Before: Carefree Hawaiian native Sossamon happy to put on a couple pounds and face formidable former champ Laetitia Casta. "Never heard of her," breezes Shannyn, "but then again, I don't really follow boxing." Pundits not sure if it's an act or true indifference - Sossamon reportedly a dance-club fighter of some repute - we'll see how it holds up against a real professional. Casta the bigger girl, but not taller - if Shannyn can box, she'd be well advised to do so.

Casta in royal blue bikini, fleur de lis print - Shannyn in red bikini top, orange/red palm leaf print bottoms.

During R1: Casta stalking - Shannyn showing lithe leg as she circles, lopes around the ring. Sossamon cute out of the corners, bouncing from one set of ropes to the other to spin around Casta - Laetitia frustrated in her attempts to hound and pound early. Shannyn picking spots to get off lanky - strapping Laetitia about the ears and shoulders with long, licking lefts and rights, then dancing out of range - American slaps away for points as Casta can't track her down.

R2: Sossamon continuing to dazzle - nice and light on her feet, supple with her upperbody - she's anticipating Laetitia well, bounding out of range, or slipping punches. Double-S showing some counter-punching ability - sliding back in front of Casta aggression, then walking French face into straight right hands, beating Laetitia to the potshot. Shannyn dressing her girl up pretty through 2, thoroughly embarrassing Casta with dancing, slapping, smiling bravado.

R3: Casta stays on plan - finally getting her jab on Shannyn, banging away to the willowy brunette's upperchest. Laetitia's prowling footwork better this round - she's stepping to the side, cutting off the ring. Shannyn bending at the waist and leaning back on her hips - hard to hit flush on the chin - veteran Casta goes to the body with wide slinging rights and busy digging left to bang that midsection. Sossamon standing flat footed by the final minute, looking a little shook - she's laying in with Casta, licking lanky on the inside with right and left uppercuts, trying to crowd the receipts.

R4: Casta continuing to impose her will - she's pressing the pace, breaking Shannyn's legs down somewhat - American no longer smiling as she backs into the ropes and looks to slip punches. End of first minute - Casta stepping with Shannyn as she slides to her left along the ropes - Laetitia probing the jab, stepping out to draw Shannyn in and pulling the trigger on a quick right hand off the shoulder to nail Sossamon as she lunges off the perimeter. SHANNYN'S DOWN! Chin-clipping right shuts down brunette's long legs - Sossamon clatters to all fours in wide eyed shock at Laetitia's sudden power. After 8, Casta moves in strong - extending the left, keeping it up around Shannyn's face, then DRIVING right hands down into the gut with stamping authority. Shannyn soaking it up shabby, clinching and bogging Laetitia down - heavy French hands starting to take a toll.

R5: Vintage Laetitia C - stepping her foe down behind that thumping jab, measuring her, then leaning in with whistling rights as Sossamon bends back to her left to narrowly dodge the missiles. Second minute - Shannon bending left and right with her hands down - Laetitia yo-yoing out the jab, then CARVING a short right to catch Shan as she bends to her left. Sossamon clipped and dropped hard to her back - she's woozy getting to her feet. Ref doesn't like the look in those dewy brown eyes - waves this thing off to prevent a sure Laetitia feeding frenzy with over 2 minutes left on the clock. TKO5 Casta.

After: Sossamon showing some slickness, but grinding pressure from Laetitia the cure as Casta hobbles her fleet footed foe, then hammers her with fight winning right hands. Good showcase for Laetitia, but pundits alarmed at the experience gulf between the opponents and the fact that Shannyn might be more at home as a long, willowy bantam - Casta feasting on cupcakes of late, liable to get fat without a sterner workout.