Before: "I'll dig at Casta if I have to," Ali promises at the podium. "She's been going strong to girls' bodies this year - duly noted - but if she thinks she can have me downstairs, she's in for a disappointment." Casta smirking, taking the podium with queenly swagger: "I will have Ali any which way I want her. Should I choose to break her down to the body, she will be broken. But she - and all of you - will have to wait to see what I decide. Laetitia Casta fights as she pleases - to the body, to the head, inside, outside - when the end comes for Ali, I promise you: it will be a surprise!" Casta in leopard print bikini, hair in top knot ponytail (highlighted curls tumbling down her back and neck); black gloves. Ali in tan sheepskin bikini - western fringes - black gloves.

During R1: Good solid two-way busting. Girls stepping in flat footed, tapping out where-are-you jabs, then pounding right/lefts from close range. Vixens taking turns - dukes up, lips tight when they're taking; strong, clubbing blows at each other's heads, shoulders, chests and ribcages when they're getting off. Casta steadily giving up ground - round finishes with her back to her own corner, taking a pretty good pounding on her flanks as Ali works hard for points at the bell.

R2: Similar stuff - very basic, no frills, hardnosed fighting. Both vixens relying on sturdy blocking guards up top rather than legging out away from heat: both want to be in position to answer back hot. Good bashing two way trade - girls landing in thumping twos and threes, clubbing each other firm. Down the stretch, Casta working in close nips a tidy right uppercut between Larter's mitts, startling Ali. Larter freezing up behind her mitts, not answering: she's hurt; Casta celebrates with three thick, spanking hooks heavy behind Ali's right elbow at bell.

R3: Ali doing more with her jab: project is still to close and bang - but she's really knocking Casta's head back and putting her on the defensive with poke first. Ali punching HARD to the body - turning her torso into short, cudgelling rights and lefts vicious behind Casta's elbows: Laetitia grunting, grimacing, giving ground. 'Tish's curvy legs soak it up, but she's not answering much, getting walked around and really worked over from clavicle to hip. Ali stepping up her attack to Casta's bulging wonders: Larter dipping her left shoulder in close, jerking the left uppercut short - not turning over the punch, just jamming it into melon meat. Larter's right hand also clubbing rack - nice swiping clout as 'Tish maintains earmuff. Bell: Casta blinking, open mouthed - she's wobbly butt to her corner, walking very gingerly after big-thump from Ali. Larter smiling, happy in her work: she's in front through 3.

R4: Girls trade HEAVY, heavy right hands amidships early, beating breathy grunts from one another's lips. Casta edging in with her left shoulder to Ali's chest, bumping her back, hooking her tummy, then clouting her righty to flank: thick, sumptuous stuff from Laetitia has Larter giving ground. Ali baring her teeth, digging in, fighting back: same steady, clouting back and forth, heavy handed pace as both girls are determined to break the other's spirits. Gorgeous, thumping stuff - 'Tish walking Ali around - French vixen looks a smidge harder-nosed here. Final minute, girls working shoulder to shoulder, trading compact licks to body: 'Tish comes off Ali's midsection with that licking little right uppercut - belting Larter's face up off her gloves. Ali startled, shook - Casta pops hops-right, buries her hook thick to liver, sinking the punch in behind Larter's right elbow. Sob of pain, Ali - she steps back as she crouches forward, hugging her guts and LARTER TAKES A KNEE! Savage blast changes entire tenor of the fight - Casta striding past, heartless eyes searching Larter for quit. Ali blinking back tears, fights back to standing, but she's hurrrrrt at ropes. On comes Casta - seconds left: French vixen squares away, goes at what's left with brutal, controlled ferocity. Larter sitting in ropes, elbows together at her tummy, hands at her temples as she cringes forward: Casta's belting away full-blooded left and right roundhouses to ribs. REF STEPS IN! Sickening, hollow thudding of those body shots brings the official in: Ali simply crippled, unable to answer. TKO4, Laetitia Casta.

After: Heartbreaking night for the hot-and-rising Larter: sharp rebuke from one of boxing's sturdiest veteran lightweights sends Ali back to the drawing board. "I felt her quality," Laetitia admits in postfight, "but I dismissed it. She gave me her very best, and when she was done, I knew I would win. American starlets need to work harder in and out of the ring to be ready for Laetitia Casta: most do not want to commit to the effort."