Natalie Portman versus Becky G

BEFORE:

Battle of two fighters who've had very different years. Becky's been up and down, with the highlight being a nice run to the Princess of the Ice Hotel semi-finals. Natalie, meanwhile, after an uneven 2021, is back on a roll, having won four in a row this year, including recent impressive wins over Cree Cicchino and Cheryl Cole. Becky, though, is far from intimidated by the Hall of Famer, if her pre-fight comments are any indicator. "Yeah, she's a great fighter and all that," says the Latina with a shrug. "But. Her day is OVER. It's MY time now.


"If I had a dollar for every time someone thought I was past it," says Natalie with a smile, "Becky's just the next in a long line of girls who'll learn how wrong she is."

ROUND ONE:

Becky, as always, aggressive, coming right after Natalie. And, of course, spider/fly. Because, Portman absolutely lives off girls who get too aggressive. Natalie's never had great physicals. But, she's ALWAYS had skill and intelligence, and she uses both to give the Latina a beating in the opening stanza. Becky's getting picked off as she moves forward, stopped cold, laced with solid right hands, and, then stopped again as Natalie resets and invites the younger woman to come to her. You'd think Becky would, eventually, start turning down these invitations, but that's not how it goes. She keeps pressing and Natalie keeps making her pay, right to the bell. When it rings, there's zero doubt about the result of the round. It's Natalie wide, and it's Portman with the 10-9 lead.

ROUND TWO:

Becky slows her roll and GETS rolling at the same time. Rather than walk in on Natalie, the younger woman begins moving head, hands, feet. She's angling, closing, banging, getting her offense going. Portman wants distance, but can't get it. Instead, Becky's now in the Hall of Famer's grill, and that's where she's determined to stay. Older woman manages to get a little space here and there, but, for most of the round, she's in the booth, where the Latina can get physical, work body, shove Portman around, get her out of her game. Late in the stanza, Natalie manages to establish order again, using the left jab to do so. But, while the final half minute has to be encouraging to Portman's fans and her corner, it does nothing to change the results of the round, which the younger woman takes wide to even things at 19.

ROUND THREE:

Nat builds off that final thirty seconds. She's getting work done again, boxing instead of brawling inside. But. Not like she did in the first. It's not easy, one-way stuff. No, Becky's still finding her way into the booth and working Portman over there. And, when the Latina manages to do that, she's able to offset the points the Hall of Famer is scoring at range. The back and forth gives us our first two-way round of the bout, and the first one that's in any real doubt. It's nip and tuck as first Natalie and then Becky is able to get off in combination and score points. Into the final thirty seconds, there's nothing in it, but, that's when Portman is able to control things again with that jab. She keeps Becky pretty much at bay to the bell, and does enough to take the points close and pull into a 29-28 lead.

ROUND FOUR:

More two-way stuff, with Becky a tad more aggressive and a tad more effective. But, if the Latina's getting a bit more done this round, Natalie's still scoring well with both hands when she can get the geometry she wa...BOOM! Right hook, BECKY and the Hall of Famer is HURT! Natalie steppin' in fence post holes as Becky damns any and all torpedoes, driving forward and sending the older brunette back to the ropes. And, NOW, the Latina has the older woman where she wants her, in close, where she can bring the physical. And, bring it, she does...mostly to the body. She's hooking ribs and midsection, punishing Nat, ignoring her corner, which is screaming at her to go upstairs and try to finish this thing. Portman keeps the guard high, and rides it out to the bell. It's Becky's round wide, and we're even at 38, but Natalie's still standing.

ROUND FIVE:

Becky all in. Natalie's still wobbly, and the younger woman knows it. She's working upstairs now, backing Portman up with every shot, all about the finish. Hall of Famer working hard to stay off the ropes and managing to do it, but, that's about all she's managing, as Becky's taking the fight to her in every way possible. Nat needs time and space, but the younger woman isn't going to give it to her. Instead, she's all OVER Portman, bringing as much fire as possible to bear and DOWN GOES NATALIE! A right hook from Becky and Portman is dropped to her right side! Younger woman quickly to a neutral corner to watch and wait. Ref counting down on Natalie, who pushes up to elbow and haunch, but can get no further! It's OVER! And your winner by KO5 in impressive fashion is Becky G!

AFTER:

Becky in a celebratory mood. "I TOLD you," she says with a grin. "Her time has PASSED. It's MY time now. And, I'm just getting starting taking over this division. You hear that, Cree? Just. Getting. Started!"