Mitzi Gaynor vs. Marilyn Monroe (boxing) by Simguy

Marilyn may have been history's best protected fighter, many of her title defenses may have been bought and paid for, but she was one of the first girls to adopt modern defensive techniques, and was notoriously difficult to finish when hurt. Gaynor was considered the perfect opponent for Marilyn - a scrappy pug, average power - Monroe would be free to box or slug with little fear of getting outclassed. Of course, Gaynor had made a career out of being the 'perfect opponent' much to the chagrin of pampered stars who found out the hard way how far guts and determination can take a girl in the ring. Marilyn in red hipster bikini, tank style top, white buttons up the chest - Gaynor in yellow hipster bikini, hair up.

Round 1: Gaynor on her toes, circled and traded pecks with Marilyn as Monroe calmly cut off the ring and induced Mitzi to the ropes. Even trade at long distance for much of the round, but in the final minute - Marilyn worked Mitzi with patient jabs to the stomach, then came up top with a sudden, short left hook on the chin that left Gaynor drooping out over her legs. A satisfied Marilyn Monroe poured on a series of beefy lefts and rights to the ribcage at the bell as Gaynor swooned. Round to Ms. Monroe.

Round 2 Classic Mitzi, fighting hurt, she burrowed into Marilyn to take away the blonde's jab, and turned the fight into a face on face slugfest. Gaynor touched Marilyn repeatedly with little right uppercuts on the mouth and wide lefts and rights to the ribs as the girls leaned in. Monroe didn't like the close action, and Gaynor pressed her around the ring, banging Marilyn's arms and stomach while seeking the pesky uppercut between the mitts. Gaynor's round, and a shutout to boot as Monroe stomped back to her corner in frustration.

Round 3 Gaynor continued to pressure the blonde into a shell this round. Monroe not the most mobile of fighters, depended upon her blocking ability this round to pick off Gaynor's non stop whirlwind blows - but Mitzi was by far the busier fighter. Hands at her eyebrows, Marilyn twisted and turned with Gaynor's body shots, dipping and blocking anything upstairs, but Gaynor was piling mileage onto those creamy legs in these rounds.

Round 4 Marilyn re-established the jab, picking Gaynor up nicely as the plucky brunette tried to weave her way inside. Mixed success for Mitzi as she would run the gauntlet, then get clinched tight as Monroe began to potshot this round.

Round 5 Marilyn drew a bead on Mitzi's face this round, punishing the brunette with a battering ram jab, and following whenever Gaynor stepped back with that crisp, biting hook on the teeth. Mitzi in retreat, began to react slowly as damage mounted, and midway through the round, Marilyn stepped in to hook Mitzi's ribcage, then hook her jaw to drop Gaynor to her backside at the ropes. Mitzi was in trouble, staring blankly at Marilyn, and barely beating the count. Sinking to the corner, one arm draped over the top rope for support - Gaynor soaked up an horrific, 1950's style beating as Monroe stepped to her and unleashed savage lefts and rights. At the bell, Gaynor was a battered wreck, lolling on the ropes as Marilyn turned, banging her shoulder hard across Mitzi's slackened jaw.

Round 6 Incredibly, Gaynor came out the aggressor this round, fighting through swollen eyes and puffy cheeks to swarm Marilyn early. But Monroe was now in charge, slipping and leaning away from most of the punches, and luring Gaynor forward into counters. Midway through the round, Monroe dipped under a right hand, and came up with a left uppercut on the teeth that seemed to suck the life out of Gaynor's legs. In typical fashion, Marilyn backed off the crippled opponent as Gaynor swayed out on her feet, then slowly regained her senses. Gaynor would tragically chase after Marilyn the rest of the way, lifeless arms swatting at the blonde as Monroe shamelessly ran to salt away the round.

Rounds 7-8 Funny thing happened on the way to the coronation: Mitzi Gaynor refused to quit. a lackadaisacal Monroe would sit on the ropes, cover up tight, and let Gaynor get off with batting lefts and rights to the shoulders and hips, until Monroe clinched for a break. Gaynor with pressure, chased Monroe all over the ring, but Marilyn wouldn't punch, happy to make Gaynor miss, but not make her pay. Mitzi re-built her shattered confidence, taking both rounds with steady work, and beating Marilyn's arms black and blue with honest effort.

Round 9 Marilyn unpacked the jab at last, circling to her left, and the fight got easier as she was able to tame Gaynor once again with the stick. Mitzi jumping in with her right hand to time Marilyn's jab, all too often landed on the hook, and Marilyn pocketed points, bouncing the left hand off Mitzi's jaw, then fading away to regroup.

Round 10 It happened so quickly, most in the audience didn't see it, but as the girls fell in, Marilyn chopped a short right hand across Gaynor's jaw that had the brunette in serious trouble from the opening moments. Struggling in tight, Gaynor's legs were jello, and Marilyn walked her girl to the ropes, smothering Mitzi in the mistaken belief that Gaynor was still dangerous. As Monroe worked, it became apparent that Gaynor could barely stand, and Marilyn began to open up, doubling her hook on Mitzi's jaw, then jerking the right uppercut into the teeth to splatter Gaynor's head back with a dramatic shower of sweat. It was a tragic way to end a brave fight for Gaynor - Marilyn stood in front and pounded Mitzi without respite, measuring the brunette with the left, then dropping merciless right hands on the face as Gaynor lolled defenceless. Marilyn would buck with her shoulder then jam a short left into Gaynor's liver, smiling as the brunette crumpled forward, hands in her lap, eyes vacant. With the ref looking on like a casual observer - Marilyn Monroe was allowed to batter Mitzi Gaynor to a pulp, distorting what had been a close, intriguing contest with a gruesome beat down ending. At the bell, Monroe pushed her chest into groggy Gaynor, shoving her up against the ropes - Gaynor with eyes swollen shut, unable to offer even a token push, bore the weight until the ref finally interceded. Unanimous duke Marilyn Monroe.

Afterward: A typically gritty, never say die performance from Gaynor, but one which cost her dearly as Monroe indulged herself at the brunette's expense. It was also a typical performance from Monroe, who despite absorbing tremendous punishment to her body, left the fight with a pristine face, a credit to her safety first style, and sense of self preservation. Her cruel beating of Gaynor in the final stanza was also not atypical of Monroe, who would often take the time to batter opponents late, when she was sure of victory.