Posted by simguy on 10/8/2004

Before: Bookies expecting a KO finish - not because contestants can't take one another's punch, but because they don't respect the other enough to take the proper precautions. "I'm just gonna pound away on Neve," says an upbeat 'Lish. "She'll be right there for me and it's just a matter of out-punching her - which I always do. For me it's good rounds, a little stay-busy action: beating up Neve's always good for business." Campbell equally confident, strangely dismissive of the hard hitting blonde. "Believe it or not, Elisha's almost finished as a fighting celebrity. She's been booted off 24 as producers realize there's more to acting than a tank top. Her movie career is SO over after that stink-bomb Girl Next Door. Now I'M gonna mop up what's left in the ring. All she's got is fighting - when I take that away from her, Elisha's going to be one lost little girl." Neve in cerulean blue bikini, Elisha in ivory white bikini.

During R1: Brisk trade midring, both girls operating behind high guards, spritzing stick and putting hard punches together. Gentle rotation left a natural consequence of the slugging - girls mixing it up head and body. Not a lot of cute defense - both relying on sturdy blocking guards to maintain position in the pocket, then answering every call with banging gusto. Cuthbert a little busier, little more constructive to the body of Neve, probably outhustles brunette for hard-working points in the first.

R2: Neve finds a seam - peppers Cuthbert jabs to screen - drops a crunching right on chin to set blonde legs a-stamping. Cuthbert still trying to rally when Neve doubles up the hook ear and liver, buckling Cuthbert's knees and backing her into the ropes all a-quiver. Neve squares away, gets her shoulder in Elisha's chest then it's 1,2,3...1,2,3...1,2,3 the rest of the way. Neve staying close, keeping elbows in, head lowered, bashing away at the body, tapping the jugs, clipping the chin, bumping Cuthbert off - systematic working over as blonde slouches sullen throughout the beating.

R3: Payback - Elisha hooking with Neve catches her in the middle minute - Campbell stomping back on her heels momentarily astonished - CUTHBERT'S turn to pour it on at the ropes. Elisha as strong, compact and efficient as Neve had been, bullying brunette with a controlling shoulder, putting punches together up and down the torso in 3 punch patterns. Elisha doubling up occasionally on a tidy hook to the breadbasket - Neve doesn't like it, issuing the fight's first clinches as she soaks to the bell. Through 3, both girls showing wear, both have been shocked, but there's no plan B: it's slug or be slugged tonight.

R4: Neve pumping jab from the shoulder, puts that crisp right hand behind it, stays on her front foot to jerk the left uppercut between Elisha's mitts, then doubles down to hook the liver SWEET beneath the elbows and CUTHBERT GOES DOWN! Elisha's tight lips try to hold back her cry of agony as she sinks down - gutshot blonde panting, badly hurt - brave little battler sucks it up for a woozy 8. ON COMES NEVE! Campbell patient, systematic, setting her legs strong, getting her left shoulder/raised left elbow on 'lish to stabilize, then going to work 1,2,3. Thudding, non-stop work - Cuthbert gritting her teeth, crossing her arms, raising her elbows, turning her torso side to side as Campbell roasts her with punches. Bell to bell Neve - clearly satisfied as she leaves Cuthbert reeling, shabby at the bell.

R5: Neve wades in to finish, catches an intercepting right on her jaw - while she's soaking it up, 'Lish reloads and puts her heart into another. CAMPBELL'S HURT! Neve reeling, astonished by Cuthbert's wallop - blonde charges in all head, shoulders and dukes, slam-banging away to drive Neve ropeside. WAR! Cuthbert writhing to wrestle-down the guard, then getting up into Campbell's rack with a chugging Daniel-esque delivery - Elisha loving it to jug and SHE gets tagged! Cuthbert stepping in fence post holes - eyes wide with wonder as Neve times a hook through the chin to set blonde backside a-trembling. CAMPBELL wades in head, shoulders, and dukes, driving Lisha' stumble-bumming across the ring, hitting far ropes in disarray. Cuthbert awestruck, limp, trying to keep her hands up and NEVE ROMPS TO JUG! Bitter payback as Campbell pounds away on every little bit of blonde jug, dull thumping impacts drawing winces from ringsiders. Little Lishy falling apart, sobbing as she reaches for Neve's neck and shoulders, but brunette won't have it: Campbell punches through the clinch, mugging those helpless jugs for all their worth - ref has to enforce the bell.

R6: Both girls rocked in the fifth, but it's Neve gathering herself, charging out the aggressor. Cuthbert ashen faced, achy-reluctant off her stool, she covers up, gets ridden hard to the ropes as Campbell breaks over her like a tidal wave. Neve wants it all - the belly, those hips, the flanks, more jug, and that hated face - brunette putting a systematic beatdown on Cuthbert that brings crowd to it's feet. Campbell working hard, face red as she dips and pumps one, two, three right hands into Lishy's midsection, accepting the slumping blonde into her arms and bulling her upright. Campbell going for it, throwing in her reserves - Cuthbert helpless but trying to hang on: she survives - Elisha knows Neve'll having nothing left. Not for the faint of heart - Lishy skidding to her right, face in her gloves, drowsily bending forward: Campbell baring her teeth and digging at blonde, getting hips and back into the punching, bodying up to keep Lishy pinned down. Merciless onslaught goes on and on - poor Cuthbert propped up and battered, head swinging freely as punches tag her chin and FINALLY Elisha goes down! Cuthbert sprawling on her face - exhausted Neve stepping back, breathing hard, then lifting her mitts in triumph as Cuthbert lies still. KO6 in brutal fashion Neve Campbell.

After: Lisha all used up, staring glassily from her stool as she's brought 'round and NEVE WANTS MORE! Cuthbert whining in groggy protest as Campbell reaches under the arms to hug Elisha to her feet - blonde bullied face first into her corner, left leg propped over middle rope like a haunch of beef, eyelashes fluttering, mouth pouting a protest. Neve cold-blooded as she grips ropes either side of 'Lish and DRIVES home the shoulder to lower back. Boozy cry of shock from Elisha, head thrown back, body stiffening in the ropes - Campbell taking her time to set, and thrust, set and thrust. Neve straightening, brushing hair out of her eyes, wiping her brow with left bicep and shoulder - she sets her feet, hunkers in close and goes to work on that tender, shiny, lower back. Bruising kidney work as Neve rolls her shoulders, puts fists flat on back, then starts opening up and curling punches lower to work Cuthbert's backside. Fists beating toned rump - Cuthbert's meaty buttocks bunching up tightly under impact and FINALLY Neve lifts her taped fists, nodding in satisfaction and leaving a mewling Elisha Cuthbert baking in the ropes. "Why, Neve?" Tractorpull cub wants to know. "Because I felt like it!" Neve snaps, obviously pissed about something and working out a little tension tonight.