Posted by simguy on 12/18/2004

Before: "If I hadn't gone rounds with Jennifer Connelly, I don't know that I'd be as confident as I am right now," says a beaming Cuoco in prefight. "I feel like - this'll sound bad, but - I feel like I'm the favourite. I do - I feel like Neve Campbell's in over her head and she's in for a beating. I just think it's my time to shine at last and Neve's just going to have to make room." Campbell stung by the dismissal: "Kaley's got nerve, I'll give her that. I don't know that she's a top 5 bantam really. She's got a healthy streak of punk in her - everyone knows that - and I'm going to bring that out of her with hard punching. I've seen Cuoco get discouraged in fights, and that's all I need to know about her." Neve in cerulean blue bikini, Kaley in pale blue off the shoulder top, sporty navy bottoms. Cuoco animated during instructions, bouncing, shaking out her arms, rolling her head side to side - Neve stone still, just tracking blonde with her eyes.

During R1: Back and forth, both girls trying to impose their agenda early. Neve dukes up, chin tucked, stepping-to and landing ham to Kaley's arms and hips early. Cuoco spanking a speed-jab off Neve's face, stepping to either side, showing the lead right on occasion, stepping out to draw Neve into the check-hook. Competitive stuff - Cuoco's legs dictating late, changing up distance and making Neve miss and reach on punches.

R2: Kaley's corner screaming enthusiastically as she pops that jab off her hip to Neve's sweet face, banging champ's head back with shocking pokes. Campbell shaking her head, turning - Kaley in charge with her feet, rotating briskly clockwise. Midway through - Kaley with a sloping jab to the belly, doubles quick hook to jaw - Neve double clutches, thinking it's over: Kaley pounds a short right to teeth, saws a left uppercut to chin, sinks a left hook to liver in quick succession - driving Campbell wobbly butt to ropes. Crowd roaring as Kaley squares away - scrubbing shoeshine applied as Neve covers up and soaks it up. Cuoco applying pretty polish, but clawing and brushing her shots rather than harming Neve proper - Campbell able to weather the storm, shaking her head defiantly 'no' en route to her corner.

R3: Kaley's legs really eating Neve up - Cuoco gliding right or left, darting in, stepping out - she's controlling the geometry of the ring. Campbell patient, dukes up, stalking, but she's getting touched up as Cuoco lands clean lead rights, piping-hot jabs, biting hooks. Kaley's eyes bright, intense - blonde fighting at a very high tempo - brunette patient, maybe waiting a bit too much: Neve's corner wants more punching.

R4: Cuoco fades, walks Neve into gorgeous check hook on the chin - Campbell staggers straight back and Kaley nails her again with a jump-in LEAD hook. Neve stepping in fence post holes, but shaking Kaley's power off - brunette regroups, starts edging forward again. Blonde sliding off to the side, peppering Campbell with potshots - blonde able to get off first, use her legs - Neve just not executing pressure basics. Down the stretch, Kaley slipping punches, manages to sidestep-pivot low, guiding Neve face first into ropes - Cuoco drapes herself over brunette's back, pinning her down for ref's break and champ doesn't like it. Neve shouting in protest, cheeks hot: she's getting embarrassed, feels Kaley's showboating. Cuoco honestly shrugging her shoulders in confusion as ref steps in.

R5: Series of Neve attacks repulsed as Kaley nimbly steps out and walks champ into deft counter-hooks on chin. Neve regrouping outside - Kaley darts in with a lead right on the teeth, smashing Neve's head back. Neve covers up: Kaley hooks her kidney just the way Britney showed her, buckling champ's legs. Groaning Neve reaches forward to clinch - Kaley steps back and walks brunette into uppercuts on the button. Poor Campbell falling apart - she can't get away from Kaley's harassing jab outside, getting clobbered by Cuoco potshots - and it's just getting worse. Cuoco so focused, nailing Neve over and over with short, step-in right hands on the ear, sending Campbell in a stumbling semi circle. Damaged Neve charges recklessly in - Kaley ducks low, stacks Campbell up a thudding shoulder in the chest and neatly labels that chin a tight corkscrew hook! Neve gobsmacked, stomping back on her heels - Kaley chases her with a hopping lead right, missing the mop up hook as CAMPBELL CRASHES TO HER BACK! Neve all busted up, rising to a seat - she tries pathetically to push herself up off her hip but it's NO GO! Kaley Cuoco leaping and bounding as count approaches 10 - poor Neve like a broken robot, trying to rise but unable to get off her butt - KO5 for the winner and NEW bantam champ - Kaley Cuoco!

After: Cuoco bursting into emotional tears of jubilation - snagging the belts and realizing her potential at long last - she takes apart a big, strong brunette tonight in startling, one-sided fashion. Campbell hurt by the flagrant celebrations, enraged at what she perceived to be crass showboating during the fight, appalled by the kidney shots - when Kaley approaches to console her, Neve throws a water bottle and beauties have to be separated. Britney Spears first BSE babe in the ring, hugging and congratulating Kaley, but pundits already speculating on the awkwardness between them: Cuoco and her number 1 contender all lovey dovey right now - but how long can that last?