Posted by simguy on 4/19/03

Prefight sessions so heated, so bitter, they often result in shoving or face-slapping incidents. One pundit remarks: "If Charlize had fought at welter her whole career, Ali Landry would have been Theron's Cat Bell." Food for thought. Charlize hammering home the fact that Ali's just a tune up for her. "Landry is not a special fighter. I don't owe her any particular respect. I need a welterweight who can handle herself to give me some rounds so I can go take the title from Dina and that's it. I do not subscribe to this crap that Ali's one of the best ever at this weight. Frankly, the way she's been going, it's hard not to see her as a shot fighter." Landry, clearly galled by the blonde's unveiled disdain. "When we first fought, very early in my pro career - Charlize Theron bullied me. I swore then she'd pay for the rest of her life for how she handled that fight and that's what's happened. She likes to talk about how she romped through welterweight years ago. She wanted no part of me then. I drop a couple of lame-duck decisions and NOW she wants to go. Well, fine. She thinks she's in with a cup cake, more power to her. I can't wait to tear it up on this girl." Charlize in ponytail, baby blue bikini top, cream bottoms - Ali in gold bikini, gold belly chain.

During R1: Charlize looking to use the ring, suss her opponent out with some tactical movement - Ali immediately looking to close, get to Charlize' chest and work. Landry stalking, cutting off the ring, crouches, reaches in with the left and gets close by slamming the right hard to Theron's ribs just south of the breastline. Theron consistently hustled to the ropes and burdened - blonde digging in, ear to ear with Ali, dipping her shoulders and licking up tight into Landry's bronzed torso. Ali brawny, reaching one arm or the other under Charlize' arms to shoulder her back, clubbing short harmful strokes to the ribs and tummy, finishing up with pancaking strokes across the jugs. Plenty of forearm used by Ali in these bruising exchanges - ref reminding her to keep it clean.

R2: Ali very methodical, scooting footwork and spitting jab helping to cut off the ring, coming in low on Charlize, fitting that heartstopping right hand into Theron's ribs, then working. Theron's back to the ropes early and she settles in, nice and relaxed against the strands, keeping her head close to Ali's, cupping Ali's ears. Both girls busy - Ali keeping her head on Charlize, palming up on the blonde's shoulders, then pumping downstairs. Theron with her left hand low, using the left shoulder to bump, turning on supple right uppercuts in close, wearing out Landry’s jugs and chin with clouting connects. Down the stretch, girls nudging and slugging - exchange of hooks goes Ali's way and THERON GOES DOWN! Big head swivel, slow sinking to her haunches - Charlize all swoony ALI CLOUTS HER A CHEAP RIGHT HAND ACROSS THE FACE! Theron toppled awkwardly into the ropes, hit and hurt while she's down - ref bundling Ali back and giving her a stern finger waggle. Enough time after Theron's woozy 8 for Ali to wade in, tidy up on that lean blonde body with rapacious two-gun punching to the bell.

R3: Mission accomplished Ali - Theron's down off her bicycle, favouring hurt ribs in a protective crouch - girls get cheek to cheek and struggle on the inside from the get-go. Ali muscling Charlize, pulling on her arms, reaching under her arms to budge her back, bludgeoning that tender ribcage with short shots, 100% forearm on follow through. Landry mauling Theron's jugs at every opportunity, snuggled on the inside and twisting up into scraping uppercuts - she's got Charlize sitting hurt in the strands and taking. Theron socking sack in return, clouting Ali's enormous mounds with little shoulder-shrugging lefts and rights - Charlize showing much improved inside form as she tightens up her strokes and does some harm. Down the stretch, Ali stuns Charlize a short, clouting right on the ear, follows up a gutting double hook in the breadbasket and a boozy Theron reaches to clinch. Ali stepping back, staying compact - she rips away at the ribs as Charlize tries to drape arms up high, Theron stumbling forward into punishment and CHARLIZE GOES DOWN! Theron just wilting to all fours, worn out to the gut and ALI WHALLOPS HER ACROSS THE BACK! Charlize shouting in foggy outrage - ref bodying Landry back - Ali snarling. Landry out to a huge lead through three.

R4: OH THEY BANG AWAY! Theron gritting her teeth, digging in and going shoulder to shoulder with Landry in a gutsy display of you-hit-me, I'll-hit-you. Charlize in a slightly closed stance, left shoulder in Ali's chest - blonde turn-twisting into meanspirited right uppercuts, twisting the other way to lash her hook across Ali's waist, then extending the left elbow to prop her up for more. LANDRY GOES WOBBLY BUTT! Vicious first minute of trade sees brunette legs suddenly give way - Ali trying to tie up and Charlize fights through it! Theron really biting into Ali's body with that hook, doubling it up to the jugs, then cleaning up on the mouth with right uppercuts and LANDRY GOES DOWN! Ali bludgeoned to her backside - Charlize stepping through the extended legs, drifts her kneecap oh-so-casually into Ali's open mouth! Outrage as Landry's cornermen jump onto the apron - ref shoving Charlize back and restoring order and there's more time on the clock. Theron wades in after 8 and SAVAGES Ali along the ropes - brunette sliding to her right, blonde stepping with and lashing away lanky rights and lefts. Down the stretch, Landry off the ropes, bends in and down with a short right hand counter and THERON IS HURT! Charlize' own right hand sprays over the top, she's all rubbery legged and desperate to clinch. Landry wrapping up around Theron's shiny waist, bulls blonde into the ropes and pins her down, cramming in punches between the hips as Charlize wraps up tight around Landry's head. Ali still digging after the bell - ref reefing on Charlize' arms to enforce the break.

R5: Charlize got the better of the 4th and she goes right at Landry to open the 5th - leading with a slinging right on the chops, mopping up with loose-limbed lefts to paunch underneath. Girls fall in together, hurt piling up - they take turns shoulder shoving off for punching room, then lighting each other up gorgeous. Bell to bell slugging, hard to score round as they just take turns treating each other shabby. At the bell - faces swelling nicely, Charlize' left eye closing, Ali cut in the mouth - this thing is taking it's toll.

R6: Ali merciless - sees that left eye on Theron and goes to work. Landry working outside for the first time, stamping Charlize a piston jab, then banging that right hand off the eye - poor Charlize can't see the punches coming. Theron gritting her teeth and gutting through it - SHE'S now trying to close, pick Ali up in the body and tits with those limber rising lefts and rights. Crowd groaning in sympathy as Theron soaks up some MURDEROUS right hands - Ali really dialing 'em in. Long blonde legs tremble, but they don't give way.

R7: ROUND OF THE YEAR! Both girls shopworn, faces drawn, hands low - they wade into each other, reaching relaxed around one anothers bodies, then starting the awful rhythm of push-bump-punch at close quarters. By the midway point, Charlize in a sexy groove, leaning back on her right foot, letting Ali fall forward, then picking her up on the chin with that nasty, slick right uppercut. Landry wobbly butt, drifting - Charlize able to body up, walk her girl around, muscling and maneuvering brunette with a casual wrap around head or shoulders. Crowd screaming every time Theron tags Landry - every punch a wince-maker, Landry out on her feet but willing herself to go on. Final minute, girls stooped forward, elbows in, clouting each other with short lefts and rights and THERON IS HURT! Landry beating her girl to punches, spanking Theron's face back and forth - Charlize' mouthpiece tumbles off her teeth as her eyes go cloudy. Theron groggy at the ropes, hands extended weak to Ali's shoulders and LANDRY PILES IT ON! Gorgeous, slamming lefts and rights, Landry twisting her hips into furious haymakers, Theron's head swivelling badly - it's carnage! ALI FEELS IT! Nothing's coming back from Charlize, brunette just heaping it on, clanging away to the chin! Landry steps back, lets Charlize droop forward into a wrenching left up under the ribcage and ALI DIGS IN! Landry rotating her shoulders, feverishly hoisting leather up under Theron’s tits as she tilts forward. THERON GOES DOWN! Charlize a pathetic sight, body ruined, paralyzed on her stomach - she lifts her battered face off the mat, mewling incoherently, but she can't command her limbs. IT'S OVER! Charlize looking like she's been thrown out of a speeding limo can't beat the count! KO7 Landry!

After: Ali Landry bursting into agonized tears - Dina Meyer ringside, standing and clapping with a happy smile: she knows two of her most formidable challengers may have just ruined one another in a potential fight of the year.

Landry all busted up, but deliriously happy - Charlize devastated, propped up onto her stool and given the smelling salts and it's only just beginning. A marauding Ali Landry marches over, interrupts the tenser-bandaging of Charlize' ribs to haul her to her feet. Janet Jones tries to break up the walk but Landry stares her back - nothing's getting between this brunette and her spoils. Charlize limp in the crook of Ali's right arm, blonde head lolling, tears squeezing out through swollen eyes - what a night for Ali Landry. AND IT'S NOT OVER!

Ali about to release Charlize, instead shoves her chest-first to the ropes - Theron slumped forward, arms on that top rope, tear-stained face boozy with incomprehension. Ali kicks the blonde's feet out wide like a cop breaking down a junkie, then stands up smug like a quarterback looking over the defense, hands on Charlize' quivering hips. Ali milking the moment, raising her right hand speculatively for the audience to decide Charlize' fate: resounding roar of approval brings a smile to Ali's face. Oh, she takes her time, moving to her left, leaning her left arm on Charlize' glistening back, setting her feet, adjusting Theron's bikini bottom like she's making a bed just so, then GREAT CLAPPING RIGHT HANDS OF JUSTICE! Crowd raising the roof as Ali pounds away righty on Charlize' muscular backside - Theron open mouthed, shouting in shock as fresh tears pour down her face.

Landry spokespeople fend off criticism in days to come with tripe about "preventative measures" and "deterrence" - the usual line about how KruZher women need to be discouraged from humiliating their foes, so on and so forth.