Posted by Simguy on 5/12/2001, 3:20 pm.

Before: Dushku as confident as anyone ever has been been for a Salma Hayek bout. “Hayek will be no problem for us,” Eliza assures the press, “It may sound strange to you, but Salma Hayek is the perfect opponent for me - I’ll be tearing up her up tonight.” Dushku a good hardnosed fighter who can be smart in the ring when she wants - Hayek a long time flyweight strongwoman who has been had in recent years by boxers who can bite - remains to be seen if Dushku can be one of those girls. Salma in red string bikini, wet curls Eliza in black bikini, wet curls.

During R1: Dushku setting a brisk pace and laying down the foundation of her fight plan this round: being first, getting off in combination, then moving laterally to make Salma move her feet. Dushku covering her tracks with a stubby jab on the face, often preempting Hayek plans for offense. Salma taps Eliza slightly low near the bell - Dushku right back with a fist in Hayek’s trunks to establish working woman’s justice right away.

R2: Eliza’s young legs startling this round as she rambles, gets off, moves to the new angle and touches Salma up again in a rough first minute for the Mexican. Hayek walking into punches, freezing as Dushku’s fists bounce off her in ripping bursts. And midway through the round, Eliza hooks off the jab to stun her foe, then doubles up, then TRIPLES up the hook to swivel Hayek’s head loosely on her neck. Salma spilling to the ropes and Dushku climbs aboard. Stepping with the hurting Latina, Eliza swats the ear, then buries the hook in behind the elbow, using a short right uppercut to the breasts or teeth to straighten a glassy eyed Hayek up for more. Vicious hooks clout Salma into a corner. A barrage of spanking leather beats Hayek to all fours as the crowd roars its approval. Hayek up and cut badly at the hairline, face confused, blank - she takes a tremendous beating in the final seconds as Dushku works her up and down at the bell.

R3: Dushku moving left, laying her jab in hard to bust Salma open again, pounding back the Mexican’s head and once again, Salma’s neck seems awfully loose as the punches add up. From the midpoint on, it’s dangerous exhibition of handspeed and power from Dushku. Skidding hooks close Salma’s right eye and repeatedly snap her face to the side as Eliza goes to the jaw with short, jerking action from the shoulder. Final minute sees Salma battered to a corner. Once again the crowd gets to its feet as Dushku hands Hayek the worst minute of her career. Eliza’s body set and humming as lefts and rights bash away on target, pounding Hayek’s face to prime rib as the Mexican star sits on a turnbuckle to soak up the punishment. Eliza punching away after the bell on her stupefied opponent - Salma Hayek, beaten unrecognizable, is helped to her corner for desperate work during the break.

R4: Incredible show of courage from Hayek - she looks like she’s stepped fresh from a 3 car pile up to continue the fight. Dushku obliging Salma for the first time toe to toe and Mexican shows she still has the grit to bang away, forcing Eliza into retreat as bodies are shined up pink in savage give and take. Hayek finishes the round strong, shouldering Eliza into the ropes and digging left/right to the gut as the youngster rolls and blocks on D.

R5: Eliza back outside - she’s fighting wherever and however it suits her. Hayek walking into punches, Eliza stepping back in good order, picking up her foe with a relaxed stick, a left uppercut and chopping right hand on the face. Dushku luring Salma across the ring, then deftly turning her girl to stay off the ropes - Hayek touched up plenty and looking discouraged at the bell.

R6: Eliza Dushku just keeps dogging Salma Hayek with heartless persistence. Hayek can’t see the incoming - the jab is banging her head back at will, the hook is doing too much damage downstairs, buckling Salma’s legs every time. Dushku working to the left around her body shots and jabs - Hayek stumbles forward to clinch and Eliza walks the exhausted Latina into a postcard perfect left uppercut in tight. Dushku pivoting around the short punch with her shoulder pressed against her opponent - Salma out on her feet, plunges forward to hit the canvas face first and she is a pathetic sight. Hayek, butt in the air as she mouths the mat, falls to side as her legs churn to get her upright and this one is over: KO6 Eliza Dushku in spectacular fashion.

After: Evidentially Team Dushku saws something they could exploit as Eliza literally shreds a favoured Salma Hayek in a fight pundits are comparing to Vargas/Campas. Hayek simply unable to square up or get set the entire evening and Eliza just kept pouring it on, punching hard, moving efficiently to lay a heinous beating on the proud former champ. Gauntlet is laid down for Mish Williams - Says Eliza in postfight: “Mish, if that felt like a slap in the face - it was. Get ready baby, 'cause it’s comin’!” Surely it’s all just hype - Eliza can’t seriously think she’s going to do something like this to Michelle Williams. Can she?