Knockout! Gaultier-delivers boxing-inspired show

Jean Paul Gaultier came out swinging Thursday with a boxing-inspired fall-winter 2010-2011 menswear collection that swapped the runway for a ring and saw bloody-faced models trade punches in front of the cameras. 

The fashion heavyweight infused the wardrobe of silk robe trenches, leather muscle tank tops and slinky boxing leggings with a fighting spirit.

Turtlenecks emblazoned with anatomical muscle prints were paired with low-crotched leggings and a snappy suit made out sweat-pant fabric looked like what Rocky would wear to a black tie event.

Gaultier - who gave the world Madonna's conical bra - continued to borrow from ladies' closets, sending out feminine pieces like skirts and sheer sparkly shirts.

Known for squeezing the last drop out of a theme, Gaultier beat this one to a bloody pulp: Fight-ready boxing gloves in red leather became a must-have accessory, as did face-saving masks, lace-up leather shoes, towels - worn like scarves over 1930s-era suits - and extra-wide belts embossed with Gaultier's logo that were worthy of a champion.

As the male models, including several ultra-beefy mannequins who appeared to be real boxers, strutted their sporty stuff, two women in short shorts and pointy satin bras fought it out in a ring that stood in the place of the runway.

"It's about combat, combating boredom, combatting the reigning depressive state," said Gaultier, who sported a nasty-looking shiner, a split lip and rivulets of fake blood tricking from his temple.

Asked whether he practiced the sport himself, Gaultier said, "no way." He added that when a photographer asked him to take a swipe at a hanging punching bag, he gave it a bear hug instead.

"I don't think these little hands are made for such a sport," he said.