by Simguy on 02/25/2005

Before: Euro-rivalry fought out on US soil - both brunettes anxious to make a strong impression as the better import. Beckinsale with a natural North American style but revealed to be a little brittle in grinding brawls with big lightweights - she's got a rep for being able to dish but not take. Jovovich a classic Euro-style boxer - Krushers looking to evolve her style, maybe add a punch: she's got the makings of a darting right hand finisher Milla believes Kate will be 'tailor-made for'. Both girls making the bantamweight limit easy - slender and strong at the weight.

Beckinsale in black Diet-Coke ad bikini, white waistbank, twist tie top - Jovovich in metallic pink bra and panties, frilled at the edges.

During R1: Beckinsale attacking from a slugging crouch, spitting jabs up at Jovovich, looping rights to ear, back with brawling lefts to ribs: Milla's put ropeside early. Kate going to work on Milla like a mechanic on an engine - stabilizing Jovo with the left in order to rip rights to the body, switching off to stabilize right, rip lefts. Milla grimacing, getting jostled and belted - she's looking to spin off but Beckinsale doing a nice job of crowding, shadowing, keeping Milla's back on those ropes. Midway point, constant drumming attack to midsection paying off in Milla's thrilling legs - Jovovich gasping, reaching for Kate to clinch: Beckinsale brushes her back with carving right uppercuts and cheap left elbow smashes in the shoulder and jaw. Final minute, Jovovich a staring ruin as Beckinsale lays in a series of short, clouting rights to jaw - poor Milla rung up, dazed, giving up her chin to a rampaging Katie B at the bell. Beckinsale surveying the damage, nodding curtly in satisfaction: Jovovich dishelved, wide-eyed - she's hurting. (SLOW-MO DURING THE BREAK: footage shows Katie with the back of her left hand stabilizing Jovovich at the breastline - Beckinsale reaching back with her right and ploughing it home - great stuffing punches. Announcers point out Katie's wide open for counters - if only Milla wasn't so hurt at the time.)

R2: Jovovich's springy legs listless and tingly - she comes out flat footed to meet Kate midring. Girls squaring away to punch, dukes up, very orthodox as they jab brisk to mouth and chest, step left. Beckinsale slowly getting the better of it, hooking off her jab to constantly startle Milla on the chin, driving in with short right hands on the button, coming back underneath with jagged little left uppies to taut sternum. Jovovich not punching back in the last minute, gurgling from body shots and shying away - Kate walking her down, strong thighs flashing with confidence.

R3: Beckinsale: jab, overhand right, all to set up that gouging, abrupt left uppercut to the solar plexus. Jovovich groaning, legs trembling - she shabby-foots to the ropes, sets up all hurt, elbows in, stooped forward behind her mitts. Kate steps-to, eyes pitiless as a crow's as she squares up to work. Raking hooks dig rightside ribs behind the elbow, bounce off tender kidney. Skidding left/right uppies off Jovovich's forehead as Katie cuts the punches short, gets her shoulder in there. Katie dips, levers Jovo up with the left shoulder and digs right hands to trembling gut - also using right to push Jovo's left arm out of the way during these sequences: constant, hungry body punching. It's all too much - Milla making moist, breathy whimpering noises sinks to her hands and knees, shaking her head in anguish as Beckinsale lifts her mitts, glaring down. It's over - Jovovich just can't rise - KO3 Kate Beckinsale.

After: No mercy from Beckinsale - quick as a bunny she removes her gloves and hops to ruined Milla for tribute. Jovovich hung up chest first in the Krusher corner, left leg suspended in the middle rope - Kate with her hands on Milla's hips leans in for some meanspirited whispered gloatings direct to Jovovich's left ear. Katie braces herself on strong legs, right hand flat and rigid as an oar, left hand splayed against Milla's lumbar region and KATE ROMPS TO RUMP! Great clapping British right hands help themselves to one of the best rear-ends in boxing - poor Milla shouting groggily as she hugs turnbuckles, eyes closed, eyebrows arched high.

"I had to bring the spanking out of mothballs for Milla," a grinning Katie B tells reporters afterwards. "She's built for it so! I declare the Krushers to be a soft-bodied lot. I devastated Charlize to the body and I've done the same to Milla - they positively simper when one goes there!" Good sign for Jovovich fans: groggy, battered and shopworn as she is, she's begging Kim n' Gin for a rematch - PROMISING Beckinsale's mouthy head on a platter