Before: Carpenter lighting up the room with her winsome smile in prefight - looking rejuvenated after a couple of good comeback outings - she's stepping it up against the very experienced - some say shopworn - Tia Carerre.

"Tia's had better days," says the WB standout, "but I still take her very seriously. I think my legs can control this bout and I don't think Tia's handspeed is what it was. I'm just going to be patient, whittle her down each round and if she quits, she quits." Carerre looking hippy, coming in the heavier woman, though reportedly making the lightweight limit on her second attempt - she'll want to get to CC early if possible.

Carpenter in pale blue sports bra, white boy cut stretch trunks, Tia in black sports bra, red boy cut stretch trunks, slick low ponytail.

During R1: Girls cagey to midring - Tia with weight on her right foot, pawing out the jab, scowling - Charisma hands up, bouncing left, jabbing to Tia's chest. Girls step into each other - Charisma with a wide right - Tia with a smuggling right downstairs and CARPENTER GETS BEAT TO THE PUNCH! Concussive blast at the beltline shunts CC's hips back, stoops her forward with a shout - she's gutshot! Tia bodys-on, propping a sobbing Carpenter upright and DIGS that right hand awful to the tummy. CC's legs trembling, she's babystepping backwards, gurgling in pain - Tia pushing up and driving her hard to the ropes. Carerre's face a workmanlike frown - leaning in on CC to get her upright, digging brutally, relentlessly with pounding right hands to the body, constantly propping up as Carpenter swoons against the strands. It's all too much - Carpenter soaking up horrific body blows, turns away and drops to all fours, sinking back onto her haunches to hug herself in agony. IT'S OVER! KO1 Tia Carerre, leaves Charisma a sobbing, shellshocked wreck!

After: Tia mounting the ring ropes and bellowing at the crowd - underdog comes through with a huge first round gut-mugging to leave Carpenter destitute. Snivelling Carpenter climbing through the ropes to exit when she feels a tug on the back of her trunks - grinning Carerre shakes her head 'not so fast' - wraps a right arm strong around CC's waist to take the blubbering brunette for a scalding walk of shame. Pundits aren't fooled - they know Carpenter got hijacked by an unusually fast-starting Carerre tonight, but it's still good to see Tia pull a rabbit out of a hat now and again.