COURTNEY THORNE SMITH VS HEATHER LOCKLEAR

CTS in baby blue bikini top, grey aerobics bottoms

Heather in pink bikini top, pink boy cut trunks with Mauve circular designs

TKO6 Smith

Only the thought of handing Courtney a farewell-tour loss could have coaxed well-travelled Heather out of retirement: the blood couldn't be any badder between these two after Smith all but used up the last of Heather's prime fighting reserves on Melrose Place. So it was that we were treated to a brutal, systematic cudgelling of a once-great blonde icon as Courtney once again took Heather apart - just like old times.

Locklear's battle-ravaged frame still looks good, but she shows every sign of being shot with reflexes that fire late, pushy punches and bad balance betraying her warrior's heart. To her credit, Heather attempted to be the aggressor, repeatedly whaling away at Courtney's calm, ordered defences - only to be rebuffed, backed up, and sorely punished time and again at the ropes. As each round wore on, Locklear grew increasingly more tattered - grimly trudging into Smith, and just as grimly accepting ruinous punches to the head and ribcage.

For Courtney's part - this was a job of work - work she dearly loves, but work that hardly challenges her any more. Smith simply took the smaller woman to ropes and did what bigger girls do with underpowered opposition: she broke Locklear down with methodical bashing pressure. Heather's legs left first, followed by her offensive output, then her midsection as the final moments saw Smith simply having her way with a badly deteriorated former wonder-kid. The ref stepped in half way through the sixth to rescue a sleepy-looking, demoralized Locklear from further abuse. For Smith - a rejuvenating dose of dominance brought a youthful smile to her face. There's nothing like trouncing an old rival to make one feel at the top of one's game.