Posted by simguy on 10/5/2007

Before: "It's the punishment she's taken," Jennifer explains, choosing her words very diplomatically at the podium. "Over the last two years, Neve Campbell has fought the most bruising ring wars of any of us. Wars of her own choosing, wars she started - and I think it's all coming back to haunt her. I watched Jennie Garth bully Neve in their fight, and she was only able to do that because of Mack, Cuthbert, McAdams, Fishel, Kilcher and the rest who've been going toe to toe with Neve, non stop. I saw a tired Neve Campbell get outworked by a fresh Jennie - and I have to admit, that's why I'm here. I'm sorry Neve - you know I've got total respect for you, but I think you're weak right now. You're weak, and I have to take advantage: it's nothing personal." Campbell nodding, pursing her lips as she listens - she's on the same page philosophically with Jennifer. "Hewitt's entitled to her opinion - I know her management team has a lot to do with it - many of them are familiar with me and I'm sure they do think I'm worn down right now. If I am, it'll be up to Jen to prove it, but I'll tell you right now: don't you believe it Jennifer. Forget Garth - off night: I'm still the girl who brought Rachel McAdams to justice, and that's a whole lot of girl for you to even be thinking about." Neve in vivid yellow bikini; black gloves; short black wet tousle. Hewitt in purple push up and panties, black gloves, long black soft curls.

During R1: Neve flat footed, right hand at cheek - two good stiff jabs to Hewitt's left cheek. Hewitt right under her chin, left across her body - weaving side to side, getting under Neve's poke - nice fat hook takes Neve in her paunch. Neve grunts, holds firm, answers back the jaunty left uppercut, taking Jen in her jugs. Neve quickly covers up earmuff, blocking Hewitt's hook up top. Jen jabs as she backs off: former stablemates circle counterclockwise, regroup, eyes narrow with concentration. Hewitt aggressive - she's shorter, knows she's got to make the fight - she's in crossed arm, edging her way forward, fighting off Neve's chest in spots. Campbell showing respect - using her legs, working behind the jab: one-twos up top to keep Jen covered up, then hard-hooking the waist and ribs. Campbell boxing smart, dictating terms - she banks a competitive first: girls bat gloves as they pass en route to corners.

R2: Neve operating on Jenny midring. Campbell pumping the jab to win initiative, putting Hewitt on the defensive. Campbell leading straight right hands to Jen's hairline - skidding contact only - used to set up thudding hooks downstairs. Neve's hook often blocked on Jen's crossed arms, but also thumping hard to rack, and more alarmingly, doubling in thick behind that right elbow. Neve continues to show respect - she's stepping around her connects, making Jenny move her feet: Campbell banking touches, patiently and professionally managing Hewitt midring.

R3: Strong Hewitt first minute, thumping away rights and lefts to Neve's bodkin. Campbell elbows in and down, dukes up as she's sponging, backing away in good order: she answers at the minute mark with a perfect, jagged little left uppercut; doubling it into a tidy left to jaw that has Hewitt stepping in fence post holes. Neve jotting the straight right lead - scraping Hewitt's scalp as she's ducking; payoff hook takes Jennifer heavily up in her lungs. Neve works it - right hands lead straight and abrupt off the shoulder; vicious hooks exploring Hewitt's midsection. Neve sidestepping left, constantly looking for an angle behind Hewitt's right elbow. Sometimes Neve will even push Hewitt's right tricep while sidestepping, then hook her body in there snug: good stuff.

R4: More Neve. Sporty clockwise rotation - Neve pivoting around and dragging her left foot in a bucket, systematically getting off on Hewitt. Neve comfy working behind the jab, extending on shots outside - but she'll edge the left shoulder into Jenny's chest at times, looking to dig hooks or clip uppies in close. In and out, all around: Campbell not as flashy as some doing this kind of thing, but she's effective, banging away heavy-handed on a sluggish, compliant Hewitt bell to bell.

R5: Hewitt hurt again by the left uppercut early - spends rest of the round shaking it off. Jen crouching down, alternating between earmuff and crossed arm, bobbing and weaving under the constant pulse of Neve's bombardment. Campbell's hook sounding louder and louder, batting against hip, flank and paunch - doubling heavy - clapping against Jen's fleshy torso. Neve cute with her left hand - swatting at Jen's ear before hooking her body, or using that left hand nudge behind Jen's right elbow to free up a path to the vulnerable liver. Hewitt well aware of Neve's intentions: Jen keeping elbows down, crouching low, trying to turn to her right to deny Campbell angle.

R6: Another strong first minute for Hewitt: Neve retreating in good order, blocking shots, turning at the ropes as Jennifer wades in. Minute mark - Neve turns it around, walking Jen into a thudding roundhouse right to waist/left hook to chin to send Hewitt staggering wobbly butt away. Jenny proving very strong legged - these shots drop a standard bantamweight - Hewitt sponging 'em, covering up, trying to fight her way through it. Campbell showing good discipline - not going all in off the big scoring blow, but staying methodical, working her jab, sidestepping, continuing to slam away to Hewitt's cuddly body. Jen hits ropes for the first time late the round: she's stooping forward behind her mitts and Neve squares away, helps herself to bell.

R7: Neve having her way. Midring - Campbell using her jab, leading the right hand to set up her lethal hooks, turning Jennifer's flank. Inside, Neve's edging in strong, walking Hewitt to ropes, taking more and more jug with short, hard-working left/right uppercuts. Hewitt lumping up nicely, mouthbreathing from all the body work - she's reaching behind Neve's back now, tieing up for breaks - Hewitt having a hard time finding her game under Neve's masterful blend of finesse and pop.

R8: Neve's got Jenny looking shabby - Campbell working Jen to ropes in stages, then really setting down to work. Neve riding her right forearm behind Jenny's head, pushing it down while REEFING hooks over and over to that right side. Tough to watch - Hewitt fans pale, glum, anxious as Jennifer's curvy legs continue to hold her up as Neve's slugging establishes supremacy this round. Hewitt suffering, then reaching to pull Neve in by her hips. Mixed emotions for Campbell: she's starting to dish up a brutal beating here, clearly breaking Jennifer down - but this isn't a hated foe absorbing the blows.

R9: Neve basically shoulder to shoulder now - she wants to be working all the time, using up whatever Jen's got left. Hewitt reviving as a result, staying compact, waiting for Campbell to get off, then clobbering back at close range. Crowd pleasing stuff as girls step around in close quarters, tucking away leather to midsections, jerking uppercuts, clouting hooks inside. Neve separating herself with short right uppercuts off right foot/left uppercuts off left foot. Hewitt taking a big bantamweight's best shots tonight as she stands her ground through 9.

R10: Neve's bodying up, walking Jen to ropes: Hewitt ragged, no longer able to hold canvas. Long stretches of Neve beating Jennifer with thumping, repeat business from either hand: legs set wide and strong, hips popping side to side as she hoists leather up and in. Job of work - Neve sweating like she's laying railroad track in there. Hewitt sullen, shipping her beating, then clinching when it looks like her knees won't support her. Neve's hook beating Jen's right side numb, but Hewitt just won't give into it. Beatdown bell to bell - all Neve on Jen - but this one goes to the cards. UD10 - 10 rounds to love - Neve Campbell.

After: Neve holding Jen's face in both hands in the aftermath, then hugging Hewitt - girls having an emotional moment in the wake of a savage drubbing. "Jennifer's grown so strong in the last couple of years," Neve says, wiping at tears. "I was hitting her with Rachel-busting force tonight - holding nothing back - and she wouldn't go. Even when she was badly hurt, she kept her poise - there were times in her days with Samdog when Hewitt might not have kept it together like she did tonight."