Charlize Theron (5'9" 132) vs. Monica Bellucci (5'10" 137) (UNIFIED WELTERWEIGHT TITLE) by simguy 5-31-03

Charlize delighted at the prospect of meeting Monica for welterweight gold. "Bellucci's the challenge I've been looking for, for years," says the champ. "A gorgeous, exotic brunette my fans will love seeing me in with. A movie star - not somebody I've got to carry at the box office like a Bell or Landry or Ryan. A confident big woman - she's naturally stronger then me - she'll test me on every level. When I beat her, I realize she's not just going to go away, but I want to crack the whip on her, set the tone for our relationship. Monica Bellucci needs to know that I'm the boss around here - right now she's a little too headstrong for her own good."

Case in point, Bellucci making waves in prefight by standing up and drawing a thumb slowly across her throat while glaring at Theron.

Black push up, red bikini trunks Bellucci, cream bikini Charlize.

Rd 1: Theron easy to her left, hands at waist level - she's giving Bellucci plenty of feints and twitches, managing the brunette's come-forward aggression. Charlize sniping, using her jab to steer, slicing in lead rights off of feints, just nibbling at Monica to keep her off balance. When Bellucci finally gets close, she's muscular, wrestling Charlize to the ropes and mauling her. Beauties struggling in tight - Charlize with her left arm in a loose headlock on Monica, pulling her into right hands on the face - Bellucci scrabbling at the ribcage, not shy about slamming her forearm/elbow into Theron's bronzed torso. Monica gnawing on Theron after the bell - ref working hard to pull the seething brunette off her prey. Bellucci doing the damage, but Theron in control of most of the round gets narrow points.

Rd 2: Pressure from Monica - Theron seeking to create space, using her legs, feints, changes of direction to keep Monica off. Midway through, Theron boxing beautifully, jabbing smooth off her hip, has Bellucci positioned and drops a shivering right cross flush to the chin. Crowd shouts upon impact - Bellucci halting for a moment, then shaking off the shot and trudging forward. Charlize a little wide eyed - puts a pretty spin move on Monica - left hand on the brunette's back to guide her past - blonde a little unsettled to see Bellucci march through the right hand like that.

Rd 3: Monica coming forward, hands moving from her chest to eyebrows - she wants to get to Theron's chest and work. Theron not having it - she's showing plenty of respect - skirting the ring, slapping the jab, pot-shotting lead right hands, jumping around Monica's flanks to turn the brunette midring. Bellucci not cutting off the ring, glaring at Theron from behind her gloves, but Charlize legs control the round. Boos from an impatient crowd - they want to see the reckless Charlize who went right at Debbe Dunning, not this safety-first technician.

Rds 4-5: Entertaining two way action rounds - Theron giving ground in good order, running Bellucci onto the jab, turning on sleek right hands, sidestepping as Monica bulls forward. Bellucci getting to blonde chest on occasion, muscling her way past Charlize' arms and getting after her torso with both hands, elbows, head-butting the upper chest and shoulders in brawny work at the ropes. Theron showing a veteran, heady game tonight - she's controlling the rounds, limiting Monica's opportunities. Bellucci's rougher, hurting Charlize to the body, but less consistent and blonde's tying her up for breaks very effectively.

Rd 6: Monica jabbing Charlize in the chest, backing her to the ropes - brunette finally lands a booming overhand right, crowding Charlize up against the ropes on follow through. Bellucci with smothering pressure, getting on Theron, working her tummy, muscling her arms up and elbow-smashing her exposed ribs. Theron supple, hands at Bellucci's ears, pulling the brunette's head down and throwing some vicious counter uppercuts in tight. Once again, Charlize veteran savvy on show - Monica's busier, bullying her girl much of the round, but the showiest, most obvious blows are Theron's slick uppercuts on the inside - picking Monica's head up pretty for all to see. Theron steals a Bellucci round - once again ref has to pry a frustrated brunette off her blonde as action spills into overtime.

Rds 7-8: Bellucci showing no respect, just trying to get her head on Charlize' chest and maul her girl at the ropes - but it's taking too long to get Theron pinned down. Charlize able to keep her distance, showing Monica an unpredictable, educated left hand, busting up the Italian's gorgeous eyes with calculated cruelty. Theron able to drop that pot-shotting right on the face as Bellucci storms in, then get around the brunette - Monica getting undressed by Charlize' tireless legs tonight. Bellucci having her moments, but not enough of them - she's falling farther and farther behind on the cards.

Rd 9: Bellucci has her way - Theron taking the round off, lolling on the ropes and accepting the brunette to her chest. Charlize conserving energy, hands up around Bellucci's ears, controlling her head. Bellucci pumping her arms back and forth, slamming away indiscriminately to Charlize hips, trunks and belly, bunching the blonde into the strands, drawing little grunts of pain from the champ. Theron not punching back - content to reach under Monica's arms and hold her for breaks - Italian constantly pushing her way back in and working in a sultry 9th. More late hitting from Bellucci - lips pulled back in a bitter snarl - she wants to harm Charlize, but just can't find the kill switch.

Rd 10: Theron puts it all together, closing the show like a champ. Brisk jabbing while dancing left, peppering away to Bellucci's swollen eyes, turning the brunette midring. Second minute - Charlize drops the right hand in between the gloves, banging back Bellucci's head, then hooks the girl in the belly. Bellucci rooted to the spot, bending forward - she's confused, Charlize punching having a numbing effect and Theron piles on. Charlize staying busy, hooking to the body, chopping right hands to the head - Monica posing for shots and BELLUCCI GOES WOBBLY BUTT! Theron lands a flush right hand, lands it again, LANDS IT AGAIN! Monica's head banging to the side from blows, she's backpedaling hurt as Charlize walks her down. Girls hit the ropes, Charlize presses up big-girl, picks up Monica's chin the right uppercut, puts the hook on top - Bellucci in a fog, shipping punches as Theron tears away. Down the stretch, brawny shove and slug from the champ - she's got Monica's butt in the ropes, and Charlize helps herself to bra with both mitts. Pounding jug muggage to the bell - Monica in misty-eyed stupor and it's Charlize piling on late as the ref pulls her off. Comes back UD10 wide - Charlize Theron.

After: Charlize strutting hands high - nodding with breezy supremacy, but this fight closer than the cards suggest. Theron using more ring generalship than usual tonight, controlling her foe with her feet, minimizing the exchanges - Bellucci walking through Theron's hardest right hands made an impression on the KruZher corner as Jones calls a safety first fight, Theron concurs.

Bellucci outraged at the decision, pushing her way through the crowd - heinous scene erupts as Monica lunges for Charlize, hands strong around golden throat - officials pulling at both girls in a wild melee. Hard feelings all around as order is restored - if Charlize is the boss, Monica's not buying it just yet.

"She hits like a flyweight," snarls Bellucci afterwards, "she is a disgrace as champion."

Theron rubbing her reddened neck, eyes flashing: "Monica's just earned herself a lifetime supply of punishment. I'm not just going to run her out of the FCBA - I'll go to Italy and beat her on her own carpet - wrestling, boxing you name it. I'm wiping this girl OUT!"