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30 August 2019 Kathie Browne vs Leslie Parrish

Page history last edited by caspian2 4 years, 2 months ago

Posted by Lookout! Boxing on Aug 31, 2019 at 2:25pm

KATHIE BROWNE VS LESLIE PARRISH

Retro Bout Ca, 1963, Malibu Beach.

Kathie: DOB: 9/9/30; 5’6

Leslie: DOB: 3/28/5. 5’6

Before: The history of celebrity boxing is not just about the big names of an era: a Raquel Welch or an Ann-Margret or Ursula Andress in the 1960’s. There are always fights to found among the struggling starlets of any era who never become Big Names, but still were supported the undercards of many a celebrity boxing event. In the 1960’s two of the busiest actresses of episodic USA network TV were blondes Kathie Browne and Leslie Parrish, their overlapping appearances on, for example, STAR TREK and PERRY MASON can still be seen on classic TV channel reruns even today. It was no surprise that they would seek to separate themselves and “show who was the better fighter.” Their long rivalry extended in the 1970’s, but this bout obtained from the collections of the FCBA Library is a fine example of them facing off against each other in the ring in the prime of their rivalry.

As with many celebrity fights of the era, the venue was a beach somewhere near Malibu, with posts driven into the sand and ropes strung between them. A crowd of invited guests (perhaps 50 ot 60) and film camera (which sat on a raised platform for a good view of the ring) .,The fighters emerged from separate cabanas that served as dressing rooms. Kathie Browne was in a pink bikini with matching gloves. Leslie Parrish was in a white and pink striped bikini with white gloves. Perky ponytails for both ladies. No words can be heard on the color film as the two meet, but they eye each other with intense glares. Notes accompanying the film suggest it was, in fact, the third known encounter between the two and both had scored a win. This confirmed by the exchanges between the two once they meet in the ring.

“Nice to see you again, Kathie,” Leslie purrs, “I see that black eye I gave you last time has healed up. Amazing what they can do with make-up these days.”

“That was a lucky punch,” Kathie snaps back, “and I still cherish the memory you all folded up on the canvas holding your body and crying because it couldn’t stand up to my punches.”

“You should cherish it, because that’s the last time you’ll see it! I’m the better blonde fighter and you will have to admit it!” Leslie sniped

“I will not! I am the best blonde fighter—and the better actress, too!” Kathie retorted.

That set off a brief burst of pushing and shoving. Referee actress and boxer Julie Adams had to step in and point out: “These people are here to see a boxing match. You can save the catfight for later.”

Julie Adams is enough of a ring veteran to bring immediate obedience from the seething blondes. They quiet down and listen politely to the ring instructions. (Julie Adams is looking pretty herself as she is wearing attractive black shorts and a striped black and white referee’s shirt tied beneath the breasts) The formalities done, Kathie and Leslie tap gloves and rturn tyo their corners. The bell rings.

R1: Neither fighter seems to have any problem fighting on sand. They move smoothly at each other with Leslie Parrish striking the first blows, a quick flurry to the chest. Kathie Browne takes these blows and counters with hooks to the belly. Then they circle around and take turns swatting at each other to the head. (Punches are decently thrown and show a good set of skills). Kathie lands a good shot to the chin that momentarily stuns Leslie. Kathie then tries to punch Leslie into the ropes, but Leslie lands a cracking right to the chin that sends Kathie stumbling back. Leslie pursues with well-aimed blows to head and body to keep Kathie struggling. Kathie slides to one slide to escape the attack and then has her jab ready as Leslie closes back in. Solid smacking to the body down to the bell with Leslie Parrish emerging with a hard-earned, though close win of the round.

R2: Kathie Brown moves quickly to the attack, but Leslie Parrish seems ready and they are quickly punching away furiously as they move around the sandy ring. Kathie pressing in hard with punches that digging hard into Leslie’s stomach, robs and up into breasts. Leslie in retreat though jabbing back hard, but then she stuffs Kathie in the belly with a nasty right hook and follows up with a barrage of body punches, Now it is Kathie Browne in retreat with Leslie trying to leap in with shots to the head. Kathie times one of these leaps and Leslie walks into a right that catches her square to the chin. Leslie thrown back, she has to grab ring ropes to stay up and Kathie closes in. They battle along the ropes, Punches flying at the head and breasts now. Bill rings and the two of them look glassy-eyed from all those head shots. They make their way to their corners as the judges decide this Kathie Browne’s round by a close margin.

R3: Action resumes as Leslie Parrish and Kathie Browne swing away to the head. Leslie’s right glances off Kathie’s golden hair, but Kathie lands perfectly in Leslie’s jaw. Head swivel Leslie Parrish and she stumbles away trying to keep her balance in the sand. Kathie scrambles through the sand and finally gets in front of her quarry, Kathie working Leslie to the chest and driving her back into the ropes. Leslie trying to fight Kathie back with jabs to the body. Heavy trading, but Kathie able to press Leslie’s back into the strands and work her over. However Leslie stubbornly staying up despite the beating. Bell rings and Julie Adams has to remind Kathie it’s time she went back to her corner. Leslie’s pretty face all banged up, but she makes a point of going to her corner with a firm step. Round goes to Kathie Browne wide.

R4: Kathie Browne eager to pick up where she left off in R3, but Leslie Parrish has her counters going. Kathie has to wade in as Leslie’s punches slam her in the chest, belly and the side of the head. Kathie seems very determined and finally gets some solid hooks into the Parrish midsection. Leslie knocked back, but then quickly comes back with a flurry of hard ones to Kathie’s chest and ribcage. Kathie not liking the attack on her breasts, counters with some ripping rights and lefts to Leslie’s bra cups. The two of them are now very close as they struggle against each other and the sand. They start clinching to avoid falling down and referee Julie Adams has to step. Then Kathie gets in a left to Leslie’s chin that sends her reeling back. Kathie tries to get her down with follow-up punches, but Leslie covers her head and steadies her footing. Leslie gets her jab going, but it’s not enough as the bell rings. Kathie Browne wins her third straight round, though it is much closer this time.

R5: Leslie Parrish faster out of her corner this round and bangs Kathie Browne with a fast leaping right to the jaw. Kathie goes lurching to one side, but turns and tries to jab Leslie back as she tries to close in. Leslie hit with blows to the face, ducks to the right and lashes out at Kathie with another right to the head. Kathie ducks under this incoming, but when she tries to launch her own counter-right, Leslie left smacks her hard to the mouth. Kathie stumbles back and Leslie now able to get in close to work her rival to the body with a barrage of hooks. Kathie reels back into the ropes and tries to push Leslie back with the jab. Leslie drives a right into Kathie’s right eyes and then smacks her in the left eye. Areas of swollen redness form around the eyes as Kathie clinches to break up the attack. Referee Julie Adams separates the two, but Leslie presses Kathie back again. They battle it out along with ropes with some vigorous breast punching action, but just as the round ends Leslie pops Kathie in the eyes with quick blows. Kathie staggered, but stays up at the bell rings. Leslie looking pleased with herself as she turns away. Kathie now sporting what seems sure to be double black eyes by morning. Meanwhile the judges give the round to Leslie Parrish wide.

R6: Kathie Browne’s corner crew works hard on those now red-rimmed eyes as they get her out for the new round. Leslie Parrish quiet but has a determined look on her face during the break. Bel rings and out they come. Both fighters moving quickly and Kathie Browns heaves her first shot, an overhand right at Leslie Parrish’s right eye. Leslie jerks her head and takes the blow on the bridge of her nose. It sends Leslie stumbling back, but as Kathie is getting ready for another shot at her face, Leslie comes forward and drives a powerhouse deep into Kathie’s stomach. Kathie doubles up with a big burst of air coming out of her mouth. Then Leslie sends Kathie teetering back with a right uppercut to the chin. Kathie trying to regroup with her gloves up high. Leslie going to the body again with more strong hooks and Kathie is backing up on increasingly shaky legs. Leslie driving Kathie towards the ropes, trying to swerve away from them, but Leslie trying to cut her off. Kathie then tries to counterattack with more shots at Leslie’s face. Leslie blocks these heads shot and then feints toward Kathie’s eyes. Up go Kathie’s gloves, but she’s left her chin open. BAM! BAM! Left/right uppercuts come smashing in under Kathie’s chin. Kathie’s head snaps back and her feet shoot out from under her! DOWN GOES KATHIE BROWNE! Kathie starfished on the sand, she is moving slightly as Julie Adams counts and Leslie Parrish watches from neutral corner. Kathie’s legs are moving and she tries to raise her head, but that;s the best she can do.

“EIGHT!...NINE!...TEN!”…YOU’RE OUT!”

THE WINNER LESLIE PARRISH DEFEATS KATHIE BROWNE KO6.

After: The film ends as Julie Adams raises a smiling Leslie Parrish’s right arm in victory while Kathie Browne is seen crawling away on all fours. Notes with the fight say that the rivalry between the two blondes went on into the 1970’s with the final total murky, but probably very near 50-50. Very exciting example of the early 1960’s beach bout genre fight in the USA One can only hope that additional such bouts will turn up in times to come/.