And the winner by a knockout...MILLION DOLLAR BABY

Rating: 9/10 (8 February 2005)

Hot new prospect Million Dollar Baby electrified the crowds and sent out an ominous warning to other contenders with a sensational knockout in the later rounds here last night. Having set the pace from the first round, the up and coming champion remained aggressive until the final four rounds where she dazzled her fans with one of the greatest displays of skill not seen since the days of Raging Bull. With consummate skill Million Dollar Baby changed tactics in the later rounds, a strategy devised by her trainer Clint Eastwood. It was a move nobody at ringside saw coming, and as one critic stated, it was in the final third act that Million Dollar Baby stepped into masterpiece territory. The performance, considered by many as the best of the year, was more than enough to guarantee a shot at the World Title on February 27th. Hailing from Malpaso Boxing Gym, where under the tutelage of veteran trainer Clint Eastwood, Million Dollar Baby has become one of the hottest contenders around. In fact, many critics and pundits believe that Eastwood, one of the most respected men in the business, will have himself another world champion come fight night at the Oscars, his first being Unforgiven who was title holder in 1993.