(Result:Simguy/Words:Simgrrl)

Before: Real size issues for Reese - according to many self-styled 'experts' - although (on paper) Scherzinger's only a few inches taller than the 5'2" Witherspoon. Others, more sophisticated, trying to sell it as Nicole being so much more limber-limbed, mobile; than fireplug Reese. Still, if Witherspoon's at her tightest she's a ship-shape flyweight. 'Spoon's style is to crouch, bob and weave; jerking in and out; working the body. Not an effective style for the upright, nimble, brunette who loves punching down at shorter opponents. Reese's gotta come in trim, but if she's TOO small she's not gonna have the heft to hang with Nicole...but if she porks up to go body-to-body with Scherzinger, she'll be too slow. Hard to see how Witherspoon wins this - absent a 'Hand of God' or 'Tunder und Lightening' bolt from the blue. That's why Nicole Scherzinger's a big favorite coming in.

Nicole's a singer/dancer and her body shows it; slim, willowy, wiry and muscular to the point of distraction. No way Reese can survive going 'body to body' with Scherzinger...despite how terrific Witherspoon's body looks!

Nobody's mentioned age as a factor in this fight; probably because Reese is only two years older than Nicole. Their records, on the other hand, should be of concern. Scherzinger's only had 15 fights, going 9 and 6, while Witherspoon is a veteran of 31 bouts. She's won more than Nicole too, 10 to 9. (If anyone at home is playing along, that means Reese has lost a staggering 21 fights, nearly 2/3 of all her appearances!)

Attire: baby blue bandeau bikini, tight ponytail Witherspoon; silver Maxim photo bikini, loose ponytail Nicole. White gloves for both. Say what you will about Reese's chances but she's not conceding the 'hotness' battle to anyone - especially a brunette. 'Spoon's in fighting trim for this fight; having carved away a lot of 'mommy fat' and she's looking like her Oscar-winning self once again.

During R1: Competitive round. Reese off her stool pursuing; Nicole moving away behind her long, limber, left. Down the stretch, Witherspoon in dogged pursuit over-extends and Nikki catches her with a quick n' pretty right that drops the startled blonde to all fours for a flash knockdown. Witherspoon pops up like a jack-in-the-box and goes right back after Nicole who just pokes and jabs at her as she nimbly back-steps; keeping Reese outside where her shorter arms are a big disadvantage.

R2: Reese firms, refuses to buckle and comes out strong this round. Nikki won't engage, dancing and showboating for the first minute - until she gets hooked hard to the liver and wilts to ropes. Reese tight little body all over Nikki who's lounging in a tight earmuff defense, her trim bottom stuffed between the ropes, hunched over, head dipping and ducking while Reese squares away, her head under Nicole's chin, working that taut waistline with hard-hearted gusto. Good, solid, 10-9 round for Reese who gets full-throated support from the fans at the bell.

R3: More aggression from Witherspoon see's Scherzinger playing 'touch and go' from well outside as she's unwilling to let the blonde back on her body. Reese chasing - being frustrated by Nicole's quick, graceful, moves. Not much luck cutting off ring for Witherspoon who gives it her all. Once or twice when she's in range, Reese lands a hook with thudding impact to put a wince on Scherzinger's dark face.

R4: Reese shuts out Nikki. Witherspoon committed to coming forward to attack the body and Scherzinger doesn't want any of it. Reese scooting after Nikki and throwing punches from all angles...just burying Nicole under a barrage of hands. Nothing much landing - none to any telling effect - just volume-spray to keep Scherzinger off balance and disorganized in her defense. Reese not doing much damage, except to Nicole's reputation as it's more about Scherzie not executing.

R5: Reese shuts Nikki out AGAIN! This is getting a little more serious for Scherzinger and the second minute sees Reese doing some pretty good damage to Nicole's waist and ribs. Reese early landing one of those Lucy Liu-esque leap in lead right hands that shakes Nicole and she stutter-steps quickly to the safety of her corner where she makes like a clam on the ropes (see Roy Jones reference). With Nicole a stationery target, Reese get off big-time to the body with criss-crossing action attacking Nicole's hard, flat abs. Reese finishes up with a showboating flourish to Nicole's rack that brings the fans out of their seats in appreciation.

R6: A little more offensive action from Nikki this round after her corner reads her the "yer blowin' it kid" riot act. Scherzinger moving fluidly, smooth as glass, and finally punching enough to retake the initiative. Reese stubbornly trying to bob and weave to force her way inside, desperate to get back onto Scherzinger's supple torso but she's simply unable to establish herself inside thanks to Nicole's longer, better, legs. The few times Reese can put the leather to her, Nicole obviously feels the little blonde's surprising power as evidenced by her facial expression and the grunts she makes, but 'Spoon's positive results are few and far between, too few to have any lasting, long-term result.

Rds 7-8-9-10: Nicole at last establishing her legs, rhythm and distance and there's nothing Reese can do to renegotiate. Nikki using her legs to keep her back off the ropes which allows her to utilize her strengths and fights a series of limber turning engagements mid-ring. Nicole consistently keeping Reese at the end of her punches and Witherspoon's face begins to show the effects. Reese scoring in spots - whenever she is able to close the range she's carving into Scherzie's ribcage like a scene from a Dicken's novel. Reese doing a splendid job of maintaining control and staying compact - never rocked or wobbled - never appearing to really be in any kind of significant trouble... but Scherzinger's executing at such a high level here it's never looking like Reese is going to be able to do much with her either.
Final bell: an easy UD10 Scherzinger.

After: Fans never doubted the result once the bell sounded, but that doesn't mean they weren't appreciative of Witherspoon's effort and there were more than a smattering of boo's when the announcement came. Scherzinger won a lot of minutes without hurting Reese; without even doing much in the way of offense - choosing a boring, safety-first approach while Reese put herself out there in the knowledge her best - probably only - chance of victory lay in taking Nicole's legs out early.
Despite the result, there were some really nice minutes there for Reese and the fact that she went 10 rounds strong and was still banging away at the bell shows that the lighter, tighter Reese who showed up fit for duty can be a force to be reckoned with in the flyweight ranks for some time to come.
Her face showing the effects of Scherzinger's jabbing, Reese surprisingly upbeat facing the media. "She won the fight, no doubt," she said, shrugging off an implied question about her 'being robbed'. "I knew going in that I had to get to her body, hammer her hard in the early going if I was going to be able to run her down later. Couldn't get it done and she was still pretty fresh at the end. She's very limber and graceful in the ring, not easy to corner her and she knows how to use the jab to keep you off her. It's never going to be easy for me to fight taller women, especially ones who can move as well as Nicole. So...who's next?"
"I like and respect Reese," Nicole said graciously. "She's a helluva actress and she can fight. It's too bad for her she wasn't in against someone her own size tonight because she showed up in great shape and brought her A-game. No fault of hers I won. I was the better fighter and it would have been a shame if she'd gotten 'lucky' and beat me...wouldn't it boys?" she chuckled, opening her robe and posing for pictures in her sweaty bikini.
The photographers obviously agreed with her!