RETRO BOUT: CA. 1967

Posted by Simguy on Saturday, 22-May-1999 11:08:06

Ursula’s first defense of the Hammer Films crown would be against the legendary Caroline Munro. Munro a near unknown this side if the Atlantic was a huge pitchwoman and star of several Hammer epics, and had been called the “Scourge of Europe” for the way she often abused much bigger stars in Jet Set boxing matches. Whereas Ursula possessed the typical straight up European style, Caroline fought like a jungle cat, slinking around the ring, bending deep at the waist and getting tremendous power for her size out of her explosive hooks. Hammer execs would refer to the Andress/Munro era as the “Golden Age” of in-house fighting for that studio. For this fight, Ursula wore her hite diving bikini, Munro a black bikini, bra style top.

R1: Andress was unexpectedly dominant to start this fight. Opening with her pulverizing jab, Ursula had Caroline catching, and the usually kinetic brunette seemed lethargic early. As Andress found the range, she followed with short right hands to the jaw, and that serviceable left hook to the ribs, and before 2 minutes her passed, Ursula was working Caroline like a cheap sparring partner, in the final minute a left to the waist, left to the jaw momentarily stunned Caroline, forcing her into an uncharacteristic clinch at the bell,

R2: Munro got over her slow start and put a scare into the Andress camp this round. Revolving on her waist like a cobra, Munro swayed her torso side to side in front of Ursula, then came up hard with sudden hooks, and a clean left found Ursula’s chin early in the round. Andress’ buttocks rippled as the force of the blow shivered down her body, and the blonde staggered back, hands out in front in a pleading gesture. Munro surged forward, swinging wide from down low , banging Andress head from side to side. Ursula on the ropes was helpless as Caroline dug in, her long black hair covering Ursula’s shoulder and chest as the compact brunette let her hands go downstairs. Andress body jerked with effect of Munro’s punches, and in the final minute, another looping hook to the jaw seemed to have ended matters. Andress took the punch and swayed sleepily on her strong legs. And somehow, did not go down, The bell rang, Munro continued to batter Ursula, and both corners flooded the ring to separate the combatants.

R3: That Ursula Andress even made it out for this round is remarkable, but she still badly hurt, and very stiff looking as Caroline swayed in on her. Munro dipped below Ursula’s tentative jab, and once again made hay with that looping left hook, driving Andress back to the ropes. Caroline set up in front of Ursula trying to hit her quickly with a chopping right, then putting her hips behind the devastating left hook. Andress reeled on the ropes, and onlookers marveled at the strength and resiliency of the blonde as she refused to succumb. By the end of the round, Andress began to get a second wind, but her face showed the mileage that Caroline had put on her to that point.

R4: Very patiently, methodically, Ursula worked Caroline with the stiff, single jab, turning the punch over occasionally into a scooping hook to the cheek to back Munro off this round. A much slower round, more deliberate as Munro had thrown a lot of leather in the previous stanzas.

R5: Caroline fought most of this round off Ursula’s chest, using her powerful legs to drive the blonde into corners, and using her shoulders to set up chin music. Ursula not busy, taking plenty, but again, showing an icy resolve uncommon in celebrities of the day.

R6: Caroline opened the round with a looping overhand right to Ursula’s temple, and once again had Andress hurting and staggery, Ursula stooped forward, allowing the murderous punching brunette to land biting left uppercuts in her head, and clubbing rights to her jaw. Andress waded forward through it all, but Caroline was having a field day, stepping back, setting her feet, and wailing on Ursula with everything she had. Another shutout round for Munro went into the bank, but Andress shook it off during the break.

R7: With her eyes swollen, tanned face glossy, Ursula came out with vengeance in her heart, and drilled the brunette with severe short right hands to the face and chest this round. To start big, Now Munro was forced to dig down, Badly rattled, she out hands on Ursula’s hips to steady herself, and the two waltzed as Andress looked for punching room. Ursula worked Caroline’s sides this round, reaching around the smaller brunette to pound her flanks, and dig punches in behind her elbows, By the end, Munro’s eyes were lidded, and she breathed hotly from her mouth. Both women were nearing their limits.

R8: Another punishing round for Munro as she seemed suddenly weak, and easy prey for the relentless blonde. Ursula began aiming, measuring her shots, looking over her opponent before selecting an area of flesh, then tagging it with a smacking blow. Munro retreated around the ring with a desperate glint in her dark eyes, Andress looked the bully this round.

R9: More of the same as Ursula stepped to Caroline and beat her woman to woman. Munro covered up, giving Andress her flanks in order to protect her chin. Andress seemed content to thump her heavy hands in on Caroline’s body, walking the brunette back, advancing every step of this round, and piling on the points.

R10: Caroline Munro refused to go meekly, and she engaged Ursula Andress in a toe to toe free for all that left both women exhausted at the end. Caroline would wade in, banging three punches off Ursula’s head, then Andress would hammer back to the chest and face with her short blows, setting up Munro’s inevitable answers. Back and forth it went as the girls never let one another rest, They spun awkwardly along the ropes, each working the other over, they stuffed one another into corner’s, and cranked whatever they had left into hard strokes along the jaw. Neither girl heard the bell, as each became completely consumed by the mindless slugging, and whaling away at center ring the two were finally separated. The decision, cast by Christopher Lee himself, was a a draw and a well received vote it was, too.

Although Ursula would eventually establish a thin line of supremacy over Caroline at Hammer, she was always a difficult opponent for Andress.

Reposted by Archer on 2/27/2010.