By simguy 11/30/02

BLONDE! magazine: "If Faith's ever going to take her place in boxing's aristocracy, she needs to test against Theron..." general consensus is Theron's using Faith to get back on track, while Hill's using the exchamp as a measuring stick. "I have nothing to lose," says Faith, "I'm in shape, I'm going to fight hard and we'll see what happens. A lot of people are saying it's too early for this fight, but I think it's the perfect time to see what I've got. I can't fight Angie Harmon type quality and expect to improve!"

Theron magnanimous in her prefight assessments - "Faith's got good size, good range - she's like a blonde Terry Farrell and that's not ALL bad. If she's got heart, she'll give me some rounds - if she doesn't, I don't see her bearing up under the pounding."

Hill in white tankini, Charlize in cream silk bikini.

Round 1: Theron's hands at her waist, upperbody feinting, leaning to one side or the other as she circles fluidly around her foe. Hill's right hand cocked at her chest, left hand low - she's reaching out the jab like a good girl, preventing Charlize from jumping in on her. First minute fencing match pretty much even. Second minute, Theron tries the front door, gets stacked up by Faith's jab and as Charlize is leaning back a rangy Hill right hand tags that chin! THERON WOBBLY BUTT! Charlize crazy-legging to the ropes, right hand on the top strand to steady herself and on comes Faith! Hill in a crouch, reaching with the left to stabilize Charlize in the chest then lashing glorious overhand rights to the eye, walloping Theron sideways! Charlize tilting, right shoulder into the ropes, Hill's right hands hammering off skull and eye socket until a badly shaken Charlize can clinch. Ref pushing 'em apart and Hill stays on that left eye with the stick, driving Theron along the ropes with spearing connects. At the bell, Hill giddy with success - Charlize staggery, pouting, eyes registering "What th'?" as she wanders back to her corner.

Round 2: Charlize turns pretty boxer, dabbing jabs into Faith's mouth and eyes, legging to the left. Hill stepping and spearing her jab, trying to make it more of a power punch, but not getting it on Charlize as consistently. Theron restoring order this round - circling her foe, pecking away from outside, but Hill's reach is bothersome. Charlize having trouble judging distance, leaning away with her hands down and surprised when Faith's jab can still spank face or chest with some authority.

Round 3: Theron's complacent hand position costs her - Hill continues to gamble with right hands and get away with it. Consistent stroking crosses turn Charlize' head in the first minute - she's taking it well, but Jones apoplectic, screaming from the corner for some defense. Midway through, accumulation wearing Theron out a little bit - she's open mouthed, not dancing - Hill able to spank-jab that eye, screen the right, then lower the boom with crashing crosses, swiveling her torso in behind the punches. THERON GETS HURT! Charlize' legs finally buckle - she staggers on the spot, reaches to clinch and gets worked in the body as Hill lowers her head and pumps left/right against the flat tummy. Charlize numb, stumbling forward, Hill pivoting to the right, greasing Theron with a rangy right uppercut, turning Charlize, belting her. Theron finally clinching and hanging on for the break, but she's ramshackle, eyes distant, legs shabby - Hill piles on. Faith jabbing that eye shut this round, driving Theron to the ropes, then HEAPING on slinging right hand power strokes to the jaw. Charlize taking flush upside the head, hands limp at her chest as she reels forward, slumps against the ropes - Faith just bracing left, slamming right to the bell. Charlize in swoon, swaying on the spot - Faith can't help herself - she swats a chunk of Theron buttock to the crowd's delight - Charlize turning in boozy protest, still too wobbly to do anything substantial about it as Hill prances away.

Round 4: Theron comes out determined to make Hill pay for her insolence, but a series of shattering Faith jabs halt Charlize' advance, positioning Theron at the end of Hill's punches. Faith extending on murderous right hands, clean, slinging strokes on the chin - Theron flat footed, facing into the blows and they are DEVASTATING her! Charlize taking withering blows, trudging forward - Hill with her feet wide, balance perfect, touching Charlize up the jab and banging home the payoff crosses in text book fashion. Theron barely able to clinch, prevents herself from going down - ref peeling bodies apart and it's Hill taking over. Faith working behind an exquisite jab, banging back Charlize' drowsy face - Theron posing for the shot with her hands stupid at her chest. FINALLY signs of fatigue from Hill at the half way point - she's been hammering Theron with everything, hasn't gotten her out of there and down the stretch, Charlize starts to slug. Theron woozy, legs stiff, but she's lashing a firm hook across Faith's midsection and dropping in a scything right to the chin, just beating Hill to the punch. Both blondes loading up and teeing off at the bell - Hill shipping her first firm punches as Charlize won't go away.

Round 5: Shutout Charlize Theron. CT all banged up, left eye closed, nose bleeding - she's a mess, but she's getting her legs back and she's all business. Doubling and tripling up the jab, tapping it to chest, face and tummy in unpredictable patterns. Theron bringing her hands back better now, blocking the Hill receipts and also using her legs, moving in and out, circling, outclassing Faith's feet. At the bell, stand off as the girls exchange glares - Theron thumping her chest, telling Faith to 'Bring it!'

Round 6: Girls midring, jabbing at long range with each other, testing, probing. lulling first minute, nothing much going on when Faith rockets over the top with a hurtling right and THERON GOES DOWN! Outta nowhere - Hill just laying out the jab, Theron cooperating then BANG: Theron on her back! Charlize beats the count woozy - Hill stalking behind her jab, goes to work on Theron's beautiful face once more. Charlize sliding to her right, hands up, trying to block - Hill stepping with, spearing up the middle when Theron chops in a beautiful right hand counter. Short, pitching shot off the shoulder, Charlize bending in and down behind the blast and Hill is hurt! Faith reeling to the ropes, eyes wide - Theron squaring away and it's a BEAT DOWN! Theron tearing into her opponent - whiplash lefts and rights hard in the waist, tough left elbow prop and licking right uppercuts - Hill just ragdolled under the assault. Theron pounding away past the bell - ref gets involved - Charlize turns Hill's 10-8 into a 10-9 with a spirited charge off the deck.

Round 7: Theron now banging back Hill's head with purposeful jabs, reading Faith's stick better - Charlize able to fade in and out to make Hill miss by inches. Theron getting a lanky, whip-crack hook underneath, licking at those ribs and toned tummy - Hill open mouthed, looking shopworn. Midway through, Theron works into position outside Hill's left shoulder and drops in a creaming right hand on the mouth - big head swivel, knee bend action from Hill as she struggles to stay upright. Theron brawny in follow up, thumping away to gut with galloping lefts and rights to drive Hill ropeside, then slashing away with rangy strokes as Faith covers up dismal. Nice jangly form from Theron - big right hand, then as she brings it back, she looks to catch Hill with the right elbow tip, setting up the swiping left - onesided rampage to the bell.

Round 8: Hill busted up, hurting, but she's resolute off her stool. Girls trade sticking jabs to chest, stacking each other up, girls trade rights on the mouth, but Theron finishes up with that lanky left hook in the pit of Faith's stomach. Hill trading midring, and getting outbanged - Theron feeling it, standing flat footed and beating Hill to punches. Thumping left snaps off Hill's belly, immobilizing her - crashing right turns her head and HILL GOES DOWN! Power-outage in Hill's legs as Faith's body cramps up, then drops to sprawl on her face at Charlize' feet. Faith still for all 10 - Theron strutting with hands held high - she's the KO8 winner.

Snarling, vindictive walk of shame for a dazed Faith Hill - Theron's ruined face tells the tale, and she didn't appreciate that third round cheek-slap from a gloating upstart either. Hill doing herself proud, exceeding all expectations by tearing into Charlize with a gambling early assault that nearly did the trick

 "All chin shots," says one ringside reporter, "nothing on the body. Charlize was able to ride it out and take over - it's a classic novice mistake." Hill upbeat in postfight, wearing her beating like a badge of honor, "I'm so pumped by what I did tonight. Sure I got stopped, but I went out on my shield, I took the fight to Charlize, and she can't tell you I didn't hurt her. That chin of hers is no joke - I could tell she was out but she just wouldn't go down. I'll know better for next time that I have to work her over, not just head hunt. If she thinks walking me broke me? She's so wrong. Her walking me tells me that I got to her big time - I'm a big, strong lightweight and people have to respect that now."

Charlize sullen, contemptuous in postfight and oh, the left side of her face, "Hill should hang it up. Seriously. I had a terrible night - a flat night and look what I did to her. The kid's slow, she's predictable, she's got no stroke, no heart. I know we're desperate for blondes in this sport, but come on - we can do better than Faith Hill."