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25 October 2019 Debbie Reynolds vs Elizabeth Taylor

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

Fights & Frights PPV 2019

Posted by Lookout! Boxing on Oct 26, 2019 at 3:29pm

DEBBIE REYNOLDS VS ELIZABETH TAYLOR

RETRO BOUT CA. 1952

Results: Lookout Writing: Archer

Debbie: 20 YO, 5’2 (1.57 m)

Elizabeth: 20 YO, 5’2 (1.57 m)

Before: Long hidden away in the MGM vaults is this gem of an ingénue fight between two of that studio’s rising young stars. At this point in the summer of 1952, Elizabeth Taylor had come of a series of successful films from the comedy FATHER OF THE BRIDE to the serious drama of A PLACE IN THE SUN. However in April of that year Debbie Reynolds had scored her biggest success to that point with the now classic musical SINGIN’ IN THE RAIN. According to material uncovered by FCBA Library historians, Debbie, although friendly with Liz, was eager to take her on as sparring sessions between the two got more intense. Liz, of course, was not much more experienced in the ring then Debbie, but was firmly convinced she was the better boxer.

As one MGM insider explained: “The girls were going to go at it on their own sooner or later. So we figured we could try to control if by staging the fight and maybe make a buck or two filming it for distribution to ‘Preferred List’ persons, who were well-connected fight fans eager for the chance to watch celebrity fights they might not be able to attend in person. It was a nice little sideline we had going in those days.”

So it was that a ring was set up in the ballroom of a certain secluded estate and an “invitation-only crowd” was invited. The resulting action was filmed in color, professionally cut and prepared for eventual distribution, though how many copies were actually distributed remains uncertain. The copy now in the FCBA Library was a fresh print made from a restored master negative after the films were discovered in a neglected corner of the MGM vault. The fight itself not narrated, but it does have comments from Debbie and Liz before and after the fight.

In the prefight Liz says simply: “Debbie has been after me for some time to fight her. She seems to think that she has proved something in our sparring matches. That is nonsense and she will soon discover how wrong she is.”

Debbie says: “I clearly didn’t prove anything to her in those sparring sessions. So I wanted a REAL fight and now I’m finally going to show what I can do—which is plenty!”

Elizabeth is a silver and white one piece swimsuit with silver gloves and boots. Debbie is in a green two

Piece swimsuit with dark green gloves and boots. Both have short, loose hair styles.

Stepping in two handle the referee duties is established fighting star Ava Gardner. Gardner known for keeping a firm hand when officiating often over-eager rookies makes it clear she will tolerate no nonsense. Debbie and Liz both seem intimidated by Ava and nod meekly, but give each other hard looks when Ave turns her back! However the instructions do proceed smoothly and the two young fighters are soon back in their corners. The bell clangs to start the action.

R1: Early action shows Liz and Debbie are eager to punch, but lack the polish and accuracy that only experience can gain. However enthusiasm can often make up for style and both of them have loads enthusiasm. First punches are swats to the face and side of the head. Debbie scoring well with these and she has Liz looking dazed and missing with her counters. Debbie then moves in with some hooks to the midsection, but Liz responds with body punching of her own to make Debbie try circling around. Liz trying to keep up with Debbie, but she’s getting banged to the head enough to make her back off. Debbie rushes forward, but Liz shows some nice evasive footwork dodging her. Debbie looks annoyed at the elusiveness and gives chase. Liz now gets her jab going, but time runs out. Notes with the film show Debbie won the round by a wide margin.

R2: Elizabeth now more aggressive, but Debbie is bobbing and weaving making her a tricky target for Liz’s distance shots. Liz decides to move in and Debbie takes the challenge. The two press forward as they bring short, hard rights and lefts slamming home. (You can hear the SMACK! SMACK! SMACK! on the soundtrack). Fighters circle each other as they continue to punch away which keeps the action confided to s phone booth-sized area of mid-ring. Liz gets her hooks deep into Debbie’s stomach and these force Debbie to give ground. Debbie still fighting and keeps it close to the bell, but the judges give the round to Elizabeth.

R3: Liz smiling like she thinks she’s got control of this fight, but Ms. Reynolds begs to differ. As they come out for the new round, Debbie comes flying out of her corner and leaps up to smash Liz to the side of the head with a devastating right. Liz sent spinning away and Debbie in swift pursuit, swing s around in front of the stunned brunette and goes after Liz to the chin and jaw. Liz busted up hard until she can get her gloves up and she tries to back away quickly. Debbie swarming all over Liz punching rather wildly as enthusiasm gets the better of focus. Liz driven back into the ropes and the crowd is on its feet as Debbie tries to cut her down. Liz huddled up, turning away and just taking the avalanche of punching raining down on her. Debbie just pounds away to the bell, she is breathing heavily as referee Ave Gardner has to push her back. Liz slowly leaves the ropes, she is a mess, but those violet eyes are burning with defiance and it is noted she is not all that shaky walking back to her corner. Debbie just looks displeased that Liz is somehow still standing, but she can take comfort in winning the round in a shutout.

R4: Liz sitting upright on her stool as her corner crew works on her. She seems determined not to just slump there after a bad beating and she keeps looking over at the happy and chattering Debbie across the ring. (Debbie appears to be making a point of ignoring her). Bell rings and the 4th Round begins.

Debbie wasting no time getting across the ring, but Liz has seen that trick and comes forward swinging. Liz ducks a Debbie right to the head, but scores with a hammering right hook to Debbie’s chin. Debbie rocked back on her heels and Liz quick to follow up with rights and lefts to the head and face. Debbie responding with hooks to the stomach which stalls Liz’s attack and double her up. Debbie now counterattacking with blows aimed at Liz’s body. Liz answering with body punching of her own and she seems to be working hard on Debbie’s ribcage. The action grows in intensity until Liz’s relentless attack on Debbie’s ribs finally obliges her to slowly retreat. Liz is driving her back foot by foot as the round ends. Close round, but the judges give it to Elizabeth.

R5: Debbie is not giving up on the aggressive tactics, though she is tricky as she rushes on Liz at the start of the new round. Liz is all set to come at Debbie, but Debbie does a neat feint, seeming to aim at Liz’s head with the right while bringing her left in to smash into Liz’s chin. The blow sends Liz stumbling backwards in considerable disorder. Debbie happy to get the chance to bang Liz’s head around and buff up her face, Debbie also working to get Liz into the ropes, but apparently Liz’s trainer reminded her that clinching is a legal move. Liz breaks up the effort to get her into the ropes with repeated clinches, though Debbie gets in some vengeful stomach punching in close. Liz finally gets some stabile defenses going behind her jab and makes Debbie have to try to work her way in. Debbie does keep up the punching pressure to the bell and does enough to win the round wide.

R6: Liz and Debbie both out strongly as the midway point in the fight is passed. Debbie trying to get at Liz to the head, but Liz is now moving her upper body more and thus becoming a harder target. Debbie just becomes more determined to find an opening to strike at Liz, but Liz is blunting her efforts. Then Liz goes after Debbie’s well-bruised ribs with another furious attack. Debbie backs away, dropping her gloves to protect her aching torso. Liz sees her chance and rams a right uppercut in under Debbie’s exposed chin. Debbie’s head snaps back and then Liz brings a very nicely done right/left combo crushing home into Debbie’s jaw. DOWN GOES DEBBIE REYNOLDS! Debbie collapsing onto her back and lay there with a blank expression on her face. Elizabeth quickly off to the neutral corner as Ava Gardner steps in to start the count. Debbie looking up at the lights and trying to push herself up. She manages to reach a sitting position, but can’t seem to get her legs to work to get her fully erect. Then times runs out…

“EIGHT!....NINE!...TEN!...YOU ARE OUT!”

THE WINNER ELIZABETH TAYLOR DEFEATS DEBBIE REYNOLDS KO6.

After: In a brief epilogue Elizabeth and Debbie are shown hugging in “No Hard Feelings” Moment, but Elizabeth says “I trust this proves I really am the better fighter.”

Debbie snaps: “You may have won this time, but I’m not convinced of anything!”

Looking back at the fight from an historical perspective, it is evident that Elizabeth Taylor was showing early that she could take a lot of punishment and still win a fight. Debbie Reynolds was to learn to keep her aggressiveness under control and become one of Liz’s most persistent opponents. In any case this was a fascinating look back at celebrity boxing history and we thank that FCBA Library and Archive for their great work in preserving the history of our favorite sport.