Before: Ledoyen smarting from defeats at the hands of Foxfire - she's still dealing with those issues in prefight. "It hurts to lose to Sarah Carter," Virginie admits, eyes sombre. "She is not my equal, and allowing her to raise her hand over me...it is something I will always regret. Now though, Christina wants to add to my troubles, and I mustn't let her. Women in this sport are like wild dogs - they will turn on you at the first sight of weakness. I will turn Ricci back with venom - she must be denied!" Chris champing at the bit: Ricci a recent title-winner and itching to get back in the big dance over Ledoyen's conquered body. "There's no doubt she's hurting," Chris grins, eyes gleaming. "Hayden punched through her - really wore her out. Sarah tore her up, totally outclassed her...this girl's reeling. I'll go to the body early - get her hurt - then look out! What's French for 'TIMBERRRR'?"

Virginie in bright baby blue bikini; loose brown curls; white gloves. Ricci in squeaky tight little blonde ponytail; midnight blue bikini; white gloves.

During R1: Ricci jumping for body shots - hopping to her right to pull straight-arm lefts up against Virginie's midriff; hopping to the left to loop sidearm rights against ribs. Ledoyen snarling in pain, but staying organized - she legs to either side, trying to shake Ricci's torrid pursuit - then lashes in limber one-twos in reprisal. Wide ranging, hard-punching back and forth finally goes decisively Ledoyen's way when Ricci jumps into a right hand straight to her face. Swinging clean up from Virginie sees her paste Chris length o' the ring: Ricci hits ropes in disarray, helpless to prevent a pair of insurance left uppercuts from digging firm to her paunch at bell.

R2: Ricci punched into compliance - she's hanging back, tentative as Ledoyen goes to work. Virginie up tempoing - attacking with a vigorous, pumping jab off the left (front) foot - then stepping in via straight rights and lefts when Chris backs away. Ricci grimacing, crossing her arms, bobbing at the waist: she's being raked over, strafed by Virginie's criss-cross pattern punching.

R3: Ledoyen keeps up the pace - rangy boxing attack pushing Ricci into retreat. Long rights and lefts bounce off Ricci's head and shoulders: when she's not pressing forward, she's not looking good. Ledoyen leaning in, stroking away up top for the most part - but she'll occasionally hoist a left uppercut to Ricci's body or breasts whenever Chrissy's hunching forward behind her mitts. Ledoyen maintaining her range - never falling in or getting sloppy: good pasting pressure lumps Ricci up, keeps her under wraps through 3.

R4: Ricci gets her legs moving - bouncing on her toes, matching Virginie's tempo at last. Chris with a nice stubby, stiff-arm jab tummy and breasts: elbow locked as she shoves stick into Virginie, pushing French girl back. Brisk exchange of rights and lefts carries Virginie into Ricci's power-range: crisp, clanging connect on Ledoyen's jawlines stuns her, SENDS HER DOWN! Virginie sputtering on all fours: Ricci crowing as she hops away: Chris slugs her way back into the fight!

5: Brazen Ricci pursuit: Ledoyen grimacing, giving ground under relentless pressure. Ricci swinging her arms straight and wide to Ledoyen's flanks and armpits - spanking away as Virginie hops the perimeter. Hopping into Virginie, Ricci's tucking short hooks to Ledoyen's chin, blasting her back into ropes, then piling in with clubbing clean-up combos. Ledoyen rocked and brawled, but scampering well: she's escaping pressure, occasionally catching Ricci coming in as Chris charges recklessly forward. Blazing stuff - Ricci cackling at the bell; Ledoyen wide-eyed, panting, badly ruffled by Christina's stubborn rally.

R6: Same charging pursuit from Ricci - she's gambling crazy to get Virginie hurt. Ledoyen scattered about the ring, desperate to shake pursuit and turn the tide. Ricci mounting baseball bat swings against Ledoyen's slender ribcage: Virginie trying for chin, leaning in and timing Chrissy's approaches. Crowd-pleasing exchanges along the apron as Ricci presses Virginie at ropes: dangerous side to side swinging sees Ledoyen hammered about her jawlines. Down the stretch, it's too much: Ricci stubby-jabbing Virginie to ropes; catching her a vicious right cross to head, then digging hooks to body. Ledoyen groaning, folding up shabby, suffering on the spot as she sponges up harm to the bell. AND BEYOND! Ricci mindless, still reefing left hands up into Virginie's battered ribs - ref has to pull Chrissy off.

R7: Ledoyen crippled, turns puncher: glorious exchanges ensue as Ricci accepts all wagers. Virginie in low crouch, twisting side to side with punches: she's trying to time Ricci, catch her swinging. Christina shorter, more compact with her strokes: she's catching Virginie, punching her to a standstill in thrilling give and take. Both women lit up at times - all even until late: Virginie finally breaks Ricci's form by beating Chris to lefts and rights toe-to-toe. Ricci staggered, eyes suddenly glassy: Virginie straightens out her punches, starts poking away left, right, left, scoring against Ricci's mug as poor Christina stares into leather! Bell: Virginie swaying, panting with exhaustion; Ricci reeling, nose bloodied as she turns away in a fog.

R8,9,10: Virginie shows her pedigree - tightens up stroke, slows the pace and pitches a near shutout over the final heats. Nothing fancy: Ledoyen in forward aspect - weight on front (left) leg; fists balled at her cheeks as she crouches forard, looking for short left uppercuts against Ricci's chin. Picking Chris up hard - Virginie pivots left, working the uppercuts, chopping the odd right hand - just patiently and effectively busting Chris up. Ricci turning, turning - rarely penetrating: when she DOES get inside, Ledoyen's tying up, refusing to trade as she was before. Smart, disciplined boxing: Ricci punched into a groggy stupor - not broken, but slugged into compliance. Ledoyen able to box out the clock to get the UD10 duke.

After: Virginie wincing in pain - ribs getting tensered up in postfight: little French boxer made a statement with her versatility tonight. "She fought hard," Virginie allows, "she's strong - just as strong and fierce as Hayden: I fear she was overwhelming me at times early on. Certainly she hurt me, and I knew I had to adjust - but fortunately, Virginie Ledoyen owns many hats in the ring. When I could not punch her off of me, I found another way. My legs, my heart - these were too much for Christina Ricci tonight!"