RETRO BOUT: CA. EARLY 1970s

Posted by simguy 2/13/2002

By the early 70s it was clear that Barbi Benton was being groomed to fight Raquel Welch, this battle with Munro only one of many encounters designed to season and hone the hard punching Playmate's natural aggression into some semblance of recognizable technique.

"We shipped Barbi out to Britain," recalls one mansion staff member, "no entourage, no support - just her and Caroline on a cold windy beach. That was tough for her, but she needed it. She really showed us what she had that day and convinced a lot of doubters on staff that we could make a Welch bout after all."

A few stills of blustery white-sand beaches, long brunette hair blowing wild across intense faces, and a few verbal accounts from the dozen or so spectators at the time are all we have of this under-rated tune up classic.

Caroline in a black bra style pikini, Barbi in pink - no ring, just girls, gloves and beach.

Round 1: From the outset, both girls set about breaking the heart of the other with stand up, close in slugging. Toe to toe, the curvy beauties took turns heaving in withering body shots - short backswings, all hips and legs as torsos twisted side to side to jam in the leather. Back and forth, the girls pounded away, wandering at random in the sand, grunting and gasping as bellies were mercilessly targetted. The girls held their hands low, leaning in on each other and cramming away with beefy underhand blows. At the break, Munro had clearly gotten the worst of it, grimacing and achy - Barbi was flushed, but grinning, and eager to get back on.

Rounds2-3: More brutal, back and forth body trade as the girls dug into the sand, leaned in face on face and hammered away at sturdy midriff, ribcage and flanks. It wasn't a boxing match at this point: it was two girls taking turns punching each other as hard as they possibly could, for the most part uncontested, in a brazen attempt to break the other down. Throughout these rounds, Munro gave ground and although the punching seemed even, the effects did not. Caroline was suffering - Barbi growing stronger. In the brutal action late in the third, Munro would clinch for the first time, open mouthed, hurting as Benton walked her back and banged away without remorse. At the end of the third, Caroline hunched over with her hands on her knees, sobbing for ragged breaths, while Benton stalked in the sand a few feet away, taking water, eyes bright and focused on her foe.

Round 4: Munro collapsed this round. As Benton mounted a sustained, pumping two hand attack upon the British girl's stomach, Munro cried out and staggered back, anxious to relieve the constant pressure. Benton grew reckless, chopping overhand lefts and rights, palms down, into her girl's face and chest, driving Munro in headlong retreat until Caroline's feet caught in the sand, dropping the brunette to her butt in shock. Benton stampeded past, laughing in the wind as Caroline pushed her way onto her knees. The final minute would see the relatively experienced Munro engage Benton in a series of tactical clinches, wrapping up around the jiggling American's waist and holding on tight for breaks. Benton was delirious with victory.

Round 5: Caroline Munro was no cupcake. Although the soft footing made boxing difficult, Munro unpacked a stubby jab up the middle, catching Benton coming in and setting her up for a gutting right uppercut under the heart. Time and again Barbi waded in, only to gasp in shock as Munro would get underneath and rip to the ribcage to stop the bunny in her tracks. As Benton's charges lost steam, Munro began to back the American up, landing thick to the midsection and clean to the chin, right hands working both over and under Barbi's guard.

Round 6: Munro continued to chip away at the American's lead. Benton was breathing hard, not punching. Munro continued to walk the brunette onto ruinous right hands up under the ribcage, then clinch as Barbi fell in, walking the playmate back before shoving her away. Stupid with punishment, Benton continued to wander forward, get picked up hard, allowing herself to be bullied. Benton worked in spots, trying to jam her right hand over Caroline's left shoulder, but Munro's more consistent effort carried the round.

Round 7: Benton began to unravel. Hard body punches had her drowsy with pain as she stumbled forward into thudding punishment. Munro sensed her moment and dug in, lowering her head to Barbi's chest and pumping away downstairs, stuffing in leather as Benton groaned, wrapped up weakly across the British girl's tanned back. Benton's legs gave way and she spilled heavily to all fours in the sand - a vindicated Caroline Munro stood up straight and pushed hair out of her face, savouring the sight. It was all Munro from that point - wrapping Benton's right arm up, jamming away with the free right mitt to the belly and breasts, and constantly walking the American backwards to deny her leverage. After 7, Munro had Benton shaking on the verge of surrender.

Round 8: Broad shouldered Barbi dug down, caught a second wind and came at Munro with unguessed ferocity this round. The opening moments of the 8th looked more like American football than celebrity boxing as Benton lowered her shoulder and tackled Munro to the sand, not once, but in a series of devastating blitzes. Caroline was severely shaken, and seemed unable to stand her ground. When Benton got back to punching, she had Munro helpless - right hands dug into British belly, or clubbed over top to Caroline's chiselled cheek. The exotic brunette staggered in retreat, covering up only to have Benton rampage to either side and up underneath with free-swinging abandon.

Round 9: Munro hardened herself and met Barbi in a series of clanging exchanges as the girls fell in, then jammed away underneath with hurtful leather. Cheek to cheek, chest to chest, Benton was just too strong - she continually backed Caroline up and walked her down, forcing the brunette into mindless, destructive two way punching. Caroline grit her teeth and answered back, but couldn't back the American off - more and more, the exchanges ended when Munro reached up under Barbi's arms and held her for a break. Panting, Benton seemed tireless, anxious only to continue her assault on her foe's glistening torso.

Round 10: Munro had some luck this round taking a half step back in front of Barbi, walking the brunette into well timed right uppercuts to the sternum, then tieing up before the American could get on top. Beaten to the punch, Benton wasn't as effective as when the two simply took turns and the tenth devolved into successful punch and clutch from the Briton as Munro fought simply to go the distance. As the two were separated for the final time, it was apparent from the exhaustion on Munro's face, and the exhilaration on Barbi's, who had taken the fight. Benton came away with a hard fought UD10, beating Caroline on home soil.

It had been a slugging masterpiece, and although virtually unseen, proved to be the fight that would mark Barbi's emergence from a faceless pack of sex kittens, into a legitimate threat throughout the 70s and early 80s. "We knew that if Margaret and Eden could give Raquel problems, Barbi had a shot," recalls a mansion staffer, "Munro had anwered all our questions about Benton's heart and drive. We knew we had a winner on our hands."