Posted by Simguy on 2/20/2004, 7:20 am.

Before: Richards not making any apologies for not making 120. “it’s not a title fight, why should I kill myself?” Shrugs the former champ and full grown woman. Denise pays a penalty on the purse-split, comes in as a lightweight--that’s ok with Kaley. “I don’t blame her--if I were Denise’s age, I’m sure I’d be fighting at light or heavier. I have no problem with it--I’ll be a little beefier than I have been recently, just so she can’t push me around, but I don’t need to pack on pounds to beat Denise Richards. Denise in pale blue bikini, ponytail--Kaley I red and white vertical stripe bikini.

During R1: Kaley putting on a show, gliding around the ring, feinting, changing directions on court-strong legs, holding her hands low when she’s out of range: cocky smooth moves. Kaley stepping to spots, coiling, then suddenly launching lead right hands or lead hooks--Richards constantly caught off guard, thinking she’s too far away to be hit--Cuoco shows great fast-twitch explosion early. Richards comparatively stiff--dukes up, blocking the abrupt potshots, waiting her turn to punch back. Speedy Cuoco takes the first.

R2: Kaley walking around her girl, feinting, stepping away--Richards turning, dukes up, trying to stalk her down. First minute--Cuoco just maneuvering outside, then suddenly stepping in with a ripping lead hook out of the blue! Punch tugs on Richards’ jaw, jerking her head around--mouthpiece pops clear of teeth and DENISE IS HURT! Cuoco laughing at the sight of reeling D--circles counterclockwise, jumping in those darting lead rights or more biting hooks--blonde showing vicious-quick reflexes in picking Richards apart. D soaks up some good shots, gets her bearings--she’s able to work behind her jab, pre-empt the kid and nail Cuoco some blunt right hands to avoid the shutout. Round to Cuoco as speed continues to kill--step-in hook reminiscent of Krista Allen’s fearsome lead left uppercut.

R3: Kaley circling, jabbing impatiently, not really sticking the punch--she’s only really happy throwing hard rights or hooks. Denise able to get spots--guard up nice and high--she’s out jabbing Kaley at times, setting her up for B right hands on the chin or workmanlike hooks in the side, Kaley still able o win the round on sheer speed--she dictating terms and this point--but Richards getting used to blonde explosiveness.

R4: Corner reminds Kaley to make the jab count: “You should be busting this chick up with that thing.” Kaley responds. Cuoco pounding stick to abs and face, sometimes doubling it up body and head for pretty two-beat scores. Richards walking her girl down, taking punches--by the time she’s ready for work, Kaley’s gone. Cuoco using every inch of canvas--cute moves to bounce off ropes and spin out of corners, turning Richards’ round and ‘round in futile pursuit. Sexy-happy smile Cuoco at the bell--she’s sweeping Richards off the mat through 4.

R5: Denise patient, staying composed, committing to the jab and as Kaley to revert to the old lead step-in potshots, brunette starts to make inroads, Kaley trying to catch Denise with that quick lead hook, but D beating her to the punch with a stiff jab, putting the right hand on top, mopping up in the gut as Kaley hands around to trade. Cuoco holding her own when both girls throw--quicker blonde able to clout Denise’s tasty face and tits, but Kaley’s getting hit too much, giving Denise a chance to compete toe to toe. Richards also roughhousing more--bodying up, driving Kaley to ropes, riding a forearm in her throat--anything to rattle the blonde. Final minute, girls trade right hands and Cuoco’s knees bend--she’s shook! D sees it, hooks the belly, hooks that belly, hooks those tits, clubs a right to the ear--poor Kaley sputters to the ropes ramshackle. Bruising big D beat sees it, hooks the belly, hooks that belly, hooks those tits, clubs a right to the ear--poor  Kaley sputters to the ropes ramshackle. Bruising big D beat down as Richards bats lefts and rights against Kaley’s flanks--blonde just riding it out at the bell.

R6: Denise able to get in front of Kaley and punch with her--blonde getting backed up as girls trade rights and lefts to the face at medium range. Richards enjoying moments at the ropes, riding her guard up on Kaley, shoving her back, hooking her body, tugging on her chin with tight right hands. Whenever Kaley tries to sidestep and get distance, Richards tackles her, bodies her into the ropes--good smothering stuff from the veteran. Cuoco arms ropes, but getting hit a TON at this point. Pretty blonde lumping up around the eyes and mouth--veteran taking the kid’s legs out of it, slowly reeling her in.

R7: More pounding, spirited exchanges--Cuoco back to ropes, shoulder to shoulder with Denise, engaging in ill-advised, tit-for-tat trader, Both girls landing swatting little hooks inside, stuffing sidearm right s to the body, then clubbing rights up top--both using rugged shoulder bump and billy goat tactics to get her way, but Denise is taking it better. By the final minute, Kaley starting to wobble, push her punches a little--Richards letting the blonde get off, turning with Cuoco’s hook, the counter-hooking blonder chin--KALEY SLUMPS AGAINST THE ROPES! Blonde, staring, blinking, hands at stomach level--Richards tees off! D able to scorch Kaley’s beautiful face some crisp left/rights, banging it back and forth at the bell--ref jumps in to prevent anything cheap.

R8: Kaley prompted by her corner gets back to the jab, starts circling--she’s making Denise move her feet and adjust. Brunette back to stalking, but not getting off nearly as well--Denise likes to wait her turn, Kaley’s touching up and pivoting away rather than standing in for trade. Cuoco rights the ship--looks too fast, too classy in a wide ranging, tactical boxing match.

R9: First minute: Kaley stepping, luring Denise forward, catches that swift step-in lead hook once again, buckling Richards’ knees--blonde pivots off to he left with a big smile. Second minute--Richards hook-wary, blocking Cuoco’s sudden bolts from the left side, but Kaley crosses her up, showing the hook, bringing a drifting right off the shoulder to knock Ds head straight back! Richards put wobbly butt--she staggers back a few steps, stumbles forward--really shabby as Cuoco circles away again rather than risk  frontal assault. Poor closing from Kaley lets Richards recover--D manages to stroke Kaley’s waist and hips workmanlike lefts and rights to avoid the shutout once again.

R10: Kaley boxing smart, legging out the minutes, using the ring, Richards proving she can take Kaley’s power--Cuoco feinting or faking the lead power shots, but she’s pretty much sticking with the jab, bouncing around the ring, safety first. Richards without any answers--she can’t cut the ring off on Kaley--she’s reduced to taunting blonde, challenging her to stand and fight--Cuoco not obliging. Comer back UD10 Kaley C.

After: Mature effort from Cuoco--she had a lot of fun tuning Denise up, shredding the defense from all angles, but when Richards kept coming, Kaley didn’t try to force it. “Hey, what can I say,” shrugs Cuoco, “Denise is double tough. She’s also big tonight and it showed--I’d have killed regular bantamweights with the hammers I was dropping.” When asked about the future at lightweight, Kaley is realistic: “There are some great fights I’d like to go up for--Daniel’s my size. Charisma Carpenter’s like a Denise Richards now--little bit past it, I think I could dress her up. Some of the smaller lights for sure, but I think cleaning up bantam would be my focus for the foreseeable future, I Haven’t forgotten about Elisha Cuthbert--I’m not done  there by a long shot. I have SO much I want to accomplish before I become a two division champ!” Carpenter comparison seems apt fro Richards now--girls getting older, not willing to pay the price to get back to their prime weights, but both attractive targets for bantams strong enough to compete.

Reposted by Archer 4/1/11.