Posted by simguy on 11/6/2004

Before: Champ under heavy fire for taking RLC as a for-title defense - Imperial Hayek dismisses criticism with a wave of her hand. "Nonsense," says the champ. "Rachel Leigh Cook is as good as there is at her size - her lack of ranking has more to do with lack of activity than quality. When you are champion, you must defeat EVERY woman beneath you, not simply the favoured 3 or 4 who make the most noise, like baby birds squawking for food in the nest. I will leave Rachel Leigh Cook throbbing with the knowledge that Salma Hayek is her queen." Cook bewildered by the regal rhetoric - she's just happy to be in the big dance. "I'm really grateful," admits Rache, "I've been overlooked by the ranking organizations and I think I've been underutilized. I'm going to fight Salma hard and do my fans proud: don't coronate Hayek just yet." Salma in black bikini (from The Star's 'best beach bodies' ish), low punching ponytail - Rache in pink bra and panties.

During R1: Hayek scowling as she walks right, then shears in off Rachel's left shoulder - stop and go action as champ probes the defences. Sporadic collisions - Hayek darting in close, Rachel scrubbing to fend her off. Cook standing her ground, bouncing some nice right hands off Hayek's head, but Salma dictating, saying when, where and how much they fight - Hayek's round.

R2: Rachel builds on the short right noggin-knocker she's been landing, putting a hook behind it, coming forward constructively this round. Hayek still circling, using her legs - very tactical look from the champ early as she susses out how much Cook's bringing tonight. Rachel the aggressor, moving her hands, making the fight - ends speculation of a 10-0 rout tonight.

R3: Hayek settling in, fighting off Cook's chest more, holding ground rather than looking for angles. Heads in close, weight forward, bumping, grinding prep-work with shoulders and extended elbows before snappy punching from both. Midway through, girls trading hooks to body, Hayek bumps a shoulder, staggering Rachel backwards, cleans up chin a clanging hook and COOK GOES DOWN! Cook caught clean, hands down, dropped to her backside - she's up quick. Salma pouncing in on Rache at the ropes, but Cook shows heart: Rachel trading rights to the body, lefts to the chin in compact exchanges, actually backing Hayek up. Cook spirited at the bell, knows she's lost the round big, but shouting defiantly as Hayek turns her back.

R4,5,6: The long, grinding task of breaking Rachel Leigh Cook down. Hayek business like, imposing herself the nearest way - jab to set the table, step in with right hand, then work on the inside. Rachel gritting her teeth, giving steadfast battle - hands're low, head in close to Salma's, feet set strong: Cook's contesting every inch of canvas. Stubborn beauties pounding away biceps, jugs and bellies, coming off trembling tummy to score chin once in a while, both using the chicken-winged left elbow to nudge up and guide the opponent. Round after round, it's Hayek - steadily reducing her foe, beating Cook numb, walking her back - Rachel looking shopworn, if unbroken after 6 bruising heats.

R7: Shutout Salma Hayek. Only round thus far that Cook's been forced to the ropes and held there - only round Cook isn't able to get off and put something on Salma. Hayek in a shoving/slugging rhythm, bumping Rache, shouldering her upright, digging to her belly, digging to her ribs, chugging up into helpless jugs. Rache forlorn, right hand over left at her belly, tilting forward and trying to move her head, but Hayek's taking whatever she wants in the 7th. Cook busted up, wobbly butt - Salma claps a healthy chunk of buttock after the bell, sending Rachel sullen to her corner.

R8: Rachel shakes it off - again trading at a deficit, but at least standing up to Salma and making her work. Hayek well in command on all cards, but face is shiny, ribs are pink: Cook landing hard punches, simply getting outworked, outpunched in straightforward collisions tonight.

R9: Girls step-to, trade thumping right hands off the pit of the stomach, reload and bump 'em again, left hook/right hand Rachel and HAYEK GOES DOWN! Crowd roaring in shock - Salma up on her elbows, shaking her head, eyes wide and cloudy - Cook angry-butt to the neutral corner! Salma furious, but dazed, wobbly butt - stunned 8 for the champ and ON COMES RACHEL! Cook charging the mound, landing the overhand right with gobsmacking clout to the face - Hayek slumping sideways into the ropes, hands low - COOK ROMPS TO JUG! Rachel chugging up into rack, drawing a boozy clinch from Hayek - Cook shoulders her off and keeps up the pounding. Glorious small-woman chug - piping hot punches from Cook as she rotates her shoulders, keeps hands free and tears up Hayek's aching gut. HAYEK GOES DOWN! Crowd screaming now as Salma weaves woozy to canvas, panting on all fours as Cook stomps away hands high. Ragged 8 Salma, she covers up and sits into the ropes as COOK POURS IN! Rachel snarling, pinning her ears back and going right at whatever's left - Hayek trembling, shellshocked at the bell!

R10: Hayek's legs still not right - she's staggered early as Rache bounces that tidy right off latina forehead. Hayek wandering, catches a right on the jaw, then reels from another right on the temple as she moves straight back. Hayek hurt, wobbly butt but SLUGGING BACK! TORRID trade in hooks, both girls shifting their hips and staking all on the shots - COOK clatters away spellbound, eyes hollow, ears ringing. SALMA comes forward - thighs trembling, but heart determined - she drives in with her head, bashing back Rachel's face and tackling brunette beauty to the ropes. Moment's jostling, then they come up punching and RACHEL WON'T PUNK! Salma...Rachel...Salma...Rachel - girls just tearing at each other in turns, brisk 3 punch spanking combos to the bell. Late slugging? You bet - both girls digging in mindless, forcing referee intervention. Comes back UD10 wide Salma - but not as wide as it would have been!

After: Cook thumping her chest and strutting the ring - Hayek casting angry looks: Rachel's exuberance smacks of disrespect to Salma. Basically a systematic Salma Hayek beat down till the 9th, then all hell broke lose as Cook caught a second wind to generate a late-rounds rally. 10th one of the best back and forth slugging rounds of the year - supposed whitewash winds up giving the paying customer his money's worth after all.