Before: Important big-bantam match - Denise Richards in the audience, Charisma Carpenter and other interested parties taking a look see at a couple hot new properties. HBO eventually wants Richards in with both these beauties, but only one can have a shot near term. Rumours have it that the network has been steadily pushing Daniel because of the bitter taste left by Marceau, a French girl who wouldn't play ball with the PPV powerhouse. "Casta could conceivably hole up in France like Sophie did, maybe fight unmarketable opposition in the States, fight at weird times for TV," says one HBO suit requesting anonymity, "HBO's in a bind - they've gotta showcase Casta for her look, but they're worried if she turns out to be as good Marceau was - how are they going to control her?" Casta in red string bikine, blonde-wood hoops between the cups and at the hips - Brittany in black bikini.

During R1: Casta shows that Charlie Brewer look - leaning forward, hands loose and low, bumping shoulders with Brittany and lashing up with her punches, getting good hip and shoulder behind the splashy blows. Brittany banging at close range, a more compact puncher than Casta, picking her spots, punching with the French girl - tic-tac-toe exchanges sound out from mid ring. Final moments, Casta stiffens Brittany with a pair of thumping hooks to the stomach, then snaps that hook off Daniel's overhanging jaw - DANIEL GOES DOWN - she swoons to all fours as the French girl smiles, beating the blonde for points.

R2: Same shattering action midring, but Daniel tightening up the defense, taking more Casta action on her arms, not so brazen about giving up her midriff or chin. Laetitia out wide with her punches, staying close enough to shoulder up on Brittany at intervals. Daniel diligently working in between finally gets Laetitia grimacing with sharp right hands to the lower back, and that jerking left hook up into the breasts to finally put Casta on her heels at the bell.

R3: Oh, they bang away! Same sort of action that eventually chewed up Carpenter as Daniel stands in shoulder to shoulder, biting her hooks to the body, chopping right hands over the top and curling the left uppercut to jug whenever she can. Casta lashing away - fairly predictable at this point and her connect percentage starts to drop. Nevertheless, the model's got her entire body behind these licking blows, and a sweeping right hand catches Brit behind the ear, unhinging those gorgeous legs. Daniel sputtering around the ring - Laetitia sloppy on follow up can't do anything serious as Brittany runs on shaky legs to the bell.

R4: Brittany remembers a simple thing - jab, even in close. Just a quick touch prevents Casta from getting off and Daniel can pivot to her right, really dig with her hook at the waistline or tits - end of the first minute - a groggy Laetitia Casta wobbles to one knee with a saddened expression - she just took a hellish minute of sharp punching. Up at 8, French girl is HURTING and Daniel gets right back after her. BD working in close, but stepping over, getting an angle off Casta's left shoulder - punches are biting into the midriff, the lower back, the jaw and jugs - constant tattooing abuse has Casta drifting and at the end of the second minute, she turns away, wanders mindless to the ropes and takes a knee as she stares out at the crowd. Daniel whooping it up, smiling broad to see Casta so shaken up to the body - blonde bodies brunette to the ropes to continue savaging the midriff, dipping side to side to reef in behind either Laetitia elbow.

R5: Shutout Brittany Daniel. She's got Casta WEEPING in the body - French girl can't punch, all hunched forward as Daniel chops away around the sides, up underneath, concentration on the waistline. Whenever Casta slumps too far forward, Daniel steps to her right, pumps her left hand up into those bulging jugs, smiling awfully at the brunette's whimpering plight.

R6: Signs of life in Casta - Daniel getting cocky about going to the brunette's body - she's leaving her defenses low and Laetitia scores some stroking lefts and rights along the jaw to back Daniel to the ropes. Bitter trade erupts with Brittany covered up tight, countering off the block as Casta slams away with licking, curling blows up either flank of the blonde.

R7: Shutout Brittany Daniel - Casta looking spent - she's taken a boatload of punishment, and Brittany continues to push forward, dig to the breasts, getting her hips and back into vicious rising left hands into Casta's woozy meat. Leatitia open mouthed and stunned, sitting on the ropes, sliding to her right, taking constant, welting abuse to her lower back, sides and front. Final minute - Daniel with her weight on that front foot, snaps hungrily at belly and jaw, belly and jaw with that hook and CASTA GOES DOWN! Laetitia spilling to all fours, sobbing in hurt as Brittany struts away with a malicious grin.

R8: Brittany dominant - Casta stubborn. Brunette doesn't fight well in reverse and she's been getting backed up all night long. Much of this round fought at the ropes, Laetitia getting jostled and worked over, but refusing to go down or stop punching herself. Daniel pounding out the points, but having to work hard every second of these rounds.

R9: Daniel with cuffing right hands upside the head puts Casta drowsy on the ropes again - blonde continues to sock sack, bang the body with short, punishing strokes from both hands - Daniel as mechanically sound a puncher from close in as anyone we've seen and she's taking Laetitia apart. Laetitia not as efficient, but looping power catches Brittany off guard late. Casta shouldering, slugging her way off the ropes as Daniel goes wobbly butt - blonde soaking up dangerous punches on her jaw at the bell and Latetia steals a Brittany round with the hurtful burst.

R10: Daniel chiding herself in her corner for letting down, comes out trading hard - brutal give and take midring as the girls take turns bang,bang,banging away. Casta's legs give a shake, lips pouting down as she wanders away - Daniel hopping in, fighting off that left shoulder and a crisp, clouting left on the chin puts Catsa's glutes on the canvas in a heartbeat. Latetia all tremble-bodied, climbs ropes to beat the count - she's weaving heavily on shot legs as Daniel jumps in again. Ferocious finishing minute - Daniel gritting her teeth with the effort of twisting punches into her foe, rights crash onto Casta's eye, lefts cram up hard into jugs - it's a massacre. Latetia battered unrecognizable and she sinks insensate to all fours as Brittany steps back, chest heaving with effort. Casta somehow beats the count, but she's all gone in the eyes - bell sounds to rob Brittany of her KO. UD10 Brittany Daniel.

After: 5 knockdown performance one of the most brutal witnessed this year - Daniel overcoming her own knockdown to emerge from a competitive early give and take to be the dominant force in this one. Casta submitting instinctively to Brittany's breezy walk of shame - Daniel glowing with a prize brunette in the crook of her right arm, or what's left of her. In the audience, Charlize Theron clapping happily, Charisma Carpenter and Brooke Langton frowning, Denise Richards nodding as her trainer leans over to make some points - fighters are starting to notice Daniel. Lost in the blonde glare - some gutty moments from a lingerie model to go the distance - who'd a thunk it