Before: Thomas parleying her success against Taylor Cle into a lucrative Kate Beckinsale dance--similar flavour with Kate the younger brunette tigress still in her prime, anxious to  maul a revered old cougar, but Heather not taking anyone by surprise this time. “I can’t take her as lightly as Taylor did,” admits Beckinsale, smarting from a series of stinging losses and eager to halt the slide, “but Heather’s peek-a-boo style won’t be as effective against me. I’m much more efficient than Taylor, I’m a complete, well-schooled fighter. Properly handled, I shall dress Thomas up before I take her out.” Thomas with a golden opportunity and she knows it. :”I’m grateful that the FCBA paid attention to how I handled that beach kitten, and then the way I sorted Gershon out,” says Heather, “and now I’ve got the chance to really get a come back started. Beckinsale’s quality, no question--she’s like a Connie Selleca back in the day--but I don’t think she’s completely recovered psychologically from the setbacks she’s been given. If I get on her way I did Taylor, she won’t take the shots any better, and I could realistically be looking at a title shot in the not-too-distant future!” Kate in black Diet Coke ad bikini, white waistband, twist-tied top--Heather in hot pink bikini.

During R1: Thomas in that Bones Adams look--right under her chin, left low, looking to bend at the waist, slip punches, conserve her energy by making counters count. Trouble is, Beckinsale too abrupt, too crisp with her technique--she’s making Heather commit defensively under a spitting deluge of jabs, then digging in with plastering combos above the hips, up the gut, chugging to jug. Thomas beaten to the ropes early and pinned down--Beckinsale just a blur of pumping, grinding young brunette flesh and fists--Heather forced to clinch head and arm on Kate, hanging on for breaks, Shutout Beckinsale.

R2:  Spitting jabs, then it’s in with the short, digging punches, working up torso on Heather, forcing her back and overwhelming the defense. Kate applying pressure, but doing it smart--short, straight punching, tasty jabs, not loading up too much on any one shot--always in sound defensive position. Again, Thomas not letting her hands go because she’s not getting many openings--blonde weight on the right foot, trying to slide back and lure Beckinsale into single shot bombs--Katie wise to it, stepping to the right as she claws hooks upstairs, always has Heather dipping and resetting. Not a shutout, but similar look as Beckinsale hounds heather to the ropes, forcing Thomas to clinch for breaks.

R3,4: Fight settles into a rhythm--Katie taking it to the older vixen, attacking her to the body, moving up the ribcage to chop and clip up top--Heather’s chin becoming more and more available as Beckinsale’s volume starts to dictate terms, Heather trying to be sneaky in there, use her left shoulder, get low, snuggle up inside--but Kate disarming her blonde with footwork, scooting to the right, getting behind Heather as she bends at the waist in that extreme closed stance. Thomas’ footwork not up to par--she had position on Taylor, doesn’t have it on Kate and the difference is telling. Body work can’t be ignored--Heather straining under the constant dig of Kate’s fists, and blonde’s fine-boned features starting to scuff up as Beckinsale’s chiseling, poking shots are getting through.

R5: Kate with that shrewd step right as she claws hooks at Heather’s left eye--blonde getting tagged now, spanked backwards and THOMAS SPILLS HER BACKSIDE AT THE ROPES! Accumulation knockdown--Thomas weary, shaking her head--Beckinsale saucy as she steps through blonde’s outstretched legs, looking down with a satisfied glare. Deep breaths Heather--Thomas takes 8 and Kate wades in. Katie hands up, palms out, ducking and fainting, then driving in--shooting overhand, straight punches into the tits and tummy, then sliding back out, careful not to get tied up. Heather left across the gut, right at her cheek, trying to show as little torso as possible--brunette happy to bash right hands against the hip and ‘round the back as blonde’s torso lean exposes kidney. Heather not getting out of there--brunette able to dip in and out, patiently whittle away--Katie lands a crowd-pleasing right hand over Heather’s left shoulder to stagger the blonde right at the bell.

R6,7: Starting to toll midnight on aging Cinderella--Heather busting up now, giving up canvas to set up in close stances along the ropes--she’s hoping for one punch to get her out of the jam. Beckinsale not in a giving mood--brunette’s engine  purring, attack still as crisp and vicious as the first round, feet still decisive, moving her in and out--she’s setting a withering pace. Beckinsale strategy of volume over weight of shot a good one--Heather sitting in the pocket as she did with Cole, but rarely pulling the trigger--she’s getting touched hip to head, tapped, poked, scuffed and raked--but Kate never overextending or making any mistakes. Thomas landing the odd sneaky left uppercut as she leans into the ropes, turning into stubby bright hands square amidships, but not following up--Beckinsale winning every exchange by pinning Heather down and outworking her.

R8: Right hand that dazed Thomas in the fifth reappears--Beckinsale thrusting it over the shoulder to land behind the ear, buckling Heather’s legs, Cue body attack--Katie getting her head on Heather’s chest and drumming gut with both arms pumping--woozy clinch from Thomas, lips parted as she looks severely shopworn at this point. Ref’s break--Katie hungrily pressing forward again, but taking no chances--closing either behind the jab or feint, keeping her hands up and punching only when Thomas goes defensive--brunette too wary to get caught a counter tonight. It’s all adding up--short, hacking rights behind the ear--those thumping body shots, wide raking hooks across the face--Thomas in bad shape, breaking down--crowd starts to yelp with concern as blonde takes some flush connects to her face, squares up hurt and slumped on the ropes. Katie POURING on the leather, firm body lathering up with effort, eyes squinting  with concentration--it’s all one way and poor Heather’s being shredded. Happens in stages--Thomas beaten sideways to the ropes, starting to droop, stiffening from right hands in her back--she bends slowly to one knee even as punches are skidding off her shoulder and temples--Katie blazing away with both barrels. Ref pushes Beckinsale off--Thomas awake, right hand in the ropes, but smart enough to let the 10 count go by. Old gal took a beating tonight, packs it in while she’s still got some fight left in her. TKO8 Kate Beckinsale.

After: Heather disappointed, but doing the smart thing--she was on a one-way road to a knockout and both women knew it. “I was hurting her terribly, as I knew I would,” says Kate, “I’m glad she had he sense to quit. I’ve taken one of the great American blondes and completely dismantled her!” ‘Kate Beckinsale retires Heather Thomas’--has a ring, don’t you think?” Thomas busted up, bedraggled in her corner, but not talking retirement just yet. “I’ve had better nights,” veteran shrugs with wry smile, “I jumped right in with a Top 10 girl and maybe I shouldn’t have, you know, maybe we rushed the timetable a little bit, but I wanted to get in with a name while I was hot. I know hoe things go in this game, There are only so many Taylor Coles out there who you can use to get ahead. I gambled tonight and lost, but I didn’t lose my shirt--I got out smart, I’ll regroup and we’ll take a look at the next hand when the cards are dealt.”

Reposted by Archer 9/23/11.