a shake of the head. "This time, it will be different."
"This time," says Smith. "It will NOT be different. Know why? I was better THEN and I'm better NOW."
ROUND ONE:
No surprise that the style conflict we saw in March, 2018 resurfaces immediately. The athletic Smith wants to dance, snap jabs, play the game in open canvas. The sturdy, power-hitting Italian wants to close and bang. And, just like in that first contest, the rounds will be decided in favor of whichever fighter gets more of what she wants. And, in round one, that issue is in doubt from the opening seconds. Because, while Smith has her moments bouncin' and misbehavin', Pausini has hers, cutting the ring and crowding the American, working her to head and body. It's close throughout, with neither fighter being able to get established what they want to get established. Final 30 seconds decide it, and those 30 seconds are spent with Rachele circling and snapping jabs in Laura's face. At the bell, Smith's won the stanza close to lead 10-9.
ROUND TWO:
Smith on the move again. She's showing all that quickness and athleticism we've seen before, using the left jab to parry Pausini, keep her at range. Laura, though, has seen this act before. She moves, the feet, closes, works some body, and ROCKS RACHELE WITH A RIGHT HOOK! Smith GOBSMACKED, staggers backward and nearly goes down. Pausini immediately begins calling in artillery strikes, hammering away at the dazed American with both hands, backing her to the ropes, then absolutely ABUSING her to the body in an effort to bring the guard down. To her credit, Smith takes the punishment and keeps the hands high, riding out the storm as the Italian gets off lusty right to the bell. When it rings, Pausini has the points wide, and we're even at 19.
ROUND THREE:
Pausini rampant. She's got Smith hurt and stationary, and that's not at ALL where Rachele wants to be. On the other hand, that's EXACTLY where the Italian beauty wants her. To her credit. Smith shows she can take punishment. To Pausini's, the older woman is MORE than willing to dish out as much as the American can take. It's grim stuff for Smith, who finds herself battered around the ring as her rival gets off lusty to both head and body. Rachele fires back here and there, tries to hold a little ground and make the older woman pay at least a small price for all the aggression, but, it's mostly all Laura all the time, at least for the first two and a half minutes. The last 30 are better for Smith, probably from a combination of Laura slowing a bit and Rachele getting some leg underneath her. But, at the bell, it's Pausini wide and up 29-28.
ROUND FOUR:
Laura's used a lot of energy the last two rounds and it shows in the fourth. She's not punched herself out, but she DOES need a respite from "full forward" mode, and that gives Rachele, who's shaking off more and more of the damage, space and time to get rolling. NOW we're back to the circling, jabbing, legging Smith who can be so effective. Laura's trying to cut and close, but she's a step slow, and, as a result, the American's allowed to roam and pillage, ranging around the ring, stopping to pop, then ranging around some more. Pausini's never hurt, but she's taking a lot of leather to face and body, and, late in the round, Smith touches up some Italian jug, infuriating Laura. The older woman, though, can't find the younger to make her pay, and, at the bell, it's Smith wide to even things at 38.
ROUND FIVE:
Smith dancing. Laura pursuing. With a bit more vigor. She's cutting and closing effectively now, bringing Rachele to battle at times, while, at others, it's Smith ranging around the ring working the jab and the feet. It's good two way stuff. Until it isn't. BOOM! Perfectly-placed right hand from Smith and LAURA IS HURT! Pausini wobbles, nearly goes down, and Rachele is ALL IN, tossing everything she has at the unsteady Italian. Laura forced back toward the ropes and then DROPPED WITH A RIGHT HAND! Another blistering right from Rachele and Pausini is blown to her back! Smith quickly to a neutral corner. Laura shaking her head as the referee counts down at her. Italian rolls to belly at six, rises at seven and crumples back to the canvas! It's OVER! And your winner by KO5 is Rachele Brooke Smith!
AFTER:
Rachele all smiles in the post-fight. "I got a little sick of her talking about me getting lucky, you know?", the brunette beauty asks rhetorically. "I DID get lucky. I was just better. Then. And now."