Posted by Simguy on 3/9/2001, 10:03 Pm.

Before: Charisma keeping the ball rolling, she’s got a big money offer on the table for Denise Richards, a title shot in the offing--Carpenter looking to stay sharp, planning a showcase against useful carrot top veteran Helgenberger. Marg prompted back to the ring after some spirited sparring session on the set of “CSI” against Krista Allen--redhead reportedly held her own against the larger, younger brunette. “If I can compete against Krista,” says a reborn Helgenberger, “Charisma should be a piece of cake.” Carpenter in navy athletic bikini, thin strap sports bra style top--Marg in push up floral print bra and panties, purples and black predominantly.

During R1: Helgenberger with the right under her chin, left across her belly, rolls with Carpenter’s rights and comes back with sharp, short right counters on the chin--CC getting picked apart and put wobbly butt in a first minute of redhead sharp shooting. Marg so patient--Charisma hurt, blinking and slightly unraveled--redhead slaps the jab off her tummy to carpenter’s face, hooking with Charisma to beat the brunette to that punch, then rolling with the right, nailing CC with the comeback right from the closed stance. Shutout Meg--Carpenter staggered repeatedly, gets sent back to her corner with a wakeup call.

R2: Carpenter shaking it off, comes back strong--working behind her jab, trying to hook Marg’s tight, but elder body--Marg shoulder butting, trying tyo bump and shoot with the right hand in brisk two-way trade, down the stretch, the roll and counter right features for Marg again--she LABELS Charisma walking in with a flush blow t the mouth--Carpenter sputtering to the ropes all wide-eyed again at the bell.

R3: Carpenter shakes it off again--Marg getting there, but unable to keep the younger beauty hurt. Charisma pumping the jab, forcing Marg to curl up, bob defensively--Carpenter able to step in, right hand out wide as she twirls thudding hooks to the breasts and sternum of the redhead--Helgenberger skidding to her left as Charisma steos with her, Shutout Carpenter who seems to have the kinks worked out at last.

R4: More crisp give and take--Marg very compact, left hand across her body, right across her chin, just turning her torso to blunt Carpenter’s punches, countering hard to the breasts or face, pivoting around to force the brunette to make adjustments. Marg able to rest inside, left shoulder up against Charisma--redhead’s positioning just exquisite--CC can’t get off clean and meanwhile Marg is putting together short lead rights, quick left hooks upstairs.

R5: Shutout Carpenter. Uptempoing, doubling up on the jab, and going to the body with hooks are working for the brunette, Helgenberger on the ropes, bobs creatively, makes Carpenter miss to the head, but Charisma diligent about ending flurries with as shivering left to the obliques.

R6: Marg stepping left, bending at the waist--she’s counter punching beautifully, rolling her torso with Carpenter’s incoming, then turning into right hands as the brunettes momentum carries into the punches, redhead’s timing, punch selection, and anticipation all superb--she’s not fighting like a washed-up fighter tonight. Final minute, Carpenter breaks down, don’t-hurt-me eyes as she straightens up to back away--Helgenberger jumping in with the right on the face, jumping in a wide left and CHARISMA GOES DOWN! Carpenter just rolled downhill by the gambling redhead--Charisma beating the count, swaying at the ropes as Marg jabs her way in, hooks hard to the stomach at the bell--Carpenter sent wobbly butt to her corner, on the verge of shock as Helgenberger just won’t go away.

R7: Hard working shutout Marg--she steps with Charisma at the ropes, touching up with her left elbow, then snapping in the short Yory Boy Campas-style hooks, bashing away at belly, breast, and face as Carpenter slides left. Charisma swelling, busted up, and disbelieving--Marg Helgenberger’s taking her apart.

R8.9: Age catches up these rounds--Marg fighting in spots, putting punches together, then looking to conserve energy as carpenter keeps up the pace. Helgenberger so good with angles--shouldering up on Charisma, just in the wrong position for Carpenter to get off--brunette not getting off as much --or as well as she should as she wastes time getting squared up. Carpenter takes both lackluster rounds as Helgenberger coaxes life back into those freckled legs.

R10: Marg Helgenberger sends in her reserves, going toe to toe, hooking and punching hard inside with carpenter as Charisma wilts to the ropes and gets herself outworked this round. Marg landing first and last in the exchanges, using her head hard against Carpenter’s face, digging hooks to the belly, then the left elbow to shove Charisma back. Charisma just never getting comfortable in there and her eyes tell the story at the bell. Comes back a shocking UD10 Marg Helgenberger--overconfident brunette stands midring in dazed humiliation at the announcement.

After: Marg like an 18 year-old girl who’s just beaten her rival in a prom-queen ten rounder--almost giddy with this tremendous licking of what had been a resurgent world class brunette coming in. “She’s young and strong--I knew I wasn’t going to knock her out when she got up in the sixth,” admits Helgenberger, “but she’s SO stupid! It’s like these kids have never seen real boxing, I kept thinking--’she’s not going to fall for this again’ and then BANG! I’d nail her another counter right hand!” Ink already dry on the proposed Dana Delany/Marg Helgenberger contest, bringing back memories of one of the bitterest rivalries of its time during the “China Beach” run.

Reposted by Archer 10/18/10.