Before: Gritty veteran match up - bit of a bone being thrown to Lane for her plucky upset of Kelly Ripa - Helgenberger considered a poor man's Diane Lane in most circles, this is a chance for the brunette to build some momentum off a fine win. Both girls have all the tricks, but Lane seen as possessing all the physical tools in this match up - up to Helgenberger to raise her game tonight. Di in gold single strap bandeau (bare left shoulder), sporty red scoop bottoms, hair pulled back into hard working bun - Helgenberger in pale blue and white plaid bra style sport bikini.

During R1: Nice busy first. Lane with gloves at her eyebrows, spitting out jabs to take the initiative, trying in most cases to chop a right hand overtop Marg's guard, then time a pumping hook to the stomach. Marg defencing the head shots well, but time and again Lane's left glove lands thick against Helgenberger's stubborn tummy meat - redhead taking a nice punch, but grunting in recognition of the touches. Marg landing some scuffing punches of her own, but it's all reactive - Lane's coming forward, getting off first, dictating terms early.

R2: Marg turns the tables in another close round. Lane tough to hit with anything wide - Helgenberger adjusts, shifts her weight onto her back foot and catches Di with a series of tough counter right uppercuts, blocking Lane's right while almost simultaneously picking her up in the chest or mouth, tight and sharp. Lane's turn to get out punched - corner reminds her to double up on the jab before she drops that right hand in hopes of freezing Helgenberger on defence.

R3: Both girls getting things done - it's hard punching cat and mouse action. Lane thick in the gut with her trusty left hook - Helgneberger forced to step back as brunette digs in at the trunkline. Marg taking Di's right hand out of the equation, blocking it and countering with curling rights on the inside - usually a race between Marg's right and Diane's left as the girls come together for sudden exchanges. Midway through LANE GOES DOWN! Bang/bang play as Marg fades back, blocks right, jams her straight right into Di's face a split second before the hook and shunts the brunette onto her backside for a flash knockdown. Lane up quick and stamping her feet as ref gives 'er 8 - Helgenberger wades in to finish and all hell breaks loose. Di punching free with Marg, girls trading hooks and right hands on the chin and MARG GOES WOBBLY BUTT! Helgenberger pinwheeling backwards hits the ropes and SHE'S hurt, covering up as Lane stampedes to the bell with bashing right/lefts to the flanks. Both chests heaving, eyes glaring - pressure starting to build as neither can impose her will just yet.

R4: Di pressing the attack, Marg anticipating nicely, shifting onto her back foot to accept the brunette's rush and neatly timing right uppercuts or straight right hands into Lane's face. Di adjusts, staying inside when she gets there, fighting off Marg's chest. Tough war of attrition develops - girls struggling cheek to cheek, flurrying to the gut. Both holding their hands low and loose, using their chins, heads and shoulder to nudge and lean on one another. Helgenberger licking that right uppercut off the body and doubling into Di's chin on the inside - redhead has the knack of stepping out and allowing Lane to fall into punches.

R5: Lane takes it back outside, adds a little lateral movement as she circles clockwise, trying to retake momentum. Helgenberger turning, not as mobile as Lane - Di able to potshot a bit, straightening out her right hand to fit it inside Marg's block - biting the high left hook to Marg's temple off the jab.

R6: Lane's got something going with her feet, turning Marg midring, outboxing her from outside, landing solidly with either hand as Marg starts to break down. Helgenberger steadily chipped away at this round, backs to the ropes and comes under heavy fire in the last minute. Lane rolling flurries up the middle, then coming off the body to clock the cheek with either hand - Marg bobbing, trying to roll with the incoming, but Di's laying on a beating. Thick series of left hooks to the belly have Helgenberger in a bad way at the bell - red head wobbly butt, grimacing as Lane nods in satisfaction.

R7: Di presses to finish and gets her booty kicked! Marg with that little fade, block and counter, lands a perfect right uppercut on the inside and LANE GOES DOWN! Di spilling to all fours, this time in serious disrepair - she takes a swaying 8 and sinks into the ropes to regroup. Helgenberger wading in, bodies Di into the ropes with her right shoulder, turning southpaw on the inside to beat Di's waist with right hooks, bending at the knee to lift little lefty uppercuts into the brunette's open mouth from off Di's left shoulder. Lane's defence shredded - by the end of the second minute she's dazed, taking punches - brunette goes to a veteran knee to halt the beating and take another 8. Marg moves back in, sets up orthodox over Diane's right shoulder, now tapping the waist with the left hook, coming off the tummy with the left uppercut, using the right to palm and jostle her girl with to the bell. Lane shaking her head woozily in disappointment - huge Helgenberger round late in a close fight.

R8: Diane Lane gets back to basics - she's busted up and hurting, but still has the poise to execute like a pro. Stepping to the left around the jab, Lane can jam in the straight right hand between Marg's gloves, then land the delay hook up high as Marg can't react. Helgenberger forced to gamble, comes at Di's midriff with rising left hooks, trying to close up tight - now it's DI timing the rush, catching her girl with an intercepting right on the way in. Helgenberger beaten to a right hand late, steps in fence post holes and skips away hurt as Lane chases her down with wide lefts and rights at the bell.

R9: Lane outworking, outpunching Marg, stepping around the redhead, keeping the tempo high as Helgenberger looks like she's fighting to protect a lead, not win a round. Marg using the ring, comes close to running at times, shamefacedly clinching for breaks - Lane wins a round by default and has the redhead backpedalling going into the 10th.

R10: Marg's corner tells her to fight like it's the first round - girls meet midring for stern, no-nonsense trade. This is good, determined stuff - both girls covering up tight, rolling with punches, then answering back with 2 and 3 punch bursts. Great defense from both, but Lane's dependable left still jamming into tummy - Marg's right hand still finding the face and punishing Di's left eye. Helgenberger separates herself late - she bends in with a tight right hand to beat Lane's hook, crowds the brunette on follow through, shoulderbumps Di back, nails her another right hand and sends Lane sputtering backwards in the only moment of dominance shown in the round. Long delay on the cards - decision comes back UD10 Marg Helgenberger!

After: Lane with hands on hips, shaking her head in disappointment, pulls at her nose - Helgenberger all smiles as she embraces Di in a breezy hug - Lane clearly doesn't enjoy the contact, just standing there sticklike for the embrace. Marg prances the ring in triumph - Classic lost opportunity for Lane to build a little streak and become someone's optional defence - brilliant win for underated Helgenberger who proved just as clever, just as resolute as the classy brunette tonight