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These stories are entirely fictitious accounts of fights that may have taken place in an alternate universe in the mid-1950's between Hollywood personalities. Contains descriptions of nudity, lesbianism and violence.

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MITZI IN HOLLYWOOD Chapter 17 - "Weight One Minute" - by Kim and Ginny

THE PRE-FIGHT WEIGH-IN

The Friday right before the fight, Frank had both fighters come to the arena for a ceremonial weigh-in. It was only a publicity stunt since there were no weight restrictions in "real" fights. Both women would be about the same weight but this was a chance for reporters like Brenda Starr to write a final "puff piece" to help sell tickets and for the photographers to get a few cheesecake or pin-up pictures to help sell the fight in the morning papers. It would also help "juice the betting," one of Frank's primary worries.

Shirley and Gretchen showed up with Nikki who looked a bit haggard after more than a month of Gretchen's care. She smiled and acted almost as if she enjoyed her role as Gretchen's "slave." For her part, Shirley preened and posed, taking advantage of arriving first to have all the attention on herself. As far as she was concerned, it was only proper for she was the "star" of the show.

"Where's Gaynor?" Shirley yelled, playing to the crowd of reporters and photographers. "I bet the bitch doesn't even show up for the weigh-in. That over-weight and over-rated Hungarian can't touch me," Shirley crowed. "I'm the best!"

Frank thought Shirley was getting a little out of control so he quickly called her to the scale to weigh-in. He was hoping to weigh her and send her on her way before Mitzi arrived. Shirley slipped off her robe and flexed her arms as flashbulbs popped.

Shirley stepped on the scale and Frank fiddled nervously with the counterweight. Finally, the indicator stopped bouncing and he peered at the numbers. He glanced at the height indicator above Shirley's head and announced, "Shirley MacLaine: 36-24-37, 5'6" and 120 pounds." The reporters and photographers murmured as they scribbled notes. Shirley looked strong and her weight was right at her "normal" fighting weight.

Just as Shirley stepped off the scale, Cyd Charisse came through the door - a swirling vision in organza and crepe. It almost looked like she was dancing in one of her movies as she floated through the crowd of newspapermen. Shirley's eyes narrowed with hatred as she saw, walking a few feet behind Cyd her opponent-to-be, Mitzi Gaynor.

Mitzi smiled at the photographers as she moved quickly toward the scale, elbowing Shirley aside as she took her place center stage. Shirley glared at her as Mitzi slowly dropped her robe to reveal one of the new French-style "bikini" swimsuits. She had lost weight in her hard training and her body was lean and hard. Still, her big bosom had lost none of it's firm fullness. She was, in a word, spectacular! Shirley took a look at the "new Mitzi" and started to seethe.

Shirley turned to Gretchen muttering, "She looks a lot better than I expected. I guess I'll get to hit her harder and more often than we'd planned. Sorry dear."

Seeing the effect she was having on the photographers, Mitzi stretched and posed at the scale, running her hands slowly up and down her sleek body to emphasize her voluptuous figure. The photographers fell all over one another in their eagerness to get photos of her. They completely forgot Shirley in their haste to get pictures of the "new" Mitzi.

Frank took Mitzi's elbow and guided her onto the scale. He read the numbers, then blinked and read them a second time - not believing his eyes. "Mitzi Gaynor: 36-23-36, 5'6", 115 pounds," he intoned seriously. There was an audible gasp from the newsmen - Mitzi's weight was a good 8 pounds less than her last fight. Clearly she had either been sick or training a lot harder than anyone, even Gretchen, had suspected. Mitzi looked rock solid as she raised her arms shoulder high and flexed to display her small, but hard biceps for the photographers.

Infuriated by the display, and being upstaged while she was the center of attention, Shirley took two quick steps forward.

Cyd saw Shirley draw back her fist and tried to warn Mitzi, "Look ou..." but her warning was too late.

Shirley's fist crashed into the lower curve of Mitzi's belly. Caught completely off guard while as she was looking away and mugging for the cameras, Mitzi was unprepared for the punch. The power of Shirley's fist going deep into her smooth and unprepared stomach lifted Mitzi's front foot off the floor. Her face turned white as her mouth opened and closed like a fish out of water. She sank slowly to her knees hold her stomach with both hands as Shirley stood over her smiling proudly.

Cyd lunged forward to grab Shirley, but Gretchen got there first and pulled Shirley back in time to keep her from kicking Mitzi in the chest as she huddled on her knees struggling to get her breath. Frank grabbed Cyd to prevent her from going after Shirley.

He hissed, "Don't make trouble Cyd," as he wrestled with the big woman.

Cyd was incredulous.

"ME make trouble? What's the matter with you? She hit Mitzi for no reason. Aren't you going to do something?"

Nikki started to go to Mitzi's side but a command from Gretchen stopped her in her tracks. After a brief hesitation, she left with Gretchen who was pulling Shirley out the door. Shirley was screaming at the top of her lungs as she was hauled away.

"Is that your big boxer-girl, Cyd? She's gotta nice soft tummy. Can't wait 'til tomorrow night. I'm gonna pound her soft middle 'til she can't hold her hands up, then I'm gonna knock her block off. You guys better be here early and get your seats before the bell rings, 'cause she ain't gonna last long against these."

Shirley shook her fists at Mitzi despite Gretchen and Nikki holding her by the arms as they dragged her toward the door. The assembled newsmen stood around in stunned silence, staring down at Mitzi who was on her knees sucking air into her lungs. Brenda Starr walked slowly over and stood in front of Mitzi, smiled down at her and began to scribble furiously in her notebook.

"I hope you got a good picture of her like that CB," Brenda said to her cameraman. "It'll be the perfect photo for my story on how Shirley's gonna beat her." She reached down and patted Mitzi's head. "Shirley and Gretchen told me their strategy hon. You'll be lucky to make it out of the first round tomorrow night. I hope Cyd's got another acting job lined up, cause it looks like her days as a fight manager are numbered."

Cyd helped Mitzi up and then turned to Brenda, "That shows how little you know about fighting. Shirley hit Mitzi when she wasn't looking and it was a low blow besides. Believe me dear, tomorrow night Mitzi's gonna be ready and she's gonna pay that bitch back for that little 'Pearl Harbor' number. That's not how a lady is supposed to conduct herself."

She grabbed Mitzi's elbow and started to steer her to the same door they'd entered just minutes earlier. On the way, she picked up Mitzi's robe and tossed it over her fighters shoulders. Then she yelled back at Frank.

"You better do something about that bitch Gretchen and her lapdog because if you don't, I will."

Frank threw his hands up and turned around with one of those, 'What can go wrong next?' expressions.

****

Outside the arena, Gretchen and Nikki had to practically shove the outraged Shirley into a waiting taxi. Gretchen threw Nikki in beside Shirley and then ran around the back of the vehicle to stop Shirley from getting out the other side and going back to confront Mitzi again.

Shirley was screaming, "You shoulda let me hit her again! I'da laid her out right there at Frank's feet. That woulda made a great picture."

On the drive back to Gretchen's, Nikki pleaded with Gretchen and Shirley on Mitzi's behalf.

"Please take it easy on her," Nikki practically sobbed. "I couldn't stand to see her get hurt. You're going to win the fight anyway, I beg you - don't ruin her face Shirley - that and her legs are all she's got."

Gretchen listened quietly with a thin smile, almost as if she had a plan in mind already. Sure enough, as soon as they arrived at her house, Gretchen sent Shirley to her room to rest up for the fight. Then she took Nikki aside as Shirley climbed the stairs.

"You want to make sure Mitzi isn't hurt too badly tomorrow night, don't you dear?"

Nikki swallowed hard and nodded that she did.

"Good. I've got a plan to ensure that. It'll take a sacrifice on your part, but I know you're willing to do whatever it takes to guarantee her safety. There's a visitor upstairs in your room. Whatever he asks for, give it to him. Do anything he wants. That's an order. You do whatever it takes to please him, no matter how disgusting or humiliating. You do a good job and it'll ensure Mitzi's survival. You're willing to make a small sacrifice for her aren't you?."

Nikki blushed deeper than Gretchen had seen her blush - and in the past months she'd seen Nikki blush many times.

Nikki whispered, "Yes, I'll do anything."

Gretchen sent her to her room with the warning, "Remember, do whatever he wants but you can't talk to him about the fight, even if he brings it up. I don't want you trying anything on your own, I planned this carefully and the only way you can help Mitzi is by giving him *exactly* what he wants. Understand?"

Nikki nodded and then went upstairs. When she opened her bedroom door she was met by a burly Black man who smiled at her as he undressed her with his eyes.

"Oh yeah! You one sweet piece of white meat. I gwan' love splittin' y'all wide open."

His rough hands pawed at her as he dragged her across the room and threw her face down over the foot of her bed. She closed her eyes to stop her tears as he tore off her skirt and panties and pulled her hips back to him. As he entered her with a guttural grunt, she bit her lip to stifle her screams and kept telling herself, "I'm doing this to save Mitzi. I'm doing this to save Mitzi."

When Nikki awoke the next morning the stranger was gone. Stiffly and awkwardly, she stumbled to her bathroom and took a hot bath, scrubbing her pink skin until it was red. It was as if she were trying to scrub away the memories of what she'd done for a man she'd never seen before. He'd made her perform every sexual trick she'd ever heard of and a few she'd not. No matter how hard she scrubbed, however, she couldn't wash away the "dirty feeling" from her body.

After dressing, she staggered downstairs, careful not to close her legs too tightly since she was sore and swollen after what seemed an endless night of debauchery. When they saw her gingerly coming down the steps, Gretchen and her teenage nieces laughed and giggled at her discomfort. Nikki knew they were talking about her because they stopped as soon as she appeared in the doorway.

"Did you have fun?" Karen giggled as her cousin pushed her shoulder playfully.

"Was it as big as this?" her cousin asked, spreading her hand almost shoulder width apart.

The girls burst into peals of laughter at Nikki's horrified expression.

"See, I told you it was!" Karen proclaimed triumphantly, claiming that Nikki had confirmed the enormous size simply by her reaction.

Gretchen put a stop to the laughter and sent the girls upstairs to change into their workout clothes. As soon as they were out of earshot, she asked Nikki if she was alright.

When she said she was, Gretchen told her, "Finish your breakfast and get dressed. I've an errand for you to run and I don't want you to be late."

Nikki looked at her questioningly.

"Haven't I done enough for you already?"

"This will help Mitzi too. Do as you're told and don't tell anyone about it. I know you want to see your girl again, don't you?"

Before Nikki could confirm what Gretchen already knew, Gretchen handed Nikki and envelope.

"Take this to that address. Give the envelope to that man and wait for a receipt from him. When you have it, you come directly home. Understand? Directly! No stops. "

She grabbed a handful of Nikki's curly hair and yanked her face forward until their noses touched.

"Don't screw this up or you'll regret it more than anything that happened. Deliver it, get the receipt and come straight back here. Understand?"

Nikki nodded her head and swallowed hard.

"Yes, I understand. Deliver the envelope, get a receipt and bring it to you. I can do that."

"You better. Ruin this and not only will you never see Mitzi again, you might not see anyone ever again. I have ways of dealing with girls who double cross me. There's a club in Tijuana where a couple of women are part of the floor show. They tried to cross me and now they'll never cross anyone or anything, including their legs. So if you want to keep living the good life as my concubine, you'll do 'exactly' as you're told. No more, no less and no different. Now get your scrawny ass upstairs, get dressed and get to work."

Nikki scampered away as fast as her long, lithe legs could carry her. She completed her task and spend the rest of the night rolling and tossing alone in her bed. She couldn't help wondering if what she had done would really help Mitzi or if she'd been tricked and used to help Shirley instead. Whatever the case, there was no doubt in her mind that what she had done was going to help Gretchen, she'd learned that much living with her. Gretchen never did anything that didn't have something in it for herself. The next day passed uneventfully for everyone but by fight time, both participants and their supporters were at a fever pitch of excitement.

FIGHT NIGHT

Since Shirley MacLaine beat Mitzi in the arm wrestling contest at Frank's birthday party, she the option of entering the ring first or last. She chose to be introduced last. Making Mitzi wait in the ring would work on her mind and erode whatever self confidence she might still have left after Shirley had clearly established her superiority several times. Still, Mitzi was confident that the training Cyd had given her would enable her to win the fight. At the worst, Mitzi expected to put on a good show and convince doubters she still had a bright future in the fight game.

After the ring had been cleared of the contestants and entourages from the previous fight, the announcer climbed through the ropes, raised his hands for silence and took the microphone to introduce the fighters.

"And now a special treat, we're gonna have an exhibition boxing match between two lovely combatants. The winner will meet the champion which, at present is Rita Moreno, in a title fight on next month's card. Introducing first in gold . . . a lovely and popular blonde and one of the top contenders for the title. She stands 5'6" and (he looked down at his notes to be sure he had it right) weighing 115 pounds.... Miiiiiiiitzi "Golden Girl" Gaaaaaaaaaaynor!!!!!!!"

After warming up in her small, cramped, dressing room, Mitzi's body was covered with a thin sheen of sweat by the time she jogged down the aisle toward the ring. Beside her was her coach/manager Cyd Charisse. The spotlight reflected off the swell of her big breasts which nearly spilled out of her bra as she jogged up the aisle.

Frank had selected the outfits for his boxers from costumes the girls usually wore for wrestling matches. Each outfit consisted of a bra, panties, garterbelt and stockings. He chose for Mitzi a gold demi-cup strapless bra that emphasized her fabulous breasts, matching gold lace panties, a garter belt and black hose that made her powerful thighs look slimmer. Cyd had suggested she wear a pair of dance shoes with 2" heels - enough to make her gorgeous legs curve attractively, but ones she was very familiar with and which wouldn't interfere with movement. It was crucial that Mitzi move since Cyd's strategy was for her to use her quick feet to move in and out and side to side, frustrating Shirley while landing the jabs and crosses she'd learned in training over the last several weeks.

When she climbed through the ropes into the ring, Mitzi was surprised by the muted reception she received. Trying to pump up her fans enthusiasm, Mitzi did some moves, dancing and jiggling her bosom by shadow boxing. She finished up banging her gloves together and struck a pose, flexing her arms to show biceps hardened by the effort she'd put into training for this fight. She flashed a confident grin as flashbulbs popped. It wasn't until she turned back to her corner that she saw the worried look on Cyd's face.

"What's the matter?" Mitzi asked, looking around to see if anything were amiss.

"The ring's smaller than it's supposed to be. It's not regulation. There's barely room to swing a cat in here let alone hold a boxing match. This is ridiculous. I'm gonna get Frank to fix it."

"Why? It seems OK," Mitzi said. "It means I won't get as tired moving around if the ring is smaller. I'll adjust."

"You don't understand," Cyd said grabbing Mitzi's shoulder and shaking her. "In a tiny ring, you'll be at a disadvantage. You can't use your speed to stay away from Shirley. Our strategy's based on you keeping away and using your legs and your quickness. This is like fighting in a phone booth for God's sake. I bet that bitch Gretchen's behind it! She'd do anything so her girl could win. You were a 10:1 underdog because of the rumor about Shirley beating you in a restaurant. Then after that fiasco in the arm-wrestling at Frank's birthday party it went to 15:1. Since then it's risen steadily. Yesterday it was around 20:1."

"Gosh," Mitzi said. "Do they really think I'm that bad. I mean, twenty to one - that's awful isn't it?"

Cyd nodded, "It's real bad. Now everyone's seen the picture of you on your knees and Shirley standing over you at the weigh-in, it's even gotten worse. Overnight, the odds against you went to 25 to 1. But don't worry about the odds. Once the fight starts they don't mean anything except it'll be that much more of an upset when you win. And you WILL win because I trained you how to beat her. Wait here, I'll be right back."

Cyd leaned over the top rope and screamed at Frank who was in his ringside seat, "The ring's too goddam small Frank. Mitzi won't have room to move."

She demanded that Frank postpone the fight until a proper ring could be erected. Cyd felt Gretchen had pulled a fast one, arranging for a smaller ring to negate Mitzi's superior footwork and speed. She climbed down from the ring apron and went over to complain to Frank about the non-standard ring. Just as she arrived, Gretchen appeared, also looking for Frank. In the ring, Mitzi stood and waited, alone with her thoughts.

While the argument between Frank, Cyd and Gretchen continued at ringside, Shirley waited patiently in her dressing room as Mitzi paced nervously in the ring under the hot lights. Mitzi's thoughts flashed back to the dream of a few nights ago in which she dreamed she was laying on her back the canvas, staring up into the blinding lights. Then she had dreamed about being yanked to her feet, thrown into a corner and beaten senseless by a leering Shirley. In the dream, the gloves on Shirley's hands felt like cement as they slammed into her.

Mitzi had been having the nightmares off and on ever since Shirley humiliated her in that restaurant. As the date for their fight neared, the nightmares became more vivid and more specifically about boxing. Then Shirley had showed her up again at Frank's birthday party and then a third time at the weigh-in. Standing alone in the ring, Mitzi felt the confidence Cyd had spent so long building up, slowly melting away. When Cyd came back from arguing with Frank, Mitzi was nearing a nervous breakdown. She had "flop sweat" running down her face and dripping off her chin onto her heaving bosom. She looked to the ringside seats where Nikki was sitting, staring at her. When their eyes met, Nikki blushed and looked away, ashamed at not having spoken to her former lover since leaving the restaurant with Gretchen.

Mitzi shivered as she thought about the fight with Shirley in the restaurant, how easily Shirley had overcame her resistance, then stripped and humiliated her in front of Nikki and the crowd of leering lesbians. As if that weren't enough, Gretchen had then forced Nikki to leave with her in exchange for sparing Mitzi even worse abuse. Just as Mitzi was regaining her confidence after that event, Shirley had overpowered her easily in their arm-wrestling competition. Not just once, but twice! No wonder Cyd was worried, Mitzi thought. She knew Shirley was going to win! When Cyd got back from talking to Frank it took all Mitzi's will power to resist telling her she wanted to quit right then and there.

Mitzi asked Cyd, "Where's Shirley? Isn't she going to fight? Do I have to fight someone else? Why the long delay?"

Cyd shook her head.

"Don't worry. Shirley won't let them introduce her until she's ready. I think she just wants to let you stew a while. Put it out of your mind and don't let her get away with it. Just relax and let her play her silly mind games. It's what happens after she gets here that's important. As for the ring, Gretchen's bitching about it too, so I guess it was Frank's idea to use a small ring. He thinks it'll be a more entertaining fight if there's no room for you to move around. He's expecting one of you to knock the other out in the first round. He's gonna be in for a surprise."

Finally, after several minutes the crowd was getting restless. Frank sent Gretchen back with orders to get Shirley out there or else. Finally, there was a signal from Shirley's dressing room and the announcer introduced her.

"Mitzi's opponent, wearing the black outfit, standing 5'8" and weighing 120 pounds, a woman who's shot to the top of the standings in a short time. She's accompanied to the ring by her manager Gretchen Curry, put your hands together for the beautiful and talented redhead, the Virginia Viper herself, Sluggin' Shiiiiiiiiiiiley MacLaaaaaine!!"

Shirley strode boldly out of her dressing room down the aisle. She was greeted with wild applause from her fans seated ringside. Her fans didn't outnumber Mitzi's, but the noise they made was louder and more sustained. Everyone knew boxing wasn't Mitzi's forte, even her staunchest supporters expected to see her lose to the tough young redhead.

Shirley was dressed much as Mitzi was, but in black instead of gold. And instead of a half cup, her bra had full cups and sturdy shoulder straps. She was obviously worried about by the prospect of exposing her smaller, but firm and well-shaped, breasts. It was something that had worried Mitzi at first, but once it happened and she heard the approving reaction of the audience she quickly learned to accept it and, indeed, to revel in it. Nonetheless, the thought of being topless in public still scared her. She had a deep-seated insecurity about her body that haunted her despite the cheers whenever her fans caught a glimpse of her large, firm breasts with a dark areola and hard nipples.

Inside the ring, Gretchen positioned herself behind Shirley massaging her shoulders until the referee waved them over so he could go over the few rules governing the leagues boxing matches. While he talked to the fighters, Frank introduced the judges who would score the fight with the referee, former heavyweight champion Joe Louis. The judges were a former boxer and now an actor, Rocky Graziano and the former women's champion, Doris Day.

The referee explained the fight was scheduled for only three rounds, so there was no limit on the number of times a woman could be knocked down. He looked right at Mitzi when he said it. She "knew" he was trying to warn her.

"Break clean when I tell you, he said, "I don't want any punches after the bell. The bell ends a round immediately and the count won't continue after the bell."

When he finished the instructions, Cyd whispered to Mitzi, "Just do what we trained you to do. Keep your guard up and your feet moving. You move better than her, use your dance training - that's your best weapon."

Shirley meanwhile, tried her best to intimidate Mitzi. Each stared into the others eyes, their bodies so close their bras almost touched. Mitzi finally broke the star and looked down to Nikki at ringside, her nervousness bringing a smile to Shirley's lips. Just before they turned to return to their corners, Shirley reached out both hands as if to touch gloves, but instead she punched Mitzi lightly in the tummy.

"Look at me bitch! What's the matter, you scared?"

Cyd stepped in to separate them, pushing Shirley back.

"Keep your hands off me bitch," Shirley hissed at Cyd, "or they'll be carrying both of you outta here on stretchers."

Mitzi quickly retreated to her corner and before Cyd put in her mouthpiece, she raised her hands and bounced around in a little circle, loosening her leg muscles as she gave everyone a teasing look at her big bosom jiggling. Her thousand watt smile would have lit up the room were it not for the blazing lights above the ring having already accomplished the same task.

Frank went over and said something to Shirley who laughed and nodded her head, then he came over to Cyd and Mitzi.

"You both know the fans want to see a fight, not a dance," he said.

Frank made it clear to Mitzi he expected them to go toe to toe, to slug it out and settle things in a hurry, that was why he'd ordered the smaller than regulation ring, to force them to give the paying spectators with plenty of action. Nikki sat in the front row in Shirley's corner next to Gretchen, her expression looking like that on a lost, lonely and worried woman. The referee asked if each was ready and both women nodded. Cyd had Mitzi look over at Nikki and Gretchen.

"If you want to get your friend away from Gretchen," Cyd said as she slipped Mitzi's mouthpiece between her teeth, "you better pay attention to our plan. Don't let yourself get distracted by anything Shirley says or does, just stick to the plan. You do as I taught you and you'll win this."

Mitzi nodded grimly, her eyes narrowed as she looked at Nikki with Gretchen. She slapped her gloves together and nodded resolutely. Cyd smiled, she knew Mitzi was going to give this fight everything she had, win or lose.

Frank took his seat in the front row and made a "hurry up" signal to the referee. Cyd patted Mitzi on the back, wished her good luck and climbed down from the ring apron. The referee signaled for the bell. It clanged and the fight was on!

Mitzi's Adventures in Hollywood continue in Chapter 18 - "Boxing Miss Shirley"