Posted by Simguy on 10/26/2001, 6:11 pm

Before: O'Toole gets a crack at Lange after trouncing suddenly vulnerable Sela Ward. Annette a serviceable enough redhead - not quick or flashy, but still has a right hand and the smarts to get it there with some pop. Lange all business, not wanting to follow in Ward's footsteps, "I can't play with Annette," says Jessica, "I have no choice but to hurt her." Lange in white bra, navy speedos, Annette in beige bra, red speedos.

During R1,2: A very systematic Jessica Lange sets about the task of reducing her foe in these rounds. Flat footed stances from both women, but Lange getting off first, establishing her jab strong to O'Toole's face and making the redhead back up instead of punching. Jessica moving from the outside to the inside, bodying up big, pounding the pudding around O'Toole's middle - Annette grimacing, looking stumped - she's clinching and laying in with Lange but not nearly busy enough to contest these rounds.

R3: O'Toole takes the initiative with her own workmanlike jab, stepping in with her hook to make Lange step back this round. Neither women comfortable in retreat - Jessica's output drops as O'Toole comes forward - round ends to the sound of Anette's sturdy body work shaking Lange at the bell.

R4: Jessica back in control - again, the flat footed jab proving the decisive element in separating these two veterans. Lange backing Annette up, touching her face, dropping straight right hands into her gut, then bodying up to punish flanks with clobbering lefts and rights - O'Toole open mouthed, starts to break down this round. Final minute: Lange bodies Annette into the ropes and gets methodically down to it - bang/bang to the waist, then a beefy left hook on the chin and O'TOOLE GOES DOWN! Annette sprawling forward to her hands and knees - she's saved by the bell, but wonky en route to her corner.

R5,6: Jessica working with chilling efficiency - first minute always gets the jab over, punching Annette stupid, breaking her down, then the rest of the round is blonde getting big on redhead, walking her back to the ropes, pounding the midsection in close, finishing up on the jaw with either hand. O'Toole wobbly butt - glassy eyed - she's pushing Jessica back, reaching around her waist to tie up, but Lange too strong, shoving and muscling her way out and keeping up the steady beat. Annette all punished and shiny after 6 hard, largely one-sided rounds - Jessica's beating the red head to a pulp.

R7: Another bruising shutout Jessica Lange - the jab is busting Annette up - leaving her helpless after the blonde jams it in hard, reloads, and repeats. Body work is scrumptuous - red head heaving forward into the blonde's arms after thudding tummy touches, Annette stifling groans as Lange bulls her back and heaps on more leather. Final minute too brutal for some ringsiders - an uncontested Jessica Lange standing up tall, getting her big body into free swinging lefts and rights - fists slamming beefy into the rib cage or smashing across the chin - O'Toole spills to the canvas once more, lying flat on her belly before somehow coaxing herself up to beat the count. Annette weezing on her stool, tragically busted up - she insists on coming out for the 8th.

R8: Jessica walking in with hands low, relaxed - she strides into a clouting right uppercut that shoots Annette's butt back, chin forward as the redhead jerks a quarter turn to her right. Lange stepping to the right, sweeps a crude left hand - thumb first - into O'Toole's throbbing belly, spilling Annette into the ropes in stupor. Lange bodying up and bludgeoning down - fists simply hammering out senseless punishment - Jessica connecting with the sides of her hands, just beating her girl down to all fours once again. O'Toole sobbing mindlessly - there's no more defiance left in those jiggly legs - KO Jessica Lange.

After: Comprehensive, systematic destruction - easily one of Lange's most commanding performances of the last couple years. She took a sturdy veteran redhead who had just KO'd a well regarded brunette and simply broke the woman down in round after round of sledgehammer persistence.

Thanks to Apollo for this repost.

Archer 10/21/09.