Before: "I'll probably have to knock her out to win," Hayden says in prefight. "The French judges are pretty partial - and Virginie's like the queen of France, so I'm not expecting any favours. But whatever - if I have to stop her, I'll stop her. I don't mind the pressure to perform, because that's just going to make me work that much harder!"

Virginie poo-poohing the notion that Parisian scoring is any more biased than the American version. "Many times we have seen good European fighters get atrocious decisions in the US," Ledoyen argues, "but you don't see us complaining of the verdicts. Hayden's main problem won't be getting a fair deal from the judges...it will be surviving my onslaught in the shadow of the Louvre!"

Virginie in bright baby blue sport top (thin straps); snug navy stretch-cotton boy-leg trunks; pretty white-and-blue splash print sash about her hips; small white gloves. Hayden red/white horizontally barred sport top; long ponytail with bangs framing face; snug crimson stretch-cotton boy-leg trunks; small white gloves.

Spring in Paris - outdoor bout in the Tulleries garden (part of the Louvre complex - large public park - though the fight is invitation only).

Ring surrounded by circular tables covered in white linen: liveried wine-stewards circulating, keeping the Pinot flowing. Crashing the party at ringside - heckling duo of Kris Kreuk and Mish Williams smugly seated at the HISC-Europe table. Are they drunk, or just being deliberately obnoxious? You decide.

During R1: Ledoyen shoots the lead right across Hayden's brow; jabs Hayden while sliding back a smidge; hooks Hayden as she's coming in. Panny bobbing, weaving - Virginie tapping away pesky, pinpointing Hayden on the outside. Ledoyen runs out of canvas - attempt to pivot-round: Hayden steps over, cuts off the ring, hooks Virginie's mouth to put her ropeside. Ledoyen calm, unrattled: she lowers left shoulder into Hayden's chest, digging in at apron to defend the pocket. Panny squares away, releases the hounds: ratatat whapping up and down Virginie's torso as Hayd gets warmed up. Pleasing stuff: Ledoyen willing to stand on the spot, crouching low, nudging and bumping Hayden shoulders, then trying to clip her cute on the inside. Panny just volume-punching to her heart's content - systematically beating Virginie's ribs, arms, breasts for the long haul. Bell: Hayden skips away business like - cheeks rosey, eyes alert - body language telling us she won that heat. Virginie nodding confidently to her corner as she strides in, equally convinced she got the better of Hayden. Kreuk and Williams shouting at both fighters to "Work harder!" and "Don't be so stingy with the leather!"

R2: Similar stuff early - Ledoyen sliding back in her stance, pointing left shoulder at Hayden, trying to walk her into scuffing clout. Panny bobbing and weaving - spitting stubby jabs on approach: she steps Virginie to ropes near the Ledoyen corner, gets to work. Classic Panettiere bump-n-slug here - really shouldering Virginie tuff into ropes, whacking that waistline hooks; turning into short right hands up top. Ledoyen pursing her lips, narrowing her eyes: she's twisting/slipping/rolling shots - right hand under her chin, left across her waist. Good supple stuff from Virginie, but nothing coming back from her: Panettiere working hup-hup-hup bell to bell, beating out a pleasing tune on Virginie's lithe torso. Mish still displeased with Hayden's work rate, letting her hear all about it during the break.

R3: Virginie sliding in the sneaky lead right - supple shot as Ledoyen turns on her hips, scores across Hayden's brow. Virginie sliding back in her stance, hooking Hayden's chops: Ledoyen flat-footed, but sneaky, creating just enough distance to vex her blonde. Another lead right/left hook combo - this time Virginie pivots-clockwise, staying on her front (left) foot to poke an extra left jab into Hayden's face. Panny turning, crouching in crosed-arm stance: little blonde coiling herself, looking to jump up and catch Ledoyen hooks Fishel-style. Virginie crafty - touching and turning - clockwise movement carrying her away from Hayden's left hook. Ledoyen leaning in, drifting Hayden firm right hands all night long: Panny taking a terrific shot, but stiff French strikes pre-empting blonde for the most part. Trouble ringside as an enraged Sarah Carter pushes Kris Kreuk, takes a slap in return; authorities intervene, threatening one and all with expulsion.

R4: Panny consistent to Virginie's ribs - landing with both hands, really drumming away on Ledoyen in spots. Virginie grimacing for the first time - showing the hurt: she's edging in to clinch-and-walk Hayden around, getting the kid to move her feet. At one point - Hayden slips a Ledoyen jab, leans into a booming straight right hand counter that smashes Ledoyen's left breast flat: Virginie's face twists in agony - she immediately covers up elbows-in, stooping forward as Hayden smites French flanks. Virginie in tears late - employing Carter-esque neck-clasps to pull Hayden's head down and spin her 'round. Panettiere furious at the tactic, but ref appears oblivious as Virginie outfoxes Hayden to survive the fourth.

R5: Hellish pressure from Panny brings out the best in Virginie. She stands her ground, grimly fitting counter right uppercuts to Hayden's chin as Panettiere's surging forward. Ledoyen hooking Panny's jaw - pivoting left around the strike - dropping in a smiting straight right to right side of Panny's head: brisk, lanky stuff from sharpshooting French woman touches Hayden up. Panettiere proving rugged - she's weaving through withering fire, crunching her way into French ribs...only to be neck-clasped, tugged-and-spun off her stance. Virginie getting away with it; Hayden infuriated, but allowing herself to get distracted, giving up scoring blows in the process. Brutal exchange on the ropes (Hayden on top) sees both girls rip away: Virginie catching Hayden uppercuts; Hayden battering Virginie a series of roundhouse lefts and rights about head and shoulders.

R6: Virginie mouth breathing, starting to shy away: her ribs a-throb from Hayden's constant assault. Panettiere relentless...stepping-to Virginie; spooking her right hands to head; raking away hooks from the crouch. Ledoyen stumbling in spots, trying to keep her distance: she's hounded to ropes, battered, then escaping when she can clinch-and-spin free. Midway through, Hayden's pressure mounting: she jumps in, catches a weary Virginie a lead right hand to left side of face, knocking Ledoyen's knees together. French girl desperately hurt when a volley of follow up hooks bounces off head-and-guard, bludgeoning Virginie to her buns! Blinking 8 Virginie - she's a tired beauty, busting up some around the eyes, glancing to her corner for a time-check. ON COMES HAYDEN! Normally reserved crowd roaring in support of Virginie: Ledoyen butt-in-ropes, stoops forward behind her mitts, ready to receive. OH that right hand in the ribs - Hayden swinging it lusty, digging up in behind VL's left elbow: French knees buckle, then lock straight, thighs a-tremble. HOOKS! Panny bouncing on her left foot as she reefs left hooks to Virginie's right hip - tucking in behind that right elbow: Hayden's face alight with a furious grin, little body all a-jiggle with violent effort. Right hand skids across Ledoyen's lower back; left hook digs in behind that right elbow...followed by MORE hooks...VIRGINIE GOES DOWN! Wilting descent - Ledoyen ashen faced, SO disappointed to be on her knees, but her legs just won't support her. Virginie a tragic sight trying to rise, only to settle back down on her haunches, body trembling...it's OVER! KO6 Hayden Panettiere as Virginie can't beat the count. Shrill booing from the HISC contingent, audible over the reserved applause from blue-blood fans.

AFTER: Hayden glowing: pressure-packed fight on foreign soil, against a much beloved French fighter, with bitter rivals in attendance...it's a glorious day for Hayden Panettiere. "I knew I'd have to stop her, so I went out to do that right from the first round," a chipper Hayden reports in postfight. "I banged the body: Virginie's a tall, sneaky flyweight, so I didn't want to waste too many shots on her chin; all I wanted to do was bruise up her ribs and get her legs weak. When she went down, I just got so excited, because I could see in her eyes she was - not quitting, not Virginie - but she was all used up. That's the best: beating it out of a girl's body is always a thrill - especially when it's someone as special as Virginie Ledoyen!"