Monday, February 20, 2012

the pugilist

Weighing in at a svelte 17 pounds, Charlotte Sophie has carved out quite a niche in the welterweight division. She's feathery-light on her feet and just-so jittery that she keeps opponents guessing which way she'll bob-and-weave. Blessed with a right that hits like a meat-hook, her left-hand has remained largely undeveloped; she relies on it mainly for short jabs and the occasional instigating hair-pull. Charlotte's dedication to her craft is unquestioned: while in Germany for a recent tour, she cleverly employed a fever to drop weight classes in order to engage Dev (round 11 shown above) in a Sunday afternoon bout in London. If there's one weakness in her repertoire, it's that she's prone to lapses in concentration. She often looks like she prefers to toy with her prey -- winding her left arm like a windmill is a common diversion -- instead of methodically going about her business.