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Charlize Theron vs. Talisa Soto by simguy 30-Oct-00

(For those unfamiliar - Talisa Soto had a Bond girl turn with Timothy Dalton and more recently as Princess Katana in the Mortal Kombat movies.) Theron expecting Lopez, gets Soto instead after Talisa's one punch blow out turns the division upside down. Not everyone in the Theron entourage is delighted with the decision to go against Talisa feeling Soto's varied looks make her more dangerous than Lopez. Although Soto hasn't had a lot of exposure north of Texas, she's a big draw in Mexico City, Buenos Aires, etc. Theron brushing aside the concerns, insisting "If Talisa couldn't take Cameron's punch, she's not getting up from mine." Charlize in black sports bra, red aerobics bottoms - Talisa in slick braid, 2 piece red aerobics togs.

Round 1: Theron coming right at Talisa, pounding the jab and getting the right hand over Soto's left shoulder as the brunette gives ground early. Charlize walking Talisa down all over the ring, finally catches her with a lanky left uppercut to the solar plexus, almost bringing the house down as Soto crumples with a cry. Brutal shove and slug from Charlize as she looms over the crouching brunette, digging to her sides with thudding lefts and rights, bullying Soto back with forearms against the girl's chest. In the final minute however, Soto starts to roll with punches at the ropes, nailing Theron with the odd counter left hook - Charlize refusing to back off as she trades at the bell.

Round 2: Charlize back on the offensive, stabbing a crunching jab up the middle and working everything else of that. Soto doing the moving, sliding to her left, bending down to backhand Theron's tummy, then straightening to try the hook - pretty even through the first two minutes as Theron patiently cuts down the ring. In the final minute, a single lancing Theron right cross separates Talisa from her senses for a moment, draping her helplessly against the ropes and Charlize pours it on. Soto swooning, gloves weak in front of her face, breaks down badly as Charlize double pumps the hook into the stomach, then clubs short right hands between the mitts. Soto busted up at the bell - Theron nodding in satisfaction as she struts back to her corner.

Round 3: Fear in Talisa's eyes as Charlize wades forward again - brunette dancing to her left, popping the double jab and walking Theron into flush right hands - Charlize brazenly taking the punches on her chin and coming on like a freight train soon has Soto backed to the ropes. Charlize initiating and winning a frightful series of toe to toe exchanges - Soto just wilting as Theron takes her best and bludgeons the rest out of Talisa. At the end of the second minute, Talisa is tottering forward, essentially done - Charlize helps her out of the fight with a clapping, open hand left on the temple followed by a short right hand on the mouth! SOTO CRASHING TO HER SIDE, rolls to her back half under the ropes, oblivious to the count. KO3 Charlize Theron.

After: Demonstrative performance by Charlize Theron as she reads her foe right, utilizing pressure from the get go to break Soto down. Soto looked good against Diaz' indirect approach, got lucky against Lopez, but clearly came in a distant second against Charlize as the message gets sent loud and clear. "I could fight Cameron Diaz right now," says Charlize in the ring after this triumph.