Posted by simguy on 10/30/2008

Before: Ricci on top of the world after humbling Gellar - she's excited about the future. "I'm going to bring down Hayden and the other girls in my class," Christina informs the press in prefight, "but I'm going to do it from a good base. I'm going to pick apart all the digging-type girls - all the girls who like to stand and work, because they need to understand that that whole thing is Chris Ricci's game. Hayden built herself up that way - I will too, and when I get to her - she's going to be shocked at how obsolete she already is." Cook buoyed by a ferocious effort in a loss to champion Kris Kreuk - Rachael Leigh believes the best is yet to come. "I've got the same ambitions as Christina, so this fight is coming at exactly the right time," Cook says at the podium. "I came this close (holds up thumb/finger to show a very small space) to knocking Kreuk out - that tells me I've still got what it takes to rush this division. Ricci's a tough little digger - I am too: this should be good for as long as she can keep herself together." Cook sporting blonde tousle for the occasion; white bikini top with ring connection; frisky floral print, twist-tie bottoms in shades of pink and white; white gloves. Ricci in midnight blue bikini; white gloves; blonde hair pulled back in tight slugger's bun.

During R1: Pressure from Ricci: she backs Cook to ropes early, beats at her relentlessly. Rachael hard-pressed: teeth bard as she crouches forward, trying to lever a shoulder into Chrissy's chest to bump her off. Ricci swarming Rache: constant stream of looping round punches bounces off skull, shoulders, chest, flanks as Chris bobs-and-slugs at close quarters. Cook doing well off the ropes - turning into sudden rights or lefts, looking for uppercuts - but she's steadily outworked and unable to reverse sturdy Chrissy into ropes. Round: Ricci.

R2: Same again: Cook meeting Ricci midring, engaging her shoulder to shoulder, but steadily giving ground as Lil' Chris churns forward. Ricci so strong in her stance - crouching low, then straightening up into Rache to bump her backward. Ricci delivering with short, tight-arc clubbing blows: Cook blocking many, but simply overwhelmed by volume. Ropes: Cook discouraged to be hemmed in again - tries to push her way out, but gets bodied back into place by a stamping little Ricci. Christina's buttocks ringing with the effort of managing Cook in place, then going to work on her: Ricci just lowering her head, rotating her shoulders and putting mitts on meat. Cook slugging back at Ricci's firm midsection/plump breasts - but every Rachael offering is answered by two or three blows in kind. Round ends to the sight of Ricci decisively salting away points with a free-swinging humbling of Rachael's rack - lefts and rights beating those breasts shabby at the bell.

R3: More Ricci anyone? Chris engaging midring, outworking Rache, backing her up, roping her, then squaring away to pile on. Cook grimacing, but organized: doing a little clinching behind the elbows to pull Ricci close for ref's breaks. Pace slowing - Christina still mounting relentless attacks, but being managed better as Cook cleverly holds-and-hits in the clinch to get traction. Ricci pushing-in, struggling to smear and suffocate her foe, wedging in leather to trembling tummy or tired breasts as Cook can't squirm out from under. Another Ricci round, but Rachael stabilizes her front, finds ways to minimize punishment if not actively reverse the situation.

R4: Midring, shoulder to shoulder, Cook outworks Ricci for the first time. Girls in there tight, panting, pushing left shoulders in against rival chests, digging stout rights to pain-wracked tummies and jumping breasts. Short left hook from Cook victimizes Ricci again and again: Rache turning it onto chin or jugs at will, getting it nice and snug off a little left shoulder bump. Ricci's pace slowing: she spent up a good chunk of energy in that seething first three rounds - starting to pay for that now as Cook comes forward with diligent, digging blows to torso. Ricci's back never touches ropes, but she's on the apron, looking cranky, taking punches at the bell.

R5: Cook's eyes thoughtful, slight scowl as she takes the initiative, going to work on Ricci. Stubby jab from Rache - little knocking blow between Chrissy's eyes, then Rachael steps in with the short, palm-down hook to chin; plugging right hand square amidships. Ricci grunting, giving ground with a cranky frown: Rachael walks her down: jab; hook-off-the-jab (palm down); right to gut. Ricci hits ropes, covers up earmuff, eats the short right uppercut as Rachael clearly anticipates the guard. Cook busy: digging left hook bites in behind Ricci's right elbow; scouring hook swipes across overhanging ledge of Ricci's succulent jugs as Rache shifts weight to back (right) foot. Hesitation-punch from Rache - she pauses to draw Ricci out of her crouch, timing her for a short, chopping right to chin as Ricci's looking for her own right hand. CHRISSY'S ROCKED! Chris sits in ropes, blinking, stunned. Right hand to chin, Rache; right hand to chin, Rache: Chrissy taking groggy - turns to her right, draping arms-and-head over top ropes, showing her back to Cook! Rachel snarling, sets her hips - weight on left foot she hooks Ricci's vulnerable left flank from behind - thumping away on terribly exposed ribcage until REF MOVES IN! Good lord - TKO5 - Rachael Leigh Cook!

After: Bit of an upset - Cook thought of as a workmanlike, competent pro, but not the kind of fighter to absorb a tremendous shelling, then come back on a hard puncher like Christina. Ricci blubbering in protest, complaining of a thumb in the eye, punches in the back, and whining about Rachel's bigness. Cook accepting congrats and back-slaps in her corner, oblivious to Christina's heartbreak. "I'm better than Ricci," Rachael shrugs in postfight, in answer to interviewer's breathless questioning. "She gave me her best - I took it - then shoved the fight back down her throat. She showed her ass to me tonight - that's huge - I mean, I totally brought the punk out of Christina Ricci tonight and she knows it. I want to stay busy - there's a lot of fights out there for me right now and I want to capitalize. You guys haven't seen the best of Rachael Leigh Cook - I promise you!"