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Charlize Theron* vs. Cat Bell (VI)  Unified (Lightweight title) by simguy 3/17/2001

Huge rematch features boxing's most perplexing rivalry. On the surface, Bell with utter mastery over Theron, but all fights have been nip and tuck, last woman standing type affairs that could've gone either way - but didn't!

Guest color commentator Kiana Tom explains, "They've had exciting fights, and I think that's been Theron's downfall. Speed gives Cat problems, but instead of using her skill, Charlize always comes in trying to destroy Bell. Charlize has this attitude that she's the movie star - Cat's just some TV wench who has to be dressed up, but when they get down to it, Bell's too tough and too smart to get rolled. If Charlize can control her pride - that's a big if - stick to boxing, use her legs, I think she gets by Bell tonight. If they get to slugging early, watch out!" Bell in leopard print bikini; Charlize in classic black bikini.

Round 1: Bell out with the high guard, sliding over to cut off the ring - Theron dancing to her left, hands at her belly, slapping and reaching in with jab to maximize distance. Tactical first - Theron obviously wanting to box, Bell jabbing with the blonde, trying to mix in the straight right to the body. Tentative Charlize doing more dancing than punching - Bell the effective aggressor takes the round.

Round 2: Bell drawing "OOH's" from the crowd as she leans in and spanks hard left/rights across Charlize' tight belly, connecting with a FOREARM TO THE BREAST ON FOLLOW-THRU. Theron with her gloves at her temples in peek a boo defense, leans in, takes a couple of body shots, then bails. Charlize showing a number of looks - the easy, fluid shuffle to her left with hands low, standing flat footed, hands up around her head as she leans in - she's touching Cat with jabs. In the final minute, a flashy series of bang-BANG left/rights to  Bell's right breast has the brunette backing off with a wince. Round to Theron.

Round 3: Charlize loose and relaxed, hands low, leans in, then leans out, shifting her weight from front foot to back foot, changing distance and giving Bell angles. End of the first minute, Charlize on her front foot, paws and pokes the jab, leaning to her right, then straightens suddenly to clap brunette jaw with a right uppercut, numbing Bell's legs and putting her wobbly butt. Cat shows her heart, soaking up the hardest punch of the fight so far and coming in hard with her head on Theron's chest and roughing up the champ's belly with clubbing lefts and rights to put Theron on the ropes. Charlize clinching for breaks, opens up the canvas and the final minute in spiteful sniper action from quick-mitted Charlize. Off her front foot, Theron goes left/right from her stomach to Bell's right breast again, then shifts to her back foot, pulling a calling card hook to Bell's juicy left breast. MEAN-SPIRITED, DELIBERATE ATTACK ON BELL'S JUGS bringing water to Cat's eyes - a hard glint of satisfaction to Charlize's.

Round 4: Bell with the Oscar high guard, beats Charlize to the jab this round, pounding back the blonde's forehead with crisp connects putting her off stride. Bell able to work off the jab, HOOK THE CHEST and chop the right to the jaw - Charlize doesn't like the trade, taking her licks but bailing out rather than let Bell get in a rhythm. Cat takes the round, but Theron shows the maturity and judgment she needs, refusing to respond to Bell's invitations to bang.

Round 5: Theron wheeling left laying a loose, open hand jab on Cat, stopping suddenly to chop in lanky right crosses, shifting onto the back foot to clap the hook along Bell's jaw. Bell getting outclassed, but she's sturdy, taking everything well, still trying to work her own jab but having trouble lining the blonde up. Good boxing round for Theron.

Round 6: Shutout Charlize Theron! Theron in her dancing, pot-shotting rhythm - Cat turning at center ring hands high, picking off a lot of pesky Theron leather, but Charlize has established range, is getting off when she wants, and she's shutting Bell's offense down completely with lateral movement. OH THOSE BREAST PUNCHES! Charlize with hissing left/rights to the left jug leaves Bell cringing, pre-occupied - it's precision punching at its hard-hearted best.

Round 7: Bell with more solid work, still unable to find a groove. She can land the jab occasionally and the straight right hand to the body - but Theron is showing her up, circling, turning the brunette, keeping the fight in the middle of the ring. Charlize leaning to her left, poking the right hand, suddenly straightens and nails Bell a hard left hook on the chin as she shifts weight to that back foot - Bell having a hard time finding the champ as Theron uses her reach, lanky frame well through seven.

Round 8: Bell simply keeps coming and finally gets rewarded as hard straight right hands to the body finally force Charlize back against the ropes. Cat able to fight off Theron's chest this round, palming up on the blonde's biceps, pushing the arms out of the way, then CHUGGING HARD PUNCHES TO THE BLONDES BREASTS, then clouting jaw with short lefts and rights as Theron tries to protect her tits. Charlize not clinching, not spinning out, accepts the challenge and digs in to answer back. Blistering, cheek to cheek action more to Bell's liking and the round ends as she lands a hurtful, rising THREE PUNCH COMBO UP INTO THERON'S RIBS AND BOSOM as the blonde leans forward.

Round 9: Charlize standing flat footed, unable to resist the temptation to turn slugger! The action heats up as the girls stand mid-ring, taking turns launching big right hands, coming back with biting left hooks. Both girls getting lit up, neither taking a backward step. Theron using her left elbow to push off, gets the better of things, jostling Bell slightly, then clocking her with slinging right hands upside the head.

Round 10: Theron waving Bell in - girls go mouth on shoulder in a grueling 10th round that has the crowd roaring. All Cat Bell as she works rough with her head against Charlize' cheeks, curls punches up into Charlize' polished ribcage, uses her forearms to push Theron back. Charlize trying to counter with lanky uppercuts, but she's getting cuffed and buffeted, missing badly as Bell outworks her this round. Bell keeping blonde butt on the ropes in the final minute, works Charlize over to the waist, but Theron talking the whole time, taunting - Bell can't take her out and both girls know it. At the bell - Charlize throws up her fists and bumps chests with a disconsolate Cat Bell. Comes back UD10 for the winner and STILL lightweight champ Charlize Theron!

Brawl nearly ensues after the decision as Charlize pulls Cat by the arm for a walk of shame - managers, handlers, and entourages getting into the act to prevent the atrocity - both women barely restrained from going at it bare knuckle. Theron finally executing a fight plan, refusing to fall for Cat's mind games until late, sacrificing power for speed to keep the brunette off balance and fighting for the decision all the way. In the past, Bell's taken advantage of Theron mistakes - champ made precious few in this contest. BLONDE! magazine really trumpeting up this card as Garth, Nolin, and Theron all come through, dumping tough, quality brunettes, ruining former bastions of brunette power, trampling brunette ambitions, so on and so forth - brings new meaning to the phrase 'yellow journalism'.