Charlize Theron* vs. Cameron Diaz (II) (MAXIM LIGHTWEIGHT TITEL BOUT) by simguy 04-Nov-00

This one's got everything - the excruciating beauty of the combatants; pre-fight shenanigans, including an interview with both women on Entertainment Tonight that ends with Theron getting out of her chair and menacing a grinning Diaz until gaffers intervene; the 'return of the queen' theme from Diaz, suggesting that only Cameron's absence has allowed Charlize to carve out the career she has - and on and on! Intriguing bout to speculate on, but most agree Charlize has to get to Diaz' body, get her down off her toes or risk getting decisioned by the flashier ring generalship of Cam. Golden spangly Angels bikini for Diaz; powder blue bikini top, mauve bikini bottom for Charlize. During ring instructions - Diaz with that infuriating grin goes almost nose to nose with stoic Theron - Charlize shoving back with a sneer that almost erupts into pre-bell action.

Round 1: Diaz bouncing, circling left and right, hands low, gets Charlize' respect early and often in the first minute. Theron cutting down the ring, pounding out the jab - Diaz weaves away from it then triggers right or left counters from her waist, PANCAKING CHARLIZE' LEFT BREAST with cruel rights or cracking mouth with straight lefts. Much harder punching than expected from Cameron early - Theron's lower lip busted open and she's getting drilled by precision, single shot counters, as Diaz smiles, keeping up a steady torrent of verbal taunting as she wheels and deals. Only in the final minute is Charlize able to touch Diaz cleanly, pounding a straight right hand between the breasts - Diaz lifting her mitts at the bell and nodding - has one in the bank.

Round 2: Diaz out boxing now as expected - the constant bouncing Ali-like lateral movement - reaching out with both hands to touch Charlize as she circles, trying to establish range right down to the last millimeter. Theron moving her head more, still just trying to tap Cam  to the body - Diaz head virtually untouchable at this point. Cat and mouse to the final minute when Cameron - her left shoulder pointed at a squared up Charlize - slides away, gently patting backhanded lefts at Theron's midriff, then timing a beautiful right hand, bending into the punch just before Charlize can toss her own. Theron soaking up a head swiveling crack goes momentarily wobbly butt as Diaz floats away all smiles. Cameron pockets another round, doing it with speed and defense, but also busting Charlize with pulverizing right hand potshots.

Round 3: Cameron setting the pace - dances around Theron, just keeping in touch with the loose-limbed left, brushing it across Charlize's shoulder or breasts, occasionally flicking it hard against Theron's face. Charlize keeping up, still coming forward, can get into position to lean into the straight right hand, pounding her fist off the bone of Diaz upper chest, trying to put mileage on Cam's tireless gams. Down the stretch, Diaz drops her hands, inviting Theron in - and walks Charlize into a gorgeous left uppercut from the knees that has Charlize stepping in fence post holes. Diaz stepping to her left, pats the jab, then DRILLS the right hand, thumb to the ceiling as she pounds it in between Theron's eyes - CHARLIZE IS HURT! Diaz putting a withering combination explosion together, bashing and dragging her fists across the wilting blonde's breasts and face - connecting with the side of her fists and the occasional ELBOW TO THE BRA as Theron sags to the ropes. Bell sounds as Charlize' eyes glaze over, gloves reaching sadly out in front - Diaz shouting "HANDSPEED baby!" at her woozy foe. Theron busted up, gets the "yer blowin' kid" speech in her corner.

Round 4: Charlize looking shopworn, getting outclassed, but she's not backing off and this round, those drilling rights begin to smack home with authority, bashing off Diaz' chest and toned tummy and she winces occasionally on impact. Charlize able to work her way into position off the lead right hands, snapping consecutive hooks to Diaz' hip and head - Cameron with her arms flailing defensively in front of her, bails out and looks to be hurried rather than in control during retreat. Theron takes her first points and seems unfazed by eating so much Diaz power through the first half - first round in which Diaz comes back to her corner without that trademark grin.

Round 5: Method in Charlize' madness becomes apparent - it took a few rounds, but the spearing right hands to the body have Diaz fighting flat-footed, even clinching on occasion. Charlize able to touch face with her jab, spanking back Diaz' head, stepping in with the heart-stopping right hand to the ribs, then left/right/left to the body until Diaz can tie up. On ref's breaks - Cameron tries to find open canvas, but Charlize walks her down, pounding her way in, then pumping gut until the clinch. Dying seconds - Charlize stepping forward, misses the right hand, but uncorks a snappy left hook that catches Diaz leaning away, hands down and CAMERON IS HURT! Bell sounds as Diaz sags startled up against the ropes - Charlize held back by the ref as her eyes blaze with bad intentions.

Round 6: Charlize at her bludgeoning best, has Cameron hunching forward, covered up and taking from bell to bell. Theron bullying, trying to pull down Diaz' guard with her left while bashing away upstairs with the short right - stepping with Diaz as she meanders around the ring, bashing straight arm lefts and rights to the hips and ribs in behind Cameron's protective elbows. All Charlize Theron, face in Cameron's hair as she reaches down to splash those ribs with withering power punches - Diaz finishing up rope-a-doping and taking hellacious punishment between the hips.

Round 7: Diaz fades to the ropes and goes to work with a counter punching look. Covering up, rolling with Theron's body work, then clinching, pulling Charlize head down, cuffing her with little uppercuts or swatting left hands - Theron has to be careful as Diaz fights extremely well off the ropes. Charlize can't hit Diaz flush to the head, so they take turns - Theron banging the body, then Cameron nipping at Charlize' face. Down the stretch it's all own way - action flows from Theron into Cameron as Diaz goes purely defensive - Theron palming up on Diaz' ribcage as Cameron buckles forward, then bodily jams her back into the ropes for more punishment. Strong, big girl stuff from Theron gets the judges nod.

Round 8: Diaz weight on that front foot, hands down as she bends towards Charlize, eyes wide, daring Theron to throw. Charlize obliges - Cameron flinches away and licks the COUNTER RIGHT OFF HER HIP INTO CHARLIZE' LEFT BREAST, then the big left hook to Theron's chin - CHARLIZE IS HURT! Diaz stepping right, cuffing Charlize with a swatting left hand, then stinging the right hand has Charlize staggering sideways - Diaz putting her punches together. Theron in full retreat by the middle minute - Diaz just painting her with flashy combinations when Charlize stops, dips her shoulder and RAMS a straight right hand straight down into Cameron's body - DIAZ IS HURT nearly crumpling! Theron on shaky legs, squares up and pumps her arms back and forth, going left/right/left/right to Cameron's midsection to shake the blonde up. Diaz crumpling, reaches to clinch wide and Theron straightens into a short right uppercut on the button - DOWN GOES DIAZ! Cameron on all fours looks lost, pathetic as she reaches with her cumbersome glove for her mouthpiece - struggling up to take eight. Charlize shaking off her own punishment, bodies up on Diaz and takes her heavily into the ropes. Brutish stuff from Charlize as she piles on, cradling Diaz in her left while stuffing mean-spirited right hands into the gut. Cameron breaking down, trembling against Charlize as the champ holds her up. Theron ripping the round away from Diaz at the bell, has to be pulled off her prey before she'll stop punching.

Round 9: Both girls battered, hurting, but Diaz improved fitness shines through as she finds the second wind. Wanting no part of Charlize toe to toe, Diaz floats to her left, poking out left hands from extreme long range, just brushing Theron with the punch and screwing up her timing. Charlize coming forward, but unable to cut off the ring until late, gets bamboozled this round as Diaz works her magic.

Round 10: Cameron still bouncing, changing directions on Charlize - Diaz desperate to avoid anything like sustained contact after tasting Theron's power in the 8th. Cameron able to stick Theron with some nice lead right hands between the eyes then bounce away before the receipt - Charlize falling a step behind this round can't make it up. Diaz boxing smart, runs the clock and takes her chances with the judges cards. Long delay - decision comes back for the winner...and STILL champion Charlize Theron.

After: Snapshot - ref holding Charlize' taped wrist in the air on his left, Diaz stunned, eyes hollow, lips squeezed tightly together on his right. Theron badly battered, but smiling for the first time on the night, lighting up the arena as she waves, struts the ring - for Diaz the heartbreaking realization that she came in second. Cameron very defiant in the days to follow, claiming she had Charlize beat and took her foot off the champ's throat, claiming she finished the stronger fighter etc. Theron fearless, saying "If Cameron Diaz wants more, she's got my number. I'd be happy to give her another spanking." When asked about Cameron's new, more powerful look in the ring, Charlize responds, "It's for real - she's a lot stronger and fitter than she was when I've met her in the past, but inside she's still insecure. She's harder, but it was like punching fine china - you could feel her cracking under the pressure as I just kept coming at her. She says she was beating me at the end - looked like running to me - for once the judges got it right."