Before: "Country girls can't fight," Nicole certifies in prefight. "Not in a boxing ring - not with gloves. Take 'em out of a honky tonk and they're just cheap brawlers. I've never gotten my due in the FCBA: I know I'm championship material and I'm thrilled that I'm getting the chance to showcase my heat at long last!"

Rimes scowling throughout: well travelled blonde no stranger to the stereotype concerning C/W boxing beauties. "Nicole's gonna stop being hot about 3 minutes into this fight," Leanne promises at podium. "All her little belly dancer techniques and silk-fighting slickness aren't going to help when I'm teeing off on her chin. Skank's getting knocked the F out - I guarantee it!"

Nicole in deep green bikini with black filigree print/ring connections; black gloves; hair wet, slick down her back - she's sleek as an otter for the fight. Leanne in pink twist-tie halter top with big white polkadots; daisy duke trunks; white gloves. PCD escorting Nicole to ring in a rousing live version of "When I Grow Up" - exasperating Leanne as she waits in the ring.

During R1: Feint from Nicole; sneaky lead right hand; Leanne's face punched straight back as Nicole jumps past blonde right flank. Sexy, slinking footwork from Scherzinger - pointing either shoulder at Leanne while prowling around her. Nikki's hands low - she's lifting either mitt up off her thighs, poking at Leanne, then bouncing round blonde flanks: Rimes a full beat behind the pace, really looking lost. Midway through, Nikki freezes Leanne with feint, then dives in a slinging right hand to chin: Rimes shook, babystepping to her right with hands panicky at her ears. Nikki licks lips while Rimes is frazzled: brunette going downstairs with a limber right/left - undoing the top button of Rimes' Daisy Dukes! Down the stretch, Nicole circling, pouncing in: no jab from Rimes to disrupt sinewy Scherzinger lunges. Fake right hand sets up leaping left uppercut to country-girl chin: ringing connect unhinges Leanne's knees, leaves her swaying as Nikki slides past blonde right flank. Rimes reeling, glassy eyed: Scherzinger jumps in a lead right to face, punching Rimes onto her heels. Nicole hopping-with, very aggressive here: Scherzinger lifting punches off her thighs, pasting Leanne's face as blonde staggers backward. BLONDE GIRL DOWN! Dazed Rimes tripping over her own feet, crashing to her buns with back to ropes: she's a stunned beauty, staring helplessly as Nicole stoops forward, clapping a cheap right to jaw before ref can shoo her away. Poor Leanne! Rimes sitting with legs outstretched in a numb V, eyes wide with shock, head lolling - she's a pathetic sight, groggily trying to do up the button on her jeans with fumbling boxing gloves! KO1 in flashy fashion as Urban girl undresses country vixen as promised.

After: Scherzinger's sensual belly-dance celebration devolves into a hopping around in group hug with PCD: Nicole fast, flashy, supple and sleek in dispatching a hopelessly outclassed Rimes. "Told you!" Nikki shouts in postfight, face beaming. "The 'cow-patties' can't fight a lick - I totally took what I wanted tonight. Now THAT'S what I'm capable of: sexy, lethal fighting the FCBA hasn't seen in a long time. I know my guys wanted Britney, but a few more nights like this, and I'll make them forget she was ever on the list!"

Many interested parties in the aftermath of this impressive performance: Holly Valance said to be courting Nicole; Carmen Electra and Brooke Burke none too pleased to see Scherzinger strutting; Jennifer Lopez willing to cut weight to fight slick Nik; other singers said to be interested as well.