Posted by Simguy on 05/06/2005

Before: Fight garnering a lot of mainstream attention as Holmes is seen dangling from the arm of one Tom Cruise - tongues are wagging; Kidman's ears are burning. "Tom protected Penelope from Nicole because of the size differential," says brainy gossip-monger Lara Spencer on Inside Hollywood, "but he's told Katie in no uncertain terms: 'I want Nicole out'. There's a lot of pressure on Holmes, not just to win, but to humiliate Kidman in the ring."

Katie shrugging off the speculation, coy about the personal involvment. "I'm just thrilled to be taking on a huge name and have my name be on the same marquee as Nicole Kidman's," says gracious brunette. "She's the biggest girl I've fought since Theron, but Nicole doesn't fight big - I honestly feel I'm as strong as she is - I don't think that will be a factor."

Kidman curt with Katie and press alike - no illusions from her camp what this fight is all about. "Knock Katie out, hurt Tom," says Nicole stonily in one of her only statements concerning the fight.

Katie in royal blue, skirted bikini - Nicole in similarly styled black skirted bikini. Small gloves both vixens.

During R1: Midring, step-and-poke - both girls looking to establish the jab early. Kidman with that stiff-legged, staccato gait dictating - getting stick through Katie's mitts and popping her face - Holmes' eyebrows high, eyes blinking, mouth open in startled expression as Kidman puts points on the board in the first.

R2: Nice adjustment Holmes - Kidman can be awfully classy outside - Katie rushes her with right hands and stampedes blonde to ropes at the open. Digging body work - Katie's head in under Kidman's chin, dukes a-chugging, bumping Nik's hips and belly - Kidman struggling to wrap up behind one of Katie's elbows and turn her to get off ropes, but Holmes using brawny shoulders to jostle Nik back. Midway through, Holmes off the body with a biting hook on chin, momentarily dazzles Kidman - Katie able to twist into a clouting right, puts another left upside Nik's head and KIDMAN'S HURT! Nicole leaning upright against ropes, hands outstretched awkwardly, trying to block incoming as Katie gets wild - Holmes aggressively swarming, swinging away lusty. Kidman finally able to clinch head-and-arm on Katie, walk her to midring and release to reset - final minute more orderly step-and-poke as Nik gets out of the round with a scare.

R3,4,5: Tap, tap, tap Kidman's jab - Nikki just stepping around her poke, busting up Katie's beautiful face with sickening veteran patience. Kidman's footwork economical - pushing off right big toe to stab the stick home, shifting weight back to the right foot as she eases away from Katie, just a step or two, right or left to reset. Holmes not shutout, competing every minute of these rounds, but her best outside game just isn't on Nicole's level. Katie's occasional rush inside is met with calm clinches as Kidman won't be roughed up, hanging on for ref's breaks as Katie squirms impotently in the grasp.

R6: Holmes doubling up her jab to Nicole's face, coming up short, but it's buying her space to scoot forward, lick a hard right/left off that Oscar-winning waist. Nicole shying away from the body blows - circling right with a scowl - Holmes able to hop forward, walk Nicole down a bit this round. Decent stalking from Katie - she's approaching behind the jab, shooting straight rights and roundhouse rights to the body and ribs - Kidman just stepping out, tapping her jab against Katie, content to disrupt and harrass rather than hurt.

R7: Kidman fighting her fight - stepping-and-poking midring, turning Katie in leisurely circles. Holmes dukes at cheeks, trying to weave her way in - face getting spanked, head bapped back by the constant Kidman stick. Grim look of satisfaction on Nicole's harsh features as she surveys the damage: Holmes' left eye closing, nose bloodied almost every round, lower lip busting up nicely - Kidman just chipping away like she's trying to chisel Katie a new face.

R8: Holmes looping right hands over Kidman's stick, clubbing Nicole high on the head, rushing her to ropes - the sloppier, more awkard it gets, the better Katie seems to do. Nicole struggling to pull down on Katie's head or tie up her arms - Holmes wriggling to free her limbs, put mitts on meat as she belts away to midsection or loops shots up top. Ugly, mauling stuff, but Kidman unable to disengage - she's forced to hold, survive back-to-ropes as Holmes' haphazard attack carries the round.

R9: Shutout Nicole Kidman - she lands that cruel jab at will now. Nicole genetically constructed to jab other women's faces - that long first step, the sudden, straight poking left - concussive power on that shot stunning Katie, distracting her, disheartening her. Holmes breaking down at last - posing for shots - not answering as Kidman steps around her with hungry eyes. Kidman completes her work on the left eye, closing it this round, starts banging on the right. Katie's nose bloodied again and for the first time, she steps in fence post holes as the accumulation of poke to her skull scrambles her balance. Kidman barely throwing the right tonight, but feinting with it well, using it to set up the rising jab/hook to mix things up.

R10: Shutout Kidman - she completes her mastery of Katie, pounding, pecking away outside. Poor Holmes following, head jolting back every few seconds - she's not thinking clearly now, not making good decisions - just stepping into Nicole's range and catching on her tender face. Kidman strong enough to walk Katie into clinches, then push her off muscular - Holmes just can't stay on Nicole's chest long enough to make anything happen. Katie brave to the final bell - Nicole not even trying to stop her as she runs up the punch-connect numbers to the final moments. Comes back UD10 wide - Nicole Kidman.

After: Katie tended to in her corner with bags of ice, swabs up the nose - she's a mess. Holmes going the distance with a bigger, vastly more experienced, harder blonde, but it's a far cry from the KO Cruise was demanding. Frosty, meaningful glares Kidman to Cruise - every punch landed on Katie was a slap at Tom - maybe one of the reasons we didn't see Holmes taken out earlier.