Audrey Hepburn vs. Julie Adams

Retro Bout Circa 1956

Results: Lookout Writing: GBS & Archer

Audrey: 29 YO, 5’7: (1.70)

Julie: 29 YO, 5;6 (1.68 m)

It was the summer of 1956. A very exclusive Hollywood gym was hosting a card of fights which had all of Hollywood out for it either in the ring or at ringside. We have been fortunate that a color film of that card has been found in a private collection and restored by the FCBA Library & Archive.

The bout that attracted the most attention on that card was Audrey Hepburn taking on Julie Adams. As celebrity boing historian K.O, Kapowski explains: “Audrey was out of Europe and she had made a big splash in films and in the ring. Julie was more a genre film star (her most famous cred being THE CREATRE FROM THE BLACK LAGOON.), but she as a solid Hollywood-based fighter and the fans were eager to see what she could do with the European import Audrey. Audrey always looked delicate, but she could take punches and give it back with a lot more power than you would think. Lot of opponents thought she would be an easy win, but they ended up on the canvas being counted out!”

The card proceeded with several preliminary bouts, then it was time for the bout everyone was waiting for: Julie Adams vs Audrey Hepburn. A bonus for the fans was that Jane Russell would be Special Guest Referee. Jane was first to the ring in sexy black shorts with a striped referee’s shirt. The crowd gave her an excited greeting.

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Julie Adams then appeared in the aisle from the locker room and began her walk to the ring. She was wearing her fight robe with black gloves with white laces. Adams’ boots were black. Inside the ring and in her corner, she took off her robe to show herself in a white one piece.

Soon Audrey Hepburn came out of the locker room and walked the aisle to the ring. She was in her fight robe with pink gloves with black laces. Her boots were also pink. After sliding between the ropes and going to her corner, Audrey lowered her robe and then took it off. She was in a black over pink one piece that looked like lace.

Both boxers posed for the photographers and cameras in their corners before they were called to middle of the ring. Jane Russell gave them their instructions. They listened politely and then tapped gloves before going to their corners.

R1: The bell rang beginning this bout. Audrey came out with some crisp straights that forced Julie back. Adams responded with some of her own as the faces of the fighters came under the leather of each other. Hepburn sent two hooks to Julie’s belly after she missed with another straight punch. Audrey had Adams moving back more when she mixed in a left uppercut to her chin with the hooks. Julie now had to defend as the Dutch star showed some great glove work into Adams’ body. The fighters got tied up in a tight clinch and Russell got them apart and called the bout back on. Julie went to jab at Audrey as the round continued. Hepburn did get in a couple hard uppercuts to the redhead’s face before the bell rang. Audrey turned to her corner smiling as she won the round widely.

R2: The second round began with a quick exchange of punches. Julie then tries to cut off the ring for Audrey and get her to the ropes. She was forcing her there were some straight punches. Audrey does well with some strong counter punches. She is working Julie’s breasts, ribs and stomach with her punches. Julie seems to be now punching Audrey’s face as she wills her back to the near ropes. A big uppercut hits home on Audrey and Julie going to pound her body. Hepburn covers up which prevents Adams from starting. She starts to when the bell rings and Jane breaks the two apart. Audrey circles out and Julie goes to join her. Audrey is able to slip in a couple nice combinations before the bell. The round is score close and Adams takes it.

R3: The third and fourth round saw both boxers win a round widely. Julie continued her success into the third round as she worked Audrey to the far ropes. Hepburn did answer back as the two fire fought there for the fans to see. But again it was Adams who came out the better as she unleashed a nice straight right to Hepburn’s face which moved the brunette back to a neutral corner. There Julie went to work on Audrey’s body. Hepburn started answering with some strong counter punches but Adams keeps punching as the two boxed in that tiny space. The bell ended the round and Russell made sure to separate and send the two to their corners. Fight fans wondered if Audrey was shaky after all the punches Julie had sent into her body.

R4: They got their answer when the fourth round began. Julie came quickly to get back to punching Audrey but Hepburn hit a slicing combination to her jaw. Adams is wobbly and moves back, staggers according to some fans. Audrey snaps off some quick punches to Julie’s face to keep her backing up. Adams finally gets her gloves up and protects her face. But Hepburn goes to hook into Julie’s body and soon had Adams backed into the far ropes. Audrey storms punches into Julie as she tries to survive as the Dutch brunette goes to work on the redhead from Iowa. The bell rings ending this round as Russell separates Hepburn and Adams. Julie looks the worse for the wear as Audrey smiles and struts to her corner. Adams trudges to her own as Hepburn wins the round widely.

R5: Julie Adams is in big trouble as the fight moves to the fifth round. Her corner crew is working hard to revive her as her trainer speaks to her in short sentences. The bell rings and she does so more energy as this round begins by circling and jabbing at Audrey. Hepburn replies with some head fakes and counter straights to Adams. The boxers move to mid ring now. Soon Hepburn has Julie missing punches and Audrey moves in to make her pay. A left-right combination to her chin had Julie stiff and moving awkwardly back. Hepburn adds more leather to Adams’ face as the round continues and fight fans rise up now from their seats. Julie’s punches have dropped too little in response to Audrey’s onslaught. A left uppercut nails Adams’ chin AND DOWN GOES JULIE! Adams crashes down to her right side and rolls to her face down. Russell gets Hepburn to a neutral corner and then bends down to begin the count. Audrey smiles after taking in some much needed air as the count goes on over Julie. Jane’s count goes higher over a barely moving Adams as her right cheek rests on the canvas. The complete count passes Julie by on the canvas. KO R5- Audrey Hepburn.

Fight fans cheer Audrey as she walks slowly out of the neutral corner. She is stopped for pictures by photographers and fight fans.

Julie has been brought around and is now in her corner. The redhead is being attended to by her corner team.

Audrey reaches middle of the ring as Jane calls for the microphone.

Russell makes the decision announcement: “The winner by Knockout in the 5th Round: Audrey Hepburn!” She then raises Hepburn’s right glove.

Jane and Audrey pose for the cameras before Jane moves off to give the cameras Hepburn all to themselves.

After this, Audrey goes to Julie’s corner and checks on her. The two boxers share a brief hug and exchange well wishes.

Fight fans love this and cheer this show of sportswomanship and respect.

Audrey would then go to her corner and a more pictures were taken. Then she left the ring.

“What did I tell you? Audrey took plenty of pucnhes in this fight, but still came back win it. Another thing I liked about Audrey was she always knew how to respond to a fight crowd. Even on the occasions she lost, she never lost the support of her fans,” KO Kapowski says.

“And that was true of Julie Adams as well. She was involved in celebrity fighting for decades first as fighter, then as referee and she even took her hand at training. It was great to see such fine celebrity boxers in action. This was a great find and the work of the FCBA Library restorers is excellent in bringing this fight to those who have never seen it.”