Unified Lightweight title) 5/19/01

Usually, a girl has to beat Jane to get to the title, only fitting that Charlize should have to beat her to keep it. "Jane's dangerous when you let her fight on her own level," Charlize says in pre-fight, holding her hand just above the table top to illustrate, "I force girls to fight at MY level," holds hand above her head, "and they can't sustain it. They fall apart just trying to compete with me. I have tons of respect for Jane Krakowski, but she's heading for a beating tonight."

Jane not lost for words in response, "Fighting is so easy for Charlize, she's so instinctive in there, it's beautiful to watch, but it's also her greatest weakness. When things don't go her way, when she has to THINK her way out of a problem, she gets flustered, she gets hit, and she gets hurt. Ask Charlize why she lost any fight in the past, and she'll just stare at you like a little kid - she hasn't got any idea why she loses and that's why I'll win. I honestly believe Charlize hasn't got a clue how to really box - I'll eat her lunch tonight." Charlize in white string bikini; Jane in orange tankini top, red bikini bottoms.

Round1: Theron leading, working behind a long jab, Krakowski countering, closing up her stance, left across her body, right under her chin. Good back and forth, Charlize using her legs to maintain separation - Krakowski having her moments, but she knows she can't win this kind of fight.

Round 2: Shutout Theron. Charlize using her legs to mesmerize, dancing, changing directions - Jane staying low, turning to square up, moving her head, but unable to close distance enough to answer back. Krakowski's great upper body movement keeps her safe, but Theron the clear aggressor, wheeling and dealing with breezy efficiency to sweep the second.

Round 3: Charlize just fighting at arms length, looking very comfortable in there as she glides around her foe, tapping out the jab, jumping in the odd lead right, but always pivoting away rather than sticking around for the receipt. Krakowski reduced to single shot right hands to the gut - it's the only part of Charlize she can hit - Theron's legs winning this fight as the crowd gets restless with her bloodless mastery of the opponent.

Round 4: Jane punching with Theron beats her to a right hand to the chest, then beats a sloppy Charlize hook with a hook on the chin and CHARLIZE GOES DOWN! Theron sitting straight back, blinking up at Jane in amazement, gets up quick and takes her standing 8. Charlize embarrassed, loses her composure and the crowd roars as the girls lick it up mid-ring. Krakowski forced to give ground, but she's sliding back in good order, walking Charlize into bingo right hands on the mouth, ducking in and down, then lifting the hook into Theron's bronzed torso. Charlize lapping her fists up from her thighs drums away on Jane's torso up the middle - good brisk trade to the bell as both girls come away scuffed. Jane taunting Charlize after the bell, asking "How are your legs?"

Round 5: Krakoswski bobbing and weaving, taking the fight to Charlize now as Theron continues to miss over the top and leave herself available for counters to the chest and belly. Jane working in and out of her crouch, dragging hooks and SPEARING STRAIGHT RIGHTS INTO CHARLIZE' BREASTS, then clinching up to smother the receipts. Theron getting bogged down, finds her butt on the ropes for the first time as Krakowski fights effectively off the taller girl's chest.

Round 6: Shutout Jane Krakowski; feasting on a lazy Theron jab, countering under it with STRAIGHT RIGHTS TO THE LEFT BREAST, countering over it with clouting left hooks on the teeth. Theron compounding things when she gets hit ,exposing her body by straightening up and pulling straight back, Jane just stepping with her and nailing an extra right hand.

Round 7: Charlize restores order - back on her toes, circling and doubling up on her jab to keep Jane at bay. Krakowski's had some quality touches, but she really hasn't reduced Charlize much - big blonde looking fresh as she sticks and moves most of this round. Wheels fall off the apple cart late as Jane patiently cuts down the ring, hemming Charlize into a quarter section near a neutral corner, and once again has some luck punching with Charlize. Theron beaten to a right/left/right on the face, falls back into the ropes with a glassy stare - Jane's hurt her again at the bell. Krakowski bodying up to clinch and taunt, again inquire about those legs as Charlize struggles to push her off.

Round 8: Jane can't keep Charlize hurt - Theron back dancing despite fielding some prime Krakowski leather, once again spitting out tireless jabs from well outside. Jane starting to lump up from the pesky Theron stick - Krakowski can't do anything when Theron finds the right range and rhythm. Shutout Charlize Theron.

Round 9: Finally, power from Charlize Theron. Setting down for the first time in the fight, Charlize lashes in a hard right upside the head, laying over on her left side on follow through, then slashing back with a whippy left from her knee that claps the mouthpiece off Jane's teeth in the first minute. Krakowski wobbly butt and stumbling forward as Theron starts to lay it in hard. Theron fading back, slapping wide to Krakowski's waist, then slicing in with those bitter right hands on the face - Jane repeatedly rocked as she falls forward - Charlize laying over on her left side on follow through and slinking away from the counter with her hands low. Down the stretch, Charlize batting away with a loose left hook as she skips backward, walks Jane into a drilling right hand between the eyes - Charlize just lifting it up off her hip to jam it onto Jane's face and DOWN GOES KRAKOWSKI! Jane stupefied at the ropes, beats the count, but it's Charlize turn to body up, ride her girl into the ropes and whisper something mean-spirited until the ref. can intercede.

R10: PUNCHING mid ring - both girls know it's close and Charlize' back leg gives way ominously as the compact punching Krakowski beats her to punches in furious two way trade. Theron able to box-step her way out, coming back from the outside with her jab, and Jane can't capitalize on the hurt. Rest of the round is all Charlize, steering Krakowski, keeping her well outside - Theron with no intention of giving Jane anymore chances to score as the crowd reacts with scattered booing. Decision comes back a DRAW! Theron retains her title as a disappointed Jane K hangs her head.

Girls getting into it after the decision, have to be separated by their respective entourages. Krakowski demanding a rematch, Charlize holding up the belt and kissing it - certainly seems like unfinished business. Both girls doing what they needed to do - Charlize staying disciplined for the most part, boxing rangy from the outside - Jane moving her head well, working her way in close and getting the taller girl off her feet with superior timing and combination punching. Another friendship torn apart by the harsh vicissitudes of boxing - formerly respectful combatants turn hostile after a tough, testy fight leaves wounds open to fester.