With her nemesis Amanda Righetti likely permanently out of reach, Elizabeth Berkley sets more realistic sights. "I'm just taking it one fight at a time. Christina is a nice target for me, don't you think? I don't expect to have an easy time in the ring with her, but I think I'm just a little bit better in almost every area." Christina Hendricks politely disagreed. "I take Liz seriously, but I'm going to prove her wrong!"
Both actresses got their chance to back up their words on fight night. Hendricks, in a pink sports bra and trunks, and Berkley, in red bra and trunks, made their final preparations and touched gloves before the signal to start.
Round 1: Berkley applied consistent pressure in the first round, jabbing at Hendricks without overcommitting. Hendricks put up a good defense, parrying and trying to make herself an inconvenient target by positioning. The redhead stayed fairly safe, though Berkley landed her share of straight punches through sheer persistence. Hendricks herself earned herself a much more limited amount of success in striking back.
Round 2: Hendricks made her move in the second round, guarding herself against Berkley's first swing then charging past the second to strike the taller blonde's body. Berkley grimaced and fell back, protecting herself from Hendricks' follow up attacks thumping against her gloves and arms. When Berkley rallied, swinging back slowly as she favored her bruised body, Hendricks was already poised to strike. The shorter redhead's punch smashed into the blonde's mouth, shoving her face aside as the impact barely slowed Hendricks' fist. As Berkley struggled to stay on her feet, Hendricks took her pick of targets, bruising the blonde's midsection with her fists while knocking her about with head shots. Berkley limped back to her corner much worse for wear at the bell.
Round 3: After suffering through a bad round, Berkley emerged from her corner intent on punishing Hendricks. As the two actresses battled it out mid ring, Berkley was able to break through Hendricks guard and tag her on the jaw. Hendricks stiffened but pulled herself together, repositioning and continuing to stand up to Berkley confidently. The redhead found her persistence rewarded as she caught Berkley soundly on the chin after another skirmish. Berkley retreated, and Hendricks managed to keep the pressure on for the remainder of the round.
Round 4: Berkley, not outwardly fatigued despite suffering through two bad rounds, went on the offense early in the fourth round to even the score. The first few seconds of the round saw the two actresses moving in and trying to overwhelm the other. Both fighters suffered close calls; Hendricks grazed the side of Berkley's head with a heavy right handed swing, and turned one of Berkley's hooks into an indirect blow. After an intense battle, Hendricks lunged and landed a rising right hand to Berkley's abdomen. The blow shoved the tall blonde's body back an inch, and as she twisted herself about to respond, Hendricks pounded her body below the ribs with her left hand. With her opponent in trouble, Hendricks pushed ahead, letting loose with a combo striking Berkley's head twice times in short succession. Thump, thump... and a third slightly delayed thump as Berkley hit the mat, collapsing on her side. The blonde actress rested on her hip, tangled in the ropes and slowly steadying herself in a sitting position. Christina Hendricks spun around, punching the air happily as Berkley lowered her head, covering herself with her free arm as the count passed her by. To no reaction from the crowd, the commentators exchanged comments in resigned tones about how Berkley would not, in fact, be saved by the bell so early in the round.
The official result -- KO4 Hendricks.
"I knew I had her once I hit her tummy. She was still up, but she wasn't going to stay that way!" Hendricks, bouncy and smiling after her sudden knockout win, spoke with the press outside the ring. "One mistake and pow! Lights out." Hendricks coyly refused to reveal her next target and made her exit surrounded by her entourage.
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