Charlize Theron vs. Charisma Carpenter* (IV)

 (UNIFIED LIGHTWEIGHT TITLE) by simguy 3-5-05

High anxiety prefight, both sides of the dais. For Carpenter, a stiff, stiff test against a woman who regards the lightweight titles as her birthright.

"Charlize Theron," Carpenter says the name like she's reading it off a marquee. "It just doesn't get any bigger than this. I know Jenny took something out of Charlize, but the question is how much? She's always been a resilient fighter and I'm expecting to face the best Theron anyone's seen in a long time. This is where I make my stand: I either belong here or I don't. This fight is that big for me."

Theron nervous for other reasons. Turned back in her last title bid - Charlize has gone beltless for the longest stretch of her glorious career and it's got to be gnawing on her.

"You know, I have tougher battles outside of the ring than I ever do inside," says the much boycotted blonde. "Bringing these girls to the table, making them sign contracts - it's torture. Does it make me appreciate the belts more? Yes, certainly it does. I can't take it for granted that I'm going to get title shots, so I have to make the ones I get count. Charisma Carpenter is in my way: she's got to go!"

Charlize in cream bikini, shaking out her arms, rolling her head as she awaits the champ in the ring - Charisma in navy battle bikini (Aristide reference).

CC enters the ring and immediately skip/jogs to Theron, bouncing in front of her and forcing eye contact as supporters and network stooges mill about.

During R1: Charlize gets her ear flattened against her left shoulder as Charisma lands a crisp counterhook against a lazy Theron jab - challenger momentarily dazed, stamping her feet down to steady herself, covering up dukes at temples. CC takes the unexpected initiative - operating on a stunned Theron with thudding belly jabs, roaming left with smooth footwork - brunette showing her pedigree as she boxes the boxer. Theron recovering, tracking Charisma's forehead jabs, blonde trying to assert reach - CC responds with side to side weaving in a tactical first.

Rd 2: Theron settles down, right hand up out of respect for CC's unpleasant hook, blonde stepping into a spearing jab and driving Carpenter ropeside. CC setting up comfy, legs out wide, back relaxed against strands, hands moving from a stacked position at the waist to her temples, then showing crossed arm, twisting to point either shoulder at Charlize while dipping, constantly moving her head Emmanuel Augustus style. Theron keeping her distance, working CC with belly jabs - blonde will stoop and fetch it in, then step out, circle then look for it again. Cat and mouse - CC looking for counters - Charlize not cooperating enough, staying safe and nimble out of reach.

Rd 3: Crowd getting a little restless - CC willing to fade to ropes, refusing to engage Charlize midring. Theron willing to walk Carpenter down, but then setting up in that cagey, belly-jab mode - just sticking in hot shots, then scooting clear of receipts - it's a bothering, pestering Charlize we're not used to seeing. Late the round, Charisma breaks the spell, coming off the ropes with a sneaky, screened right hand, missing it, but stepping-with and clouting Theron's breasts a beefy swinging hook to get blonde on her heels. Charlize's cheeks blushing - she opens up from her hips, snapping and licking lefts and rights in curling, rising arcs - blistering two way trade draws roaring cheers as fight breaks out at last.

Rd 4: Carpenter sets up ropeside, bending at the waist, hands stacked chest and tummy, rolling the incoming and starting to make a living in Charlize' long flanks. Theron trying to stabilize CC with the jab, slide in the right and mop up hooks - grazing contact only - blonde just can't draw a bead. Carpenter tidying up in the ribs, but calculatingly hooking or swiping righty across jug to bring out the bull in Theron - Charlize constantly galvanized into throwing power shots every time her tits are tapped. CC making challenger miss, making her pay, takes a busy fourth.

Rd 5: Theron attacking at the ropes, jabs, right hands, hooks, all trying to cash in Carpenter's elusive chin. Carpenter dipping side to side, bending low and answering underneath - she's tucking short, thudding strokes to ribs, armpit, jugs and tummy as she rolls and counters with either hand. Midway through, accumulation adding up in long blonde legs - Carpenter bending left to pull a looping right hand short to jaw, rings Charlize up and leaves her flabbergasted. Theron hurt, waves an ill-advised steering right: Charisma slips left, hooks the liver flat, crumpling Theron forward and exposing blonde chin to a crisp left uppercut. Sidestep Carpenter - allows Theron to falter face-first to ropes - CC immediately over to lead as she squares away and gets after that Oscar-winning chest. POUNDING swab applied as CC swipes cheeky lefts and rights across Theron's heaving bosom - blonde seated ropeside, staring, mouth wide open - unable to respond as Carpenter has her way to the bell!

Rd 6: Carpenter on the ropes, sliding to her right, bending side to side to roll Theron's shots and answering back those evil, tucking little body shots. Charlize gasping through pursed lips as her ribs, jugs and tummy meat all catch hell - Carpenter putting a monster-sized licking on that golden chassis. Theron refusing to back off, still applying bandy-armed lashing up top - she's clubbing CC about the head and shoulders but still can't get bite on her punches. Carpenter nice and relaxed, working the pocket like a pro - she hand-crafts another workmanlike round to take the sixth. Warning for CC's corner during the break: sometimes she's so short with her punching, she's wedging the knife-edge of her hand in over Theron's hips - ref warning her to 'cut it out' and connect with the knuckles only.

Rd 7: Biting, tucking body shots really harming Charlize now, INCLUDING the odd knife-edge chop above the hip - she's double clutching on punches, unable to release after catching something tough in her ribs, under her left breast, in her waist, mouthing breathy gasps as Carpenter chews away. CC fighting off the ropes, occasionally bending forward to shoulder Charlize' hips back, or stepping-with if Theron takes a step back. Midway through, Charisma rolls a long Charlize' right, parrying the punch with a turned left shoulder, then answering that sneaky counter-right from the screen. Theron chin-checked clean, head snapping, then lolling back with staring eyes - she's on her heels. Charisma stepping off the ropes a-slugging - swiping lefts and rights as she crouches forward, detonating blows off Theron's chin, hammering her backward and THERON GOES DOWN! Charlize bludgeoned to her back - CC trampling her with forward momentum, then jogging happily to neutral corner. Excited smile on Charisma's pretty face as all that hard work finally gets Charlize off her feet!

Rd 8: Charlize shakes it off, showing that world-class chin - she's right back on top of Charisma this round. Theron closing up her stance, chin tucked behind left shoulder, right at her mouth as she lifts jabs off the hip for hefty deposit to Charisma's belly. Smart - Theron ignoring the head for the nonce, just putting beefy lefts into Carpenter's bulging jugs and curvy tum, keeping her pinned down. CC short with the counters - she drops her left hand to try and coax a right hand out of Theron. Charlize responds with a wide slapping left, startling Charisma THEN bringing the right - THUNDERCLAP connect as CC's takes hard, slumps wobbly butt, sideways into the strands. CHARLIZE UNLEASHED! Blonde FINALLY hurting her prey, pounces - squaring away to sling Trinidad-esque lefts and rights in carving arcs from her hips. Charisma battered and buffetted, covering up under the belting beatdown - she's saved by the bell as a frustrated Charlize runs out of clock.

Rd 9: Hotly contested round. CC mixes things up by contesting midring, jabbing to Charlize' body and bending in to get a stroking right upside the head. Charlize gobbles it, comes forward with rigid hooks-off-the-jab Cat Bell style, chopping rights over top, all to set up the left uppercut to chin underneath. CC backs off, fading to set up at the ropes - Theron pursuing, knowing she's behind on points - she has to press the action. Carpenter right at her cheek, left across her belly, pointing left shoulder at Theron - she's slipping CT's right, answering back crisp, curling right uppercuts belly and chin - good licking counters to steal another close round late.

Rd 10: CARPENTER CHARGES THE MOUND! CT still getting her mouthpiece adjusted when she's tackled hard to turnbuckles - brunette completely changing up to throw a monkey-wrench into Theron's plans. FURIOUS beat down - CC baring her teeth as she squirms in close, swiping away lefts and rights to Theron's chin as blonde leans upright, stupified against the ropes. CHARLIZE GOES DOWN! Bewildered blonde bludgeoned to her backside - Charisma jogging to neutral corner mission accomplished - she watches as a ragtag Charlize gathers herself to a shellshocked 8. Theron has no choice - she HAS to bring it now, open up and attack fortress Charisma along the ropes: CC gets her fight. Heartbreaking to watch - Theron's knees locking, legs shabby - nonetheless she gathers fists at her chin, steps-to and tries to grease Charisma slinging rights and oily left hooks. Carpenter dipping side to side, then feasting, placing her short, thudding bodyshots thick and wet to Charlize' throbbing ribcage and trembling tummy, buckling and rebuckling Theron's legs with pinpoint cruelty. Charlize out of gas, body all banged up, but still winging - she won't go out and she won't stop pitching. Carpenter cashing in as Theron's just waving by the end - heartless brunette punches still tucking in crisp to the final bell. Charlize: eyelashes fluttery, mouth pouted open, blonde tousle obscuring distant, pain-wracked eyes - she's nearly bowled over as Jenny O'Dell bumps shoulders accidentally, rushing in to hug Carpenter. UD10 for the winner and STILL champ - Charisma Carpenter!

After: BSE scalds the KruZher flagship again - Jenny and Charisma both turning Charlize back in heartbreaking fashion - Theron inconsolable in defeat. Charlize wandering wobbly-butt in a foggy haze of heartbreak, punishment and confusion: beaten again in a title fight with a jinx reminiscent of the one dogging Jennifer Connelly at bantam. Charis and Jen hugging and hopping like a victorious beach-volleyball side - hardworking vixens have climbed the mountain at long last - savouring the moments together like true teamates. Celebration a little too crass for Charlize, Lange and other KruZher luminaries: hard, unforgiving glares coming from that side of the ring as the BSE party gets cooking.