Raquel Welch-Ursala Andress

Raquel Welch vs. Ursala Andress Rematch (1966?) by simguy

In the aftermath of her subjugation by Andress, Welch became a demon - firing and rehiring trainers; working out with single-minded determination; becoming completely obsessed with evening the score. By today’s standards, the skill of the sex kittens were rudimentary at best, but Welch was first to employ a full time corner, dietitians, etc., and unlike most of the celebrities of her era, she could box when the mood struck her and that was her plan for this rematch. Andress had demonstrated her ability to stand and trade with the best America had to offer, but her rigid, upright stance and stolid approach made her vulnerable to an opponent willing to exploit her properly.

The rematch was fought outdoors, on the Mediterranean Isle De Printemps before the usual crowd of jet-setters; Ursula in her trademark white bikini and Raquel a dark wine bikini. Both came in watered down; wet hair molded to their scalp in the blistering noon day heat.

Rounds 1-2-3: As in their first fight, Raquel leapt out to a big lead, but she showed discipline and patience as she worked her opponent. Jabbing religiously, Welch retreated as Ursula came on, embarrassing the blonde with hand speed and goading her forward into right crosses. Whenever Ursula would hem Raquel in close to the ropes, Welch would bat away at the blonde with a series of cupping left uppercuts and nimbly spin back into open ground, luring Andress back across the ring. After three, Ursula’s lips pouted with frustration as Raquel wore an uncharacteristic frown of concentration throughout.

Round 4: Raquel had worn Ursula ragged at this point, and began mixing in whipping right hands to the side of the blonde’s head this round. Ursula stood and slugged whenever she could, but Welch refused to come straight in, or back straight out, and punching from the blonde was all too infrequent. In the final minute, a stinging right hand to the cheek had Ursula wobbly butt, and she stooped forward as Raquel opened up, wailing away with wide lefts and rights to the head. For the first time in the bout, Raquel flashed that legendary smile as she returned to her corner, her confidence swelling with Ursula’s cheeks.

Rounds 5-6-7: Despite the relatively high skill level for the time, they never quite stopped being sex kittens and both indulged in holding and hitting throughout these rounds, utilizing the small gloves to tug at bikini top and bottom; grab a convenient shoulder and hold, while free arms delivered girlish punches to face or stomach. Raquel clearly relished the opportunity to abuse Ursala in this manner and by the seventh she had Ursula deeply discouraged. With one arm casually around Ursula’s back or waist holding her in place, Raquel playfully slugged her opponent dizzy, finishing up with half-dozen unanswered haymakers Andress’ tawny belly. At the bell, Raquel smiled at her aching foe, holding the hurting blonde around the waist like a good friend.

Round 8: Raquel - always a strong front-runner - felt Ursula’s pain and hopelessness this round and she was never more cruel; taunting and mugging her; then pot-shotting with long lead rights or spearing jabs, knocking Ursula’s face back at will. Welch easily swayed back on her long legs, making Andress miss badly this round.

Round 9: Ursula’s one and only round showed the blonde had fighting pride as well. Going to the punch that had turned the first fight around, Ursula slugged short right hands into the famous Raquel breasts, finally forcing the brunette to cover up. Ursula held Raquel’s right arm at the bicep and brutally slugged her hourglass stomach; smacking the blow repeatedly in as Welch’s body jerked and twitched in response. Pinning Raquel on the ropes, Ursula had her way; shouldering the brunette back; keeping her punches hard and short; pounding Raquel into a shell with bombs to the arms, head, breasts and tummy. Andress stayed controlled throughout, simply shoving and slugging consistently from bell to bell.

Round 10: Welch capped off a tremendous performance with a withering final round, pulling out all the stops and showing why she would dominate the next two decades of celebrity boxing. Stepping left, Raquel batted away with double and triple left hooks, her long arms slicing through the air with deadly accuracy. Chopping with the right, Raquel lifted Ursula’s lead foot off the ground with crashing blows to the jaw, and the rout was on. Andress stumbled forward, taking swatting hooks and sledgehammer rights, until a wide right to the side of the head put her dreamily up against the ropes on her side. Andress was helpless, and Raquel paid her back in kind, pounding away with both hands to the back and belly of the blonde as she sagged sideways into the ropes. The final minute would see both beauties lean exhaustedly on one another, slugging with wan blows to the chin and tummy as their iconic faces rubbed cheek to cheek. At the bell, Ursula pulled away with tears in her eyes, clearly signaling what everyone knew to be true. Welch posted a near shutout, winning nine rounds to one; a unanimous decision!

Afterward: A prototypical win for Welch who would make a habit of avenging her losses throughout her storied career. Andress was exposed as a ponderous, heavy-handed slugger, who clearly had difficulty with Raquel’s chameleon-like looks in the ring. Still, the blonde’s power and chin remained unquestioned and many of her supporters dismissed this performance as simply an ‘off night’ for the statuesque Swede.