LeeLee Sobieski vs. Paula Patton
(Words: Front Street / Results: Lookout)

BEFORE:

Patton with no kind words for the blonde, who initially appeared ready to sign to fight Stephanie McMahon rather than meet Paula's challenge. "We all know she'd rather not be in with me tonight," says Patton with a hard-eyed look. "And, we all know why."

Usually even-keeled Leelee not happy with Paula suggesting there's any ducking going on. "Patton thinks I'm afraid to fight her? Ask her what she thinks when the fight's over. After they bring her around, I mean."

ROUND ONE:
No surprises in the first. Sobieski, as always, wants to work at range. She's as good a boxer as any fighter at the weight, and likes to use those skills and her length to her advantage. Patton's preferred style is different. She likes the left as well, but she likes to advance behind it, and that's just what she does here. She's quick, elusive, moves well. She's getting past Sobieski's jab, closing, banging, forcing Leelee backward, and then ROCKING her with a BOOMING right hand! A minute in and Sobieski's in deep trouble. Patton's calling in the artillery immediately. Sobieski covering up as Patton gets off lusty with both hands, slowly but surely working the blonde to the ropes where she can batter her with heavy leather. Sobieski jabbing back in spots, but taking the worst of it by a large margin. She's shaken by another hard right hand in the final minute, leading to another series of heavy salvos from Patton as she tries to finish. The bell sounds before she can do it, but Patton's claimed it wide to lead 10-9.

ROUND TWO:
The thing about Patton is, she's not just a big hitter like some welters. Oh, she IS a big hitter, but, she's not JUST a big hitter. Patton moves well. She's athletic. She can box. And she's smart. And, she demonstrates all of that in this round. She's out after Sobieski immediately, taking full advantage of the still-buzzed blonde. But. She's not reckless. She's not going to give the younger woman the opportunity to change things with one punch. Instead, she works soundly, intelligently, and aggressively. She's forward behind the jab, backing up Leelee, dropping hard right hands, forcing her backward, out of her defenses. Sobieski gets stronger as the round goes on, shaking the worst of the damage from the first, but, it doesn't matter. The Patton train is rolling, and the blonde can't stop it. Paula controls things from the first second to the last and claims the second clean to lead 20-18.

ROUND THREE:
Patton forward again. Sobieski moving both more and better now. She's showing angles, getting off true, making Paula adjust and scoring against her while she does so. Patton resolute. Not going to be taken out of her game plan. She keeps the forward motion going, keeps getting hard shot home. Leelee holding her own this time, though, boxing well, slipping punches. She's not quite holding her ground, but she's not retreating as much as backing and circling, able to manage some of Paula's aggression now, punish her as she comes forward. Patton slowed, but not stopped. Keeps coming and coming. Scoring well in forward aspect, showing excellent head movement, making Leelee's job of picking her off very difficult. It's good, two-way stuff from beginning to end, resulting in the first close round of the bout. But, it's Patton who takes it and a 30-27 lead.

ROUND FOUR:
Second verse, same as the first. Or, in this case, fourth round, same as the third. The terms are down now. Both fighters working to get what they want. Sobieski wants ranged warfare, Patton wants to work forward behind the left. Paula's not going to hang out on the end of Leelee's punches, and Sobieski isn't going to stand in front of Patton. So, we've got a war of movement going. Patton forward, Sobieski back and to her right. And, we have plenty of shelling to go with all the movement. Both fighters can hit and both are accurate punchers. So, plenty of hard leather gets home. Nobody's hurt, but everybody's attention is gotten, so to speak. Heading down the stretch, the pace picks up a bit, as both fighters realize this is another close one and both are looking to claim it. The bell ends the best exchange of the fight and the second consecutive tight round. This time, though, Sobieski breaks through and cuts Paula's lead to 39-37.

ROUND FIVE:
Terms set now, and no one interested in re-negotiating. Nobody getting everything she wants, but both fighters getting enough to be effective. Again, plenty of hard shot being exchanged. Both fighters patient, setting things up, fighting soundly, but aggressively. And, for the third straight round, it's closely fought, two-way stuff. Until a quick right hand from Leelee changes everything. It's short. It's sharp. And it's perfectly placed. Patton staggers and immediately covers up, and Sobieski pours on the heat. Leelee getting off lusty with both hands, driving Paula before her, trapping her on the cables and firing away, looking to finish. But, Patton's made of sterner stuff. She takes a ton of punishment, but, take it she does. And, not only does she stay on her feet, by the end of the round, she's firing back hard stuff of her own. The last 15 seconds are one long, brutal exchange in which both fighters take BIG punches. Only stopping when the referee shoves between them. It's Leelee's round wide, but Paula continues to lead 48-47.

ROUND SIX:
Sixth begins the way the fifth ended. Sobieski not backing up now, she's holding ground in front of Patton creating a series of running exchanges across the ring. Leelee looking to consolidate and Patton trying to prevent same. Result is hot-tossing from the opening seconds and it begins to favor Patton as things go along. Paula not a harder hitter, but more effective on these terms. She begins backing Sobieski up again, taking control of the round, threatening a rout. But, Sobieski crushes that threat with a sharp right hand followed by a blistering left hook. Patton wobbles again, and a straight right follows and it's BRUNETTE DOWN! Patton blown to her back and looking finished, but, not so fast! Slowly, the brunette rolls to her belly, pushes up to hands and knees, and, at nine she's standing. Patton wobbly, but she's beaten the count. Sobieski waived on. Leelee merciless now, quickly rocks Patton again, sending her stumbling back to the ropes. Leelee steps forward to pour on the punishment, but the referee has seen enough. He leaps between the fighters and it's over! And your winner by TKO6 is Leelee Sobieski!

AFTER:
Some respect in the aftermath. "She's awesome," says Leelee with a shake of the head. "She's really aggressive and hits like a truck, sure, so you forget how quick she is, how good a boxer she is. I'm not surprised she's Top Twenty. And, people keep talking about the lack of talent depth up here. If SHE'S not Top Ten, we've got some good fighters in this division."