Before: "I'll kick your butt, Rachel MacAdams!" Clarkson shouts from the podium, cheeks blushing crimson with outrage. "You think you're gonna sweep me out of the way to get to Neve? Nuh-uh - not gonna happen! You just pumped me up way more than anything else could have. Get ready Rache - 'cause it's comin!" MacAdams almost apologetic at the podium - though hardly deferential. "Kelly - look - if I suggested that you were small potatoes on the way to Neve - I am sorry for that. You've fought hard and well in your fights, and I'm training hard to make sure I DON'T stub my toe on you the way Neve did on Jennie. You'll test me, but make no mistake: I'll beat you, I'll hurt you, and probably Kelly - I'm going to stop you." Rachel in midnight blue bra and panties; auburn hair; silver-grey gloves. Clarkson in punching purple bikini, yellow gloves - she's still seething during ring instructions.

During R1,2: Headlong rushes by Kelly; Matadora sidesteps from Rachel; crowdpleasing, high tempo fare. Rache alert, reacting quickly - she's pivoting/circling away, never moving straight back - spiking swift one-twos at Kelly's head. Clarkson hurtling forward, sponging punches and frequently belted off course - but she's unflappable. Sooner or later, she fights her way onto Rachel's chest, and tummy to tummy - li'l Clarkson's holding her own.

R3: Rambunctious Kelly collapsing distance, bodying up and driving Rachel to ropes: MacAdams forced to defend herself at the apron under sustained Texas Whirlwind slugging. Kelly rough with her head - pushing it in between Rachel's mitts and rubbing up MacAdams' face. Kelly bumping away in thrashing combos to tummy, then using left shoulder to nudge Rache upright - healthy, thudding body attack has MacAdams frowning. Rache keeping elbows in - leaning on smaller vixen to create a little space, then smiting Kelly the odd uppercut or hook at close quarters. Good clout - but Kelly won't back off - she maintains position on Rachel's chest bell to bell.

R4: Assorted mayhem drives Rachel to ropes: right hand glancing off the forehead; thumping hook shivering off her shoulder; driving right bounced off sternum as Kelly's pushing in and down. More brutality at the apron - MacAdams face strained - dukes up, elbows in, rolling to absorb Kelly's non-stop clobbering. Clarkson keeping hips back - not smothering herself on Rachel: little brawler doing a good job of keeping hands moving - beating MacAdams on arms, chest, tummy, ribs. Mac doing a nice job not just protecting her chin, but countering-off-the-block when Kelly tries for a headshot. Rampaging jiggler keeps MacAdams pocketed up: Rachel buffetted for points as Kelly draws even on the cards.

R5: GLORIOUS trade midring: Rachel pinning her ears back, slugging almost recklessly in effort to deny Kelly canvas. Clarkson wild with her punches, but give her credit - balance is good; she's bringing her hands back to her chest and crouching low to recover after her swings - she's not the easiest target. Mac missing over the top, but adjusting - dipping and lifting jagged little left or right uppercuts into Kelly's lungs. Two way hammer and tongs eventually evolves into Rachel coming forward. Kelly making it expensive - but Mac paying the price to get beefy on Clarkson, finally outhitting little dynamo toe to toe.

R6: RACHEL'S DRIVEN TO ROPES! Kelly just not letting Mac BREATHE, much less get into a rhythm - Clarkson squirming in, headbutting in, shouldering in, then working like a madwoman to Rachel's torso. MacAdams shuddering under clubbing impacts - ducking and twisting, trying to stay covered up: what a pasting! Down the stretch, Rachel getting outworked, but she's blocking a lot, managing the pocket well - she finally lines Kelly up for a sumptuous left uppercut - nipping in between Clarkson's batting roundhouses to body. KELLY'S HURT! Kelly stomping around bug-eyed: deep breath Rachel as she steps-right, turns Kelly's flank, jabs her upside the head and BELTS her a full-blooded right cross to put Clarkson wobbly butt at bell. Rachel steals Kelly's round with clean, late power.

R7: Pace slowing a little - Rachel able to keep the fight midring, lean into Kelly and walk her around a little. Still shoulder to shoulder - but Rachel fitting tidy lefts and rights to Clarkson's body - addressing Kelly's compact torso with authority. Hard tummy punches frequently have Clarkson double-clutching, unable to respond right away. Mac methodical, touching Kelly's midsection, then turning her - either slugging into her or making her take weight at all times. Clarkson fighting hard, but Rachel starting to impose will through 7.

R8: Looping overhand right, Kelly Clarkson: DOWN GOES RACHEL! Mac caught, shocked and dropped - she's blinking, shaky as she beats the count reeling at ropes. Clarkson bright eyed, hungry for more Rache - li'l juggernaut plows in with a murderous overhand right curved into Rachel's body, beating a shout of pain from the redhead. MacAdams reaching to clinch, pulling Kelly into her body: Clarkson wriggling furiously - throwing her shoulder at Rachel's mouth, writhing to free her arms: Rachel looks like she's trying to hold a bag of scrabbling cats. Ref's breaks push Kelly back, but she jumps right back in - winging overhand rights to head, chest or sternum, then digging away hup-hup underneath until Mac can clinch. Rachel stabilizing by the bell, but she's clearly stunned: mouth open as she wanders back to corner for repairs.

R9: Rachel shoulder to shoulder with Kelly midring - girls rotating slowly counterclockwise as each gets off in turn. Compact stances, heads in close together - Rachel's dippin' n' diggin' to midsection and chest, turning Kelly, moving Kelly's feet; Clarkson pounding away roundhouses to flanks and midsection, occasionally looping blows to either MacAdams ear. Grim, thudding trade - but slower pace favours larger MacAdams. She's able to lean on Kelly, step her around, touch her heavily to body and scoop those valuable late points.

R10: RIGHT HAND KELLY CLARKSON! Jarring blast to the skull has Mac frazzled, upright - she's staring in confusion when Kelly hops in the hook-to-chin, right-to-chin tic-toc - Mac staggering windblown to ropes as crowd grows shrill. Kelly POURING it to Rachel - head down, shoulders rotating, fists pumping - torrid jamming hup-hup beats Rachel breathless, forces her to clinch. Mac groaning, grimacing - but she times Kelly storming back in with a clean right hand hand to face, twisting to the left and covering up as Clarkson ships sock. Rache strong off the ropes - torso bending side to side as she pulls heavy leather into Kelly's throbbing ribcage or puffy face: Mac hammering away, making sure she's nice and safe on follow through. Kelly can't build on the big whack - probably takes the round, but Rachel's thoughtful fury off the ropes denies Clarkson a finishing run. Comes back UD10 Rachel MacAdams.

After: Rachel sorely tested - acknowledging Kelly's muscular effort with a hug and kind words after decision is announced. "I deserved that," chagrined MacAdams admits in postfight. "I disrespected Kelly and she made me pay for it: I had to fight like hell just to breathe in there tonight. Clarkson's just a bundle of meat and leather - truly bewildering. Dani Fishel better not sleep on this girl: I think Kelly really closed the gap on Fishel with this performance."