Posted by Simguy in 8/17/2002, 7:37 am.

Before: Alan power play shaking up BSE, boxing in general--high stakes fight puts Britney in a very difficult position. “She wants it, she’s getting it,” says a somber Spears in pre-fight, “I would gave given her a shot at the belt. I’ve never held Jessica back, so this…I don’t understand this. I can only assume that someone’s giving her bad advice, but she’s the one who’s going to have to pay for it.” Alba sick and tired of justifying her actions to the press. “That’s typical--somebody must be pulling my strings. Look--what’s the biggest, breakout-type fight around for me? Britney. She says she’s never held me back, but how many times have I read ‘Jessica Spears’ in your magazines? Just because e she’s not intentionally grounding me doesn’t mean its not happening. Perception IS everything, and as long as I am perceived to be some sort of supporting cast member to Britney, I’m never going to achieve my potential. I sincerely hope we can be friends after this. I expect to take it to her, I expect to beat Britney Spears in that ring, decisively and thoroughly. I hope she’ll be able to accept it and deal.”

During R1: Jessica first to mid ring, walks in behind a high guard, starts dipping and ripping lanky uppercuts to Britney’s body early. Tough stuff--Spears stiff as she takes--Alba able to square up, get better and better leverage--soon, she’s handing out a beating. Spears suffering, stooped forward, just standing there--Alba working steadily, palms at Brit’s neck and shoulders, positioning her, pushing her around, then cranking. Long-armed power up underneath. Down the stretch, Spears bent nearly double--Alba helps herself--gets the saucy uppercut off the overhanging face, whip-cracks lower back with wide left hooks. Britney shiny, shutout and hurt after a bell to bell Albs romp.

R2: Jessica walking right in, reaching her left, driving the right to the body, getting in close with her head and gloves in tight on Britney. Spears ready for it this time--bruising give and take as the girls snap and dig at one another’s ribs and bellies. Britney getting the better of it--more compact strokes, quicker hands, punching in combinations--Alba covering up and taking, unable to pull the trigger Jessica stepping out, picking Brit up late with the uppercut on the chin, avoids the shutout, but Spears sends the message: “I won’t be bullied by you.” Girls square up after the bell--ref keeps ‘em separated.

R3: Bell to bell Britney. Spears doubling up the hook in the waist, coming off the body to hook the chin, stepping smartly to her left--Alba rung up. On her heels, looks bewildered. Brit using her legs at last, pivoting around her longer foe, darting in and out, putting 2 and 3 punches together, just batting Alba around the hips and head. Jess adjusts to the slapping wide body shots, but starts eating straight right hand leads up the middle. Jess looks to step in and uppercut her way out of the jam--Brit rocks her knees with a beautifully timed counter hook on the button. Alba stammering at the bell--fielding shots. Getting outclassed this round.

R4: Bell to bell Britney. Difference between the two just might be consistency--Spears executing sharply every minute--Alba loose, sometimes ragged as she steps out to take a second look, hands low--she’s a confused beauty. Britney’s legs calling the shots--she’s jumping in punches, pivoting away from receipts, feinting Alba--Jessica looks wide-eyed and surprised when she gets tagged. Spears also staying on that body, beating Jessica’s waistline with meanspirited double hooks off the front foot, Girls glare, chest up at the bell again--ref working overtime to control this thing.

R5: Britney walking Jessica down--Albs walking away, changing directions, suddenly steps right, lashes a wide left hook and catches Britney wrong-foot with the look-away temple shot. Spears pitching forward, nearly face plants, gets it together, but she’s reeling--Alba’s eyes light up at the sight. Poor follow up from Jessica however--she lets Britney bumble and stagger along the ropes, blonde gets it together by dancing, then  turns it on at the half way point, Spears back in control with her jab from the shoulder beating Alba’s from the hip--Britney able to spot her right hand to mouth and body--single shot stamps just to maintain order to the bell. Alba pushing Britney en route to corners--they get into it--minor fracas delays proceedings as warnings are issued.

R6: Britney brazen to Alba’s body, jabbing her way in to the chest, then reefing gut with hooks as Jessica wilts to the ropes. Jessica’s legs sapped of spring--she’s seated in the strands, gloves at her face, trying top dip and dig back at the blonde, but Spears has her way. Brawny shove and slug from Britney--eyes fierce with determination--forearms and shoulder propping and pressing up, keeping Alba pinned. Spears harms Alba late with some shoving, short right hands on the jaw--Britney snapping in that hook or gut after the bell as Alba groans.

R7: Another shutout stanza Britney Spears. Coming in strong, she outworks Jessica, beating her raw in the body with fast punches in bunches, Outside, her quick, decisive feet exposing Alba’s rambling, looser strides--blonde constantly getting the better position and scoring. Alba’s face lumping up, hands coming down, mouth breathing--she’s getting it handed to her through 7 and both girls know it.

R8: Britney fighting off Jessica’s chest, bulling Alba back, packing it in to the stomach--Jessica tieing up, slumping looking bullied, Midway through, Jessica steps out, licks that whippy hook a stroke across Britney’s jaw and SPEARS IS HURT! Spears buckling forward, takes a disastrous right bolo punch in the pit of the stomach--crowd moaning in sympathy with the shot as Britney cries aloud, stumbles face first to the ropes. Alba learning her lesson, following up much more effectively this time,. Right palm bracing the bent over blonde--vicious left hooks shellacking up underneath--Spears biting down on cries of anguish as Jessica puts it to her. Britney’s curvy legs hold her up, but she’s not punching back at the bell. As they step back, both glossy with punishment and exertion, eyes lock; Jessica’s still in this fight.

R9: Best two-way action of the night--both girls ladling on the hurt. Spears wary of Jessica’s power now, bending low, getting underneath that hook, trying to time it for right hands over the top, Alba making her adjustments, clipping that right uppercut to catch Britney mid-bob, Shattering spank sounding off shimmering flanks and shoulders as fists bashing back and forth in bursts. Both girls humming at the bell--Spears forcing eye contact, knows she took it close.

R10: More intense, tit for tat, slugging. Jessica standing her ground early, going back to the high guard, trying o lean on the shorter girl and get off with one or two lanky uppercuts under the breasts. Britney keeping her left shoulder in Jessica’s chest, rolling the punches, coming back with a thumping short right in the breadbasket, tight double left hooks on the cheek as she leans onto her right foot, girls bumping, jostling for position. Down the stretch, Alba takes a hook on the chips, steps out, shaking cobwebs--Britney walks her down, Jessica fades to the ropes, walks Britney in, bends right to slap home the left, then beats Britney to a clapping right on the jaw. Nice clean connects--Alba able to spin off the ropes as Britney soaks up the shock--enough to give brunette a close round. Britney still coming after the bell--referee, officials get involved as mayhem threatens. Comes back UD10...Britney Spears!

Alba broken hearted--lost in her corner--Spears apparently not as vulnerable as reported as she hammers out a tough duke. Girls exchange complex stares--Spears’ chest heaving, sweaty with victory, but looking, maybe hoping for some repentance--Alba wiping at tears, bitter in defeat, holding Britney’s gaze. “I don’t know,” says one grizzled scribe, “my guess is, both girls are comfortable forgetting and forgiving, as long as they’ve won. You wonder if Alba can bear the weight of Britney’s dominance and still be a true friend. And vice versa. Hey, nobody says this was going to be a picnic.”

Reposted by Archer 4/22/11.